Physics teaches Yudistira what matters most

Physics teaches Yudistira what matters most

P.C. Naommy, Contributor, Jakarta

Winning an international competition might change a person, for
the better or worse. But in the case of gold medalist Yudistira
Virgus, winning has helped put life in perspective.

Yudistira, who won a gold medal at the International Physics
Olympiad at Pohang in South Korea last month, believes that all
of his victories are a gift from God.

"I always enter all competitions with strong courage and
faith. Whatever the result, I know that it's for the best and
that God will not let me down. If I win, that's merely because
God wants me to," he said.

He learned such equanimity from his experience at the 5th
Asian Physics Olympiad in Vietnam in May 2004, when he came away
empty handed.

But he recouped for the 35th International Physics Olympiad in
South Korea. In the competition, the five-member Indonesian team
brought home a gold medal, a silver, two bronzes and an honorable
mention.

Yudistira, who will turn 19 next Saturday, now has a total of
one bronze and two gold medals in his hands. He won the first
gold medal at the 4th Asian Physics Olympiad in Thailand last
year and the bronze medal at the 34th International Physics
Olympiad in Taipei last year.

Yudistira's enthusiasm for academic competition began when he
was at junior high school in Palembang, South Sumatra, when he
tried to enter a math competition on his own after he was not
selected by his teacher.

"Back then I was not even known as a bright student and I had
to offer myself for the math competition to channel my passion
for math. Although I failed, it pushed me to study harder."

His passion for physics increased when he entered SMA Xaverius
I senior high school in his hometown. He was stimulated by the
challenge of studying the subject, with each question and answer
providing new discoveries.

"Unraveling a problem is my passion and it's fun to learn
physics since it trains my brain to resolve problems," Yudistira
said.

Studying physics also means learning about nature and its
mysteries, and coming to a greater understanding of its power.

"We live on Earth with all of its natural beauty, so we should
learn about it, unraveling its mystery for our own benefit."

His parents, Eddyanto Winoto and Elfi Novianty, never pushed
him to become a winner, even though his father is a chemistry
teacher.

"We never told him what to do or tried to direct him into a
certain field. He's a mature person. He only does what he wants
to and as parents, we merely give our full support," said Elfi.

Elfi, who runs a small business, described her son as a normal
teenager who loves to hang out with friends, playing computer
games or music on his guitar. In his spare time, he also reads
books, plays soccer and swims.

"Becoming a good physicist has been my aim for so long, but
without getting the geeky look of a bald man with thick glasses
and reading thick books all the time," Yudistira said.

As his role model, Yudistira picks the late Richard Phillips
Feynman, the most influential American physicist of the 20th
century who won the Nobel prize for physics in 1965.

Feynman loved to joke and pull pranks, Yudistira said, in
contrast to the nerdy stereotype of scientists.

He also bucked the image of the scientist holed up in his lab;
Feynman was also a musician and painter.

"Although I also idolize Einstein, I don't want my life to end
tragically like him," Yudistira said of the scientist, who left
his native Germany due to anti-Semitism. "Once I am a scientist,
I want to help in making the world, especially in Indonesia,
become a better place."

As the International Physics Olympiad's gold medalist, he has
been offered a scholarship by Sampoerna Foundation to study
abroad. Yudistira prefers to stick to his previous choice of
studying physics at Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB).

"In terms of science, universities abroad might be better than
here, but I never thought that by attending college abroad it
would make me a better person."

He added that if one day he had the opportunity to study
abroad for his master's or doctorate, he would commit himself to
serving his country.

"There's no use working in superpower countries that would
only give me a mediocre role. I'd rather be here, where I can
give my best shot for the people who need me," he said.

His commitment to reach his dreams was evident during his
nine-month intensive training program held in Tangerang, West
Java before leaving for the International Physics Olympiad. From
the time of his arrival at the training center in October last
year, he spent many days unraveling hundreds of physics puzzles
with nine other students.

"We usually started our class program at 8 a.m. and finished
at 5 p.m. After that, we could do whatever we wanted. After
taking a shower and relaxing with friends, I usually studied
until midnight or 1 a.m. at the latest."

Despite the demands of study, he still sets aside special time
for contemplation and prayer. He said his studies had boosted,
not weakened, his faith.

"The more I study physics, the more I come to know how complex
this universe is, and the more I realize how small we are and how
great God is."