An Eight-Semester Commitment: Living Away from Home, Boarding at a Pesantren, and Finding the Path to Achievement
Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN News Online – Completing studies in eight semesters is not merely about chasing an on-time graduation. As a student of the Faculty of Islamic Studies (FDI) at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta who moved away from Palembang, M. Ilham Setiawan had to divide his time between lectures, organizational activities, and various competitions he participated in. Ilham was one of the graduates inaugurated at the 141st UIN Jakarta Graduation ceremony on Saturday (5/9/2026) at the Harun Nasution Auditorium.
Amid his busy schedule, he consistently prioritized academics. For him, the primary goal of migrating to Jakarta was to pursue an education. Thus, graduating on time within 4 years (8 semesters) remained his priority alongside his responsibilities as an Islamic boarding school student (santri) at Darus-Sunnah and his involvement in organizational activities.
“The toughest challenge was time management. On one hand, I was a student at UIN, and on the other, I lived at Darus-Sunnah (Darsun). So we had to balance it. We wanted to be active in organizations, but then suddenly there's an evening recitation session. That balance was really essential,” Ilham said.
For Ilham, that commitment served as a anchor whenever he had to split his attention between university lectures, life at Darus-Sunnah, and other pursuits. He realized that the journey toward success was not his alone, but was also intertwined with his parents' advancing age.
“It felt less like mere motivation and more like a personal commitment. We are racing toward success and want to achieve it quickly, while our parents are also racing against time. So, yes, we have to finish on time,” he expressed.
On the other hand, his student life was not spent solely chasing academic grades. Amid his busy routine as an Islamic boarding school student, Ilham actively sought opportunities to excel. This drive led him to participate in various competitions, most of which he joined online.
Choosing online competitions was a practical decision. Strict routines at Darus-Sunnah limited his ability to participate in off-campus activities. Rather than viewing this condition as an obstacle, Ilham found alternative ways to achieve accomplishments.
“I wanted to excel, but I was also living at Darsun. Darsun has strict rules and getting permission to leave is difficult. So I brainstormed how to stay competitive while keeping up with Darsun obligations. Ultimately, I decided to enter online competitions,” he explained.
Through these online contests, Ilham submitted numerous video entries. What initially began as a solution to stay active gradually led him to explore the worlds of photography and videography.
“Starting with online video competitions, I ended up getting hooked. I thought, 'Wow, the prize money is actually quite substantial,'” he noted.
He saved his competition prize earnings to purchase a camera. To Ilham, that camera was not just a tool for competitions, but an investment in developing skills that would prove valuable in the future.
Participating in competitions also offered him opportunities to connect with people from diverse backgrounds. One of his most memorable experiences occurred while competing at the Tempo Institute.
“Competitions are really exciting because you meet various people who regularly participate in contests. There are influencers, Instagram personalities, TikTok creators, and YouTubers, allowing us to exchange insights with them,” he shared.
These experiences shifted Ilham's perspective on student achievement. While he was previously focused on attaining a high GPA, his college journey taught him that practical skills are equally vital preparations for entering the professional world.
“Initially, I aimed for a high GPA. Wanting a high GPA is not wrong, but as time went on, I became more realistic. I realized that besides good academics and organizational involvement, we must possess practical skills because these skills are essential when looking for work,” he explained.
In academia, his journey at FDI was not without its challenges. Ilham shared his experience regarding the academic environment at UIN Jakarta. Within FDI specifically, he admitted feeling self-conscious when first attending lectures conducted in Arabic, feeling behind compared to classmates who possessed stronger Arabic language backgrounds.
“To offer perspective, as an FDI student, I think the environment is fantastic. The FDI community is very Islamic. Honestly, when I first entered Dirasat Islamiyah, I felt quite insecure because the other students were so proficient in Arabic,” he recalled.
Over time, that initial insecurity transformed into motivation to grow. After several semesters of attending classes at both FDI and Darsun, Ilham was able to keep pace with his peers.
“After a few semesters balancing Darsun and classes, I was able to match their level. So that insecurity ultimately turned into motivation,” he stated.
He added that this growth was also made possible by the supportive environment and friends at FDI who helped him throughout his studies.
Ilham's educational journey in Jakarta was also closely watched by his family in Palembang. The distance and the reality of living away from home made completing his degree a source of immense joy for his parents.
Ilham's mother views her son as pious, hardworking, and responsible, describing his achievements as a source of pride for the family.
“As a child, he makes his parents proud. He is pious, diligent, and responsible. He is truly the pride of our parents and family,” Ilham's mother remarked.
Meanwhile, Ilham's father highlighted the sacrifice of moving from Palembang to Jakarta for his studies. Seeing Ilham complete his education with good marks brought great happiness to the family.
“His struggle leaving Palembang for Jakarta and studying hard yielded good results. Now that he has finished... Because he completed it successfully, we feel truly happy,” he expressed.
Ilham's eight-semester journey brought together various facets of his life: his studies at FDI, his life as a mahasantri at Darus-Sunnah, his competition achievements, and his passion for photography and videography.
For Ilham, the journey was not merely about reaching graduation. He learned that leaving home to pursue an education is a moral responsibility to be fulfilled with commitment. Along the way, he also discovered skills and experiences he intends to continue developing beyond his college years.