Featuring Jerome Polin: UIN Jakarta Freshmen March towards Digital Branding Era

Triguna Field, UIN Online News — Renowned YouTuber and educational content creator Jerome Polin Sijabat joined as one of the keynote speakers for the Introduction to Academic Culture and Student Affairs (PBAK) 2025 at UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. In his session, Jerome highlighted the importance of personal branding and time management skills for students navigating today’s digital era.

According to Jerome, anyone aspiring to start a business or become a content creator must realize that their work is essentially a product exchanged for the audience’s time and attention.

“In truth, becoming a content creator or building a business is all about selling yourself. And what’s the currency? It’s the time and attention of your viewers. That’s why you need to deliver real value,” said the alumnus of Waseda University.

He explained that this value can come in the form of motivation, education, or meaningful experiences. Jerome illustrated how personal branding can make someone more trusted, even when others may possess superior skills.

“There might be others who are more skilled out there; they remain hidden however. But, some stands out the most because they show who they really are which make people tend to trust them even more. That’s the power of personal branding,” he added.

Jerome emphasized that consistency is only achievable with a clear purpose. Sharing his own journey, he recalled how he studied diligently from middle school through high school to pursue a scholarship to study abroad.

“Consistency comes when you have a clear goal. Since middle school, I prepared myself to study overseas—learning every day—and that’s what kept me going,” he told.

He further noted that without a clear direction, consistency is hard to maintain, and even simple tasks can feel burdensome.

“Studying wasn’t always enjoyable for me, but because I had a clear goal, I should keep going,” Jerome shared.

Through his talk, Jerome encouraged UIN Jakarta freshmen to start building their personal brand early and to manage their time wisely. In the digital age, he concluded, success is not just about technical skills—it’s also about how you present your capabilities to the world.

(Nosa Idea L./Zaenal M./ Fauziah M./Muhamad Arifin Ilham/Photo: M. Ghifari Rahman, Aqilah Qurrotulaini, and Tiara Abdhie)