Perseverance Over Speed: Alumni Representative Addresses UIN Jakarta Graduates

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN News Online — The second day of UIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta’s 140th Commencement Ceremony was marked by an inspiring address from distinguished alumnus Dadi Darmadi, M.A., Ph.D., who represented the university’s alumni community before hundreds of graduating students on Sunday (May 24, 2026).

In his remarks, Dadi emphasized that graduation is far more than an academic ritual. Rather, it is a celebration of perseverance, resilience, and the countless sacrifices that have shaped each graduate’s journey.

“Today is a very special day, a day when hard work, perseverance, prayers, and sacrifices find their meaning. Behind every graduation gown worn today lies a long story of struggle. This is not merely an academic ceremony; it is a celebration of hope itself,” he said.

A graduate of the Comparative Religion Program, now known as Religious Studies, at the Faculty of Ushuluddin in 1994, Dadi has built an accomplished career as a scholar, researcher, and anthropologist whose work has significantly contributed to the study of religion, anthropology, and Islamic sociology in Indonesia.

He currently serves as a senior researcher at the Center for the Study of Islam and Society (PPIM) and remains actively involved in teaching at the Faculty of Ushuluddin and the Religious Studies Program at UIN Jakarta.

One of the most notable milestones in his academic journey came with the completion of his Ph.D. in Social Anthropology from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Arts and Sciences in the spring of 2026. His dissertation, “The Hajj, Reinvented: Pilgrimage, Pilgrims, and Modernity in Indonesia,” explored the evolving dynamics of the Hajj pilgrimage and its relationship with modernity in contemporary Indonesian society.

His doctoral achievement represents a significant accomplishment not only for himself but also for Indonesian scholarship on the global academic stage. Throughout his studies, Dadi was supported by the prestigious scholarship program of the American Indonesian Exchange Foundation (AMINEF), while continuing to produce research and publications on Islam, anthropology, and local traditions in Indonesia.

Reflecting on his own experience, Dadi shared an emotional connection with the occasion. Standing before the graduates, he recalled that 32 years earlier he had occupied the very same stage as a student representative during his own graduation ceremony.

“In this very hall, in 1994, I stood as the representative of the graduates of IAIN Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta, representing the Faculty of Ushuluddin. Today, in 2026, I stand here once again, not as a graduate, but as a representative of the alumni,” he said.

Drawing from his personal and professional experiences, Dadi reminded graduates that uncertainty and setbacks are inevitable parts of life. He acknowledged that there were moments when he felt left behind, struggled with slow progress, and faced an unclear future.

“There were times when I felt I was falling behind. There were times when everything seemed to move very slowly. There were times when the future appeared uncertain and difficult to see. Many of you may experience similar phases in your own lives,” he reflected.

Despite those challenges, Dadi encouraged graduates to remain steadfast and continue moving forward. He shared a phrase that has stayed with him throughout his journey: “There is always a light at the end of the tunnel.”

For him, success is not measured by how quickly someone reaches a destination, but by their determination to keep going despite obstacles along the way.

“Today, I understand that life is not a race to see who arrives first. Life is about those who keep moving forward,” he concluded.