Student Stories: Balancing Side Jobs and College While Chasing Their Dreams
Jakarta, UIN Online News — For many university students, campus is more than a place to pursue academic knowledge. It is also where they begin learning independence. Amid lectures, assignments, and examinations, some choose to work part-time—not merely to earn an income, but to pursue their aspirations, build responsibility, and discover their own potential. Whether from a boarding room, behind a smartphone screen, on the streets of the city, or through the lens of a camera, their journeys differ, yet they share the same determination: the courage to take the first step.
For Halimah Istiqomah, affectionately known as Mimah, a sixth-semester student in the Islamic Communication and Broadcasting program, makeup artistry has evolved from a childhood passion into a promising profession. As the youngest and only daughter in her family, she became interested in makeup after watching her mother prepare herself each day. What began as experimenting in front of a mirror gradually developed into a passion for enhancing people's natural beauty.
During her teenage years, Mimah taught herself through YouTube tutorials and social media, practicing on herself and her mother. A turning point came in 2022 when a friend asked her to provide makeup services for a graduation ceremony. The positive feedback boosted her confidence, and by 2024 she had begun serving clients regularly for graduations, weddings, photoshoots, and even official identification photos, charging between IDR 150,000 and IDR 200,000 per session. Although her income varies, she consistently reinvests part of her earnings in new beauty products to improve the quality of her services.
Balancing work with academic responsibilities is not without challenges. Mimah often wakes at three o'clock in the morning to prepare clients for early events and occasionally serves multiple clients at different locations in a single day. Nevertheless, the satisfaction of seeing her clients feel more confident makes every sacrifice worthwhile. She hopes to enroll in a professional, certified makeup course in the future.
A different path has been taken by Mosyolla Azzahra, better known as Ara, another sixth-semester student in the Islamic Communication and Broadcasting program. As the eldest of three siblings, she was motivated to become financially independent from the beginning of her university journey. She began working as a live commerce host in April 2025, spending around five hours a day, six days a week, with a schedule flexible enough to accommodate her classes. Earning a basic monthly salary of approximately IDR 2.5 million, supplemented by sales commissions, Ara uses her income to cover personal expenses while also supporting her younger siblings.
For Ara, the greatest challenge comes when work schedules coincide with examinations or film production assignments on campus. To stay on top of both responsibilities, she often brings her laptop to work and completes coursework during breaks. She believes that working has strengthened her sense of responsibility and encouraged her to step beyond her comfort zone. A supportive workplace and positive interactions with customers have motivated her to continue.
Meanwhile, Syarif Jalaluddin, commonly known as Aip, has chosen a different route by working as an online motorcycle taxi (ojek online) driver. A 2023 student in the Educational Management program, he began working in his third semester to help support his family while learning financial independence. Initially, he did not even own a motorcycle, but through careful saving he was able to purchase a second-hand bike in 2024.
Despite his work, Aip remains committed to prioritizing his studies. He turns off the ride-hailing application during class hours and works only in the afternoons and evenings. Although he once felt embarrassed when picking up fellow students as passengers, he has since embraced his work with pride. His daily earnings, which range from IDR 100,000 to IDR 200,000, are sufficient to cover daily expenses and build savings, even though his income is not always consistent.
Photography has become the chosen path for Muhammad Yahya, whose interest began while studying at an Islamic boarding school, where he documented organizational activities. Those early experiences cultivated both technical skills and professional discipline. After completing his community service, the Translation Studies student at UIN Jakarta developed his expertise further through professional opportunities, including an internship at the university's Center for Information and Public Relations.
His professional network expanded after joining the Ayo Motret Jakarta photography community. His first paid assignment, photographing a children's birthday celebration for IDR 350,000, convinced him that photography could become more than just a hobby. Although his income fluctuates depending on available projects, it has enabled him to meet his daily needs independently without relying on financial support from his parents.
These stories illustrate that student independence is built through the willingness to embrace responsibility, manage time effectively, and persevere through demanding circumstances. For these students, university is not only a place to acquire academic knowledge but also a space to develop resilience, professionalism, and the practical life skills needed to prepare for the future.