Narasi Perjuangan - Kevin Nathanael

Narasi Perjuangan

Introduction

My name is Kevin Nathanael. Now, I'm 19 years old. I am a native Indonesian, but I lived in Singapore for 15 years. I was born in Bandung, on April 30, 2000. When I was 3 years old, our family moved to Singapore because my father worked in Singapore as an expert in the field of computers, and soon we were granted permanent (PR) status. I grew up in Singapore since I was five years old until I graduated from JC (Junior College). Then, after 15 years, I moved back to Indonesia.

I went to primary school at St. Joseph's Institution Junior Elementary School. I went to St. Patrick's Secondary School and I went to high school at Innova Junior College. I took the A-level exam last November. I got a Rank Point of 83.75.

I am very interested in human anatomy. Drawing is a hobby of mine which I keep to this day. From high school I participated in co-curricular activities about magazine publications. The school club responsible for this activity was called 'Innova Press'. I was the only one in charge of the illustrations in the yearly magazines for 2017 and 2018. The magazine cover is designed by myself, with the help from my supervisor. I painted a space theme for the magazine cover. Also, I like to darw the human body. I learned a lot from drawing, such as anatomy, perspective and others. From this hobby, I hope I can use it in the Faculty of Medicine.

My view of FKUI

FKUI (Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia) is the oldest and best medical faculty in Indonesia. FKUI has the best lecturers and the best facilities in Indonesia. FKUI produces the best doctors in Indonesia who are proven to be experts in their fields. Alumni from FKUI became influential doctors, sat in the government and joined excellent institutions. For example, the director of the BPJS is an alumni from FKUI. Being accepted into FKUI is very difficult because competition is very high because the best students from all over Indonesia want to enter FKUI. In addition to the written tests, there are psychological tests and interviews for students wanting to join the international course. I am very proud to be a student of FKUI.

My experience during the orientation was extraordinary and stunning. The seniors set a serious atmosphere right from the get-go. I can already feel the need to be more focused, attentive and disciplined. My seniors showed me how difficult it is to become a doctor. The path to becoming a doctor is filled with hardships. Thus, I understood why the seniors heavily emphasized the importance of determination, resolve and optimism. My first impressions of the FKUI is good when I visited FKUI Salemba and FKUI Depok. In FKUI Salemba, the IMERI (Indonesian Medical Education & Research Institute) building appears to be very modern. FKUI Depok is integrated in RIK (Rumpun Ilmu Kesehatan) with other programs like Pharmacy and Nursing. These two campuses are also attached to hospitals: RSCM (Rumah Sakit Cipto Mangunkusomo) in Salemba and RSUI (Rumah Sakit Universitas Indonesia) in Depok.

Motivation to enter FKUI

The most important reason I entered FKUI is that I want to become a doctor. Since childhood, I dreamed of becoming a doctor. At a young age, I liked the way doctors helped people. It is different from the way other professions help others in society. A doctor treats, cures and ease the pain of their patients. Later, my interest in becoming a doctor grew when I studied Biology at school. Then, I had drawing as a hobby and I liked drawing humans. Then, my interest blossomed at a later age when I learnt the details of human anatomy. I wanted human anatomy and biology to be a huge part in my life. "What other better way could accomplish this than to become a doctor?" I thought to myself

When I have reached late adolescence, my passion became more specific. I decided that I wanted to become a specialist in cancer. I was very impressed with how doctors were able to invent and create new ways to treat cancer. Up until now, cancer has always been considered an incurable. Now, with the current progress from medical intellectuals and doctors, that fact is becoming a myth. I’m quite inspired by the works of those individuals. I want to become a part of such medical advancements.

Attempt to enter FKUI

It was not easy to enter Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia (FKUI). There were some notable obstacles which I had to overcome. To begin with, I did not learn Physics when I was in Singapore. When I arrived in Indonesia, I realized that Physics is tested in Simak UI. I enrolled in private courses for physics lessons from January to June.

I studied the SIMAK UI exams from previous years. I took the TOEFL test as it was one of the requirements to enter FK KKI. I am very happy that I got a good score of 613 for TOEFL exam. I prepared for the MMI. I practiced from the questions and watched videos on YouTube about the some MMI tips and tricks. It turned out to be very helpful in my preparation.

Before and After Accepted in FKUI

To be honest, before being accepted into FKUI, I was a bit worried because the competition is so high. So, I studied very hard so that I can be accepted. I also prayed with my family so that I would be accepted. I have practiced from so many exam books of Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Math. After hearing the news that I was accepted, I was really overjoyed. My parents cried for joy. I will never forget that day, 5-August-2019, when I received the news from FKUI that I accepted.

Hopes to be achieved

There are some hopes that I would like to achieve during my time in FKUI. One of which is that I hope to become a better person I study at the Universitas Indonesia. What I mean about being a better person is that I will be more knowledgeable in the field of medicine. I also want to practice soft skills such as teamwork and leadership. Those are the two things that are very crucial to have.

I want to be an honest and successful doctor when I grow up. As stated above, I want to be a part of the medical advances that are ongoing today. Doctors are able to combat diseases that were always thought to be incurable. I want to stand alongside those doctors and give sufferers of ‘incurable’ disease hope.

I hope to finish my studies at the University of Indonesia with good results and make my parents proud. I want to earn the double degree from University of Newcastle Upon Tyne “Master of Research” and from Universitas Indonesia.

For the community: I hope I can become a good doctor for the community. I want to be a specialist in cancer (oncology) and can help as many patients as possible with the right treatment. My vision is to have my own clinic to achieve this goal.

I hope to be a good friend and be able to help my classmates both academically and in other ways. I want to collaborate closely with my peers as I know that I will need them to succeed. This is because we can exchange information and to support each other. Together, we are strong. I do not operate in a one-man army.

Plan for the next 1 year

One year forward, I plan to adapt to the new environment in University of Indonesia. The culture, social norms and etiquette in Indonesia are all quite unfamiliar. Getting to know the campus and paying attention to lectures and other academic activities is my focus for now.

I plan to study hard so I get good grades for semesters one and two.

I will also want to study Bahasa Indonesia until I’m fluent enough. I want to be comfortable in using Bahasa Indonesia when expressing my thoughts and ideas to my peers.

Plan for the next 3 years

In the next three years, I plan to study hard and get good grades so that I have the opportunity to continue my studies at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the UK on the fourth year and obtain a Masters of Research. The first three years of medical school are crucial in learning the fundamentals of medical science

Plan for the next 10 years

If everything goes according to plan, I will graduate from FKUI in 6 years and then I will take PTT for 2 years and then I will take a specialist course for 3.5 years. These are my plans and goal for the next 10 years. In the next 10 years I should finished my specialization and become specialist in cancer (oncology).

Plans for the next 20 years

In the next 20 years, after becoming a specialist in the field of cancer (oncology), I want to operate in my own clinic in Indonesia. I aspire to invent new cancer treatments that utilizes natural ingredients (herbs) that can ease the pains or to even cure the cancer from cancer sufferers. I am also interested in taking a PhD in medical research so that I can contribute to research in the medical world in Indonesia which can benefit patients in Indonesia. If possible, one day, I would like to teach in FKUI as a part time lecturer after I get my PhD, especially in FKUI-KKI which I graduated from. I like to contribute back to FKUI and its community

Message to enter FKUI

My message to students who want to enter FKUI is that they must study hard especially for the FKUI entrance exam through SBMPTN or SIMAK. Try practice questions from previous SIMAK UI exams online and read up on textbooks from both your school’s recommendation and other publishers. Make sure that you can memorize the key information and details such as important formulas or concepts before the day of the exam. Try to time yourself while practicing one yearly SIMAK UI paper so that you are used to working under timed conditions.

For anyone interested in being enrolled in the international medicine course (FK KKI), please be prepared for the psychological test (MMPI) and the multiple mini interviews (MMI). This is because those tests will be held immediately after you have done your SIMAK UI.

I encourage you to practice your interviewee skills and to do some research about the relevant topics about medicine for a more optimal preparation. One activity that has helped me is that I read news articles about medical advancements and technology weeks before the MMI. This assisted me in answering some of the MMI questions. Sometimes those questions could be testing your general knowledge. Also, I learnt a lot from youtube videos that provide tips and tricks on how to do well for the MMI. They provide tips on how to dress appropriately, how to answer clearly and confidently and to be polite throughout the whole process. MMI is not easy interview if you have never experienced a real interview in the past. So, for those who have never been to an interview, you must create a simulation like holding a mock interview with a friend.

Words of wisdom (Kata-Kata Mutiara)

Many people do not realize just how important health is to them. They only realize it when their health has degraded. When you feel pain and unease from a disease, people will appreciate how good it is to be healthy. Before you get sick, let's take care of your health. Always remember that health is important to look after because health is the greatest gift given by God to us.

We have the duty and responsibility to look after our health. It can be done with adequate rest, exercising regularly, maintaining diet and so forth. Just knowing the methods of improving our health is never enough, we must practice them. Health is not a practice, it’s a lifestyle. Remember the wise quote below.

"Knowledge is not enough; we must practice it. Intentions are not enough; we must do it ”(Johann Wolfgang von Goethe)