UNS Student Won 20 Competitions During This Covid-19 Pandemic

UNS — The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic that hit Indonesia since March 2020 has forced all sectors to adapt to the new norms. The teaching and learning process is shifted to use a virtual system. Not only the need to adapt to technology to facilitate the learning process, but a student must also maintain their spirit to continue learning during the pandemic, which is certainly difficult. Even though so, this student of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) succeeded in maintaining their spirit and motivation to continue his academic and non-academic activities by joining numerous competitions. Bayu Aji Prasetya, a student from the Indonesian Language and Literature Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Studies (FIB) UNS, won 20 competitions within 10 (ten) months during the pandemic. His winning streak started from Agustus 2020 to May 2021.

Bayu, who currently is in the 10^th semester of his study, admits that competing in a championship is one of his methods to release stress while working on his undergraduate thesis. He also wants to use his remaining study time to accomplish as many achievements as possible. “I want to use my final time as a student. Moreover, I do not work on my thesis for 24 hours. There was a time when I feel tired or was taking a break from my thesis. In those times, I use my time to join the competition. So, it can be said that participating in a competition is entertainment for me,” Bayu explains.

Bayu usually takes the daytime to filming videos and edited them during the night. At the same time, he was also working on his thesis, which has been presented in front of the examiners in January 2021. Additionally, he reveals that, indeed, he prioritized joining video competition as he has a plan on this field and acting. However, he also participated in other types of competition, such as essay and poetry reading. All of his 20 wins were achieved by participating in almost 80 competitions. He adds that he can participate in two or three competitions in a week.

“I won much competition because I participated in many competitions. It was not like submitting to six competitions and win in all six. No, it is not. I failed many times. Thus, if we only participated in one competition and lost but never try again, then we will never know to what extent our competency and quality are,” he explains. Other than the non-academic achievements, Bayu also accomplishes academic achievements as FIB Outstanding Student for 2019. He was also joining an exchange program to the Universiti Malaya and conducting a Community Service Program in Malaysia.

Below are the competitions that Bayu won for the last 10 months:
Runner-up 1 Business Plan Competition hosted by MNC College
Favorite Poster Andalas International Public Health Conference (AIPHC) hosted by Universitas Andalas
Favorite Educational Video Andalas International Public Health Conference (AIPHC) hosted by Universitas Andalas
Favorite Winner in Earth Day Video Competition hosted by Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember
3^rd Winner in Male Category Poetry Reading Peksima UNS
3^rd Winner in Regional Potential Video Competition hosted by Politeknik AKA Bogor
2^nd Winner in Educational Video Competition Ifest hosted by FMIPA UNS
2^nd Winner in Public Service Advertising Video (ILM) hosted by BEM FIK Universitas Siliwangi
2^nd Winner in IYLS UKM PIK-R Cakra UNS Video graphics Competition
2^nd Winner in Public Service Advertising Video (ILM) Sarasehan Universitas Mulawarman
2^nd Winner in Halal Fest Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia Short Video Competition
2^nd Winner in HIMTI Universitas Gunadarma Short Video Competition
1^st Place in Himadika UPN Veteran Jakarta Educational Video Competition
1^st Place in Universitas Teuku Umar Poster Competition
1^st Place in KMNU (Keluarga Mahasiswa NU) Universitas Lampung Short Video Competition
1^st Place in Psychology Festival UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta Video Competition
1^st Place in FRESHT Universitas Aisyiyah Yogyakarta Short Video Competition
1^st Place in POLGAN FEST Politeknik Ganesha Medan Creative Video Competition
1^st Place in POLGAN FEST Politeknik Ganesha Medan Poetry Reading Competition
1^st Place in GEMA Ekonomi Pembangunan Universitas Ahmad Dahlan Short Video Competition

May Bayu’s spirit in his achievement can be emulated by other students. Humas UNS

Reporter: Ida Fitriyah
Editor: Dwi Hastuti