“Sekolah Ciputra provided a lot of opportunities to pursue interests outside of academics; sports events, debate competitions, to talent shows.”
CHRISTABEL MARIA FIRMANTO
GRADUATED: 2015
1. How long were you in Sekolah Ciputra? Starting from what grade until what grade?
11 years, 2nd grade – 12th grade.
2. After graduating from Sekolah Ciputra, where do you study? What is your major?
Indiana University Bloomington majoring in Accounting and Finance (Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree).
3. What did you do after graduating from university?
I worked at Deloitte Risk & Financial Advisory in Chicago for 3 years before transitioning into my current role.
4. What is your current occupation?
I work as a Financial Analyst at Apple (USA).
5. What was the biggest challenge of moving to a new country?
Adjusting to a new culture and navigating the US college experience. Culturally the US and Indonesia are very different, so it can be difficult at first to develop meaningful relationships with people from the US, but with time you will adjust! The US college experience is also very different from high school, you are really in the driver’s seat in terms of what kind of experience you get out of college. You can just go to class and get good grades, but there are so many things to get involved in that may matter even more than academics.
6. What do you enjoy most about your new environment?
I really enjoy the diversity in my new environment, I love that you can meet so many interesting people that come from a wide variety of backgrounds. I’m always pleasantly surprised by the amount of shared values and sentiments we have despite our different experiences.
7. In what way did Sekolah Ciputra contribute to your job right now?
The diploma program of Sekolah Ciputra did a good job of preparing me for college and eventually work. It is an academically rigorous program that trained my work ethic and ability to handle stress. It is also a well-rounded program which allows you to choose classes from different disciplines (i.e. natural and social sciences, art, business), which helped me identify and explore my interests, aptitudes, and career aspirations early on.
8. What was the best thing about Sekolah Ciputra? Tell us something memorable from your time at Sekolah Ciputra
Sekolah Ciputra provided a lot of opportunities to pursue interests outside of academics. From sports events, debate competitions, to talent shows, I saw good participation from students and teachers across the board. I used to partake in a lot of musical activities; Ciputra’s got talent, assembly performances, prom, you name it. My high school years helped me cultivate my interest in music, and to this day I enjoy exploring my musical side through singing and playing instruments.
9. What advice would you give to a graduating student?
Enjoy high school! you may think it’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done, but it gets more complicated. Or you may think they’re the best years of your life, but you have so much more to come! Don’t stress over it too much, do your best but enjoy being a kid.
10. Would you recommend Sekolah Ciputra to others? If yes, what would you say about it?
Yes! I think the curriculum cultivates curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking. There is also a good balance between academics and extracurricular activities, which helps students become more well-rounded.
11. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I enjoy nature, parks, trying new restaurants, and going to concerts in the Bay Area. I also have recently rekindled my passion for music, so I’ve been picking piano back up and trying to learn the guitar.
