Name: Kenisha Alicia Sumarno Gazali

Graduation year: 2019

Where are you going to university? What are you studying?

Yale NUS College, I’m undeclared right now but I’m planning to major in PPE.

What was the biggest challenge of moving to a new city/country?

Feeling out of place, especially somewhere where everyone is insanely accomplished. As for my current self, I still deal with occasional lapses in confidence, however it helps to remember not to compare yourself to others and keep striving towards your goals!

What do enjoy most about your new environment?

The people. Everyone is so helpful, passionate, and cognisant. I think that Yale NUS brings out the best in all of us. Also, the professors are incredibly dedicated to teaching, office hours here are the norm rather than the exception.

What do you expect to do after graduating?

I want to work in social services, especially with organisations that deal with civil registry. I think that civil registry is incredibly interesting due to the intersection between policy and real life that is so tangible here. Civil registry also interests me due to the way it affects different demographics of people–from the disabled, to the non-binary, to the extremely wealthy–differently. I want to discover these differences and how to alleviate the unjustness they generate.

What advice would you give to a graduating student?

To relax and try to keep a cool head on your shoulders.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I like to dance, read, and take care of my plants. I also like going to all the residential events across campus, particularly if it’s political.

What was the best thing about Sekolah Ciputra?  Tell us something memorable from your time at Sekolah Ciputra.

I like how open teachers are to adopting a sort of mentorship role to students which extends beyond the classroom. As a case in point, my DP English L&L teacher was incredibly supportive of a TED-Ed club I started as a CSA project. I couldn’t have done it without him!

Would you recommend Sekolah Ciputra to others?

Yes.

If yes, what would you say about it?

Ciputra has an amazing vision, and offers different things that are suited to different people. The most important thing to bear in mind is that if you’re ready to work hard and seize opportunities, you can thrive. In short; if you actively search for opportunities, take advantage of the resources at Sekolah Ciputra and drown out all the noise, you may just reach your goals!