REGINA FELICIA HADIPUTRI

“Sekolah Ciputra fosters, encourages, and supports students to be innovative, creative, and go for things out of their comfort zone.”

REGINA FELICIA HADIPUTRI
GRADUATED: 2024

1. How long were you in Sekolah Ciputra? Starting from what grade until what grade?
I was in Sekolah Ciputra for 15 years from Playgroup all the way until Grade 12 IBDP.

2. After graduating from Sekolah Ciputra, where do you study? What is your major?
I’m now a university student in Universitas Indonesia (UI) as part of the Faculty of Medicine, known as FKUI.

3. Can you please share your experience applying to university?
My journey to FKUI was extensive and took several unexpected turns. Initially, I planned to study medicine abroad at either the University of Melbourne or the University of Toronto, but I decided to pursue a faster undergraduate degree at a national university in Indonesia, targeting UNAIR’s International Undergraduate Program (IUP) due to my fluency in English. I dedicated myself to the national selections, SNBP and UTBK, bringing a suitcase full of textbooks everywhere I went, often seen practicing during breaks. Despite my efforts, I didn’t pass either selection for UNAIR’s medical program, largely due to my struggles with Indonesian. However, in February 2024, my high school counselor suggested I apply for UI’s Talent Scouting for the International Program (KKI). I took the opportunity, submitted my documents, and made it to the MMPI and MMI phases. Although I didn’t pass through Talent Scouting, visiting the UI campus and engaging with the selection process ignited my determination to succeed.
Determined not to give up, I immediately set my sights on FKUI’s next selection process, SIMAK KKI. After graduation, I joined a quarantine camp in Depok, West Java, to rigorously prepare for the exams, studying from dawn until midnight. The process was intense and challenging, often leaving me with physical exhaustion, but I poured all my energy into it. Ultimately, I passed all stages of the SIMAK KKI selection, including the MMPI and MMI, achieving my goal of being accepted into FKUI. This journey of persistence, from multiple rejections to finally succeeding, taught me the value of resilience and hard work in the face of setbacks.

4. What do you expect to do after graduating from university?
Currently some people might notice how I’m active in several organizations and ambassadorship programs. For example, Duta Edukasi Indonesia, Duta Kesehatan Indonesia, Duta Inovatif Indonesia, and so much more. I’ve also managed to be entrusted with being my cohort’s head of SIEPEND. My intense schedule reflects my aspirations in the long-run. I thrive to be “An Agent of Change” where I can make an impact in communities for the better and inspire those around me. I hope to get even more opportunities as I run my course in university to lend a hand to those who need it no matter how minor or major they may seem, I believe every effort truly counts. Even those in the most rural areas or those online, I aim to be able to educate and empower as many people as I could and create a ripple effect for more people to thrive for a better quality of life, self-development, and education.

5. In what way did Sekolah Ciputra contribute to who you are right now?
Sekolah Ciputra being an IB-based curriculum gave me the foundation I needed throughout FKUI which surprisingly complimented each other in the KKI program. From the countless project and essay-based assignments, my analytical and critical-thinking skills were developed allowing me to be an individual who’s proactive in discussions and open-minded. Medicine being a study program that will handle real life situations and case studies, the skills I’ve been conditioned to throughout undergoing the IB allows me to think beyond the syllabus and manifest my yearn for knowledge.
Sekolah Ciputra was like my second home, as cliche as it sounds. To be fair I was enrolled in Sekolah Ciputra for 15 entire years of my academic life. I was able to be this “prestigious” student due to the various opportunities and platforms Sekolah Ciputra was able to offer me to take. It was an environment that fosters, encourages, and supports students to be innovative, creative, and go for things out of their comfort zone. For example, I was able to join the World Scholar’s Cup (WSC) from 2017 up to 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, when I was in elementary to middle school. Despite being considered young for an international competition, there were teachers, seniors, and facilities that patiently taught me the skills and confidence I needed. As a senior, as a show of my gratitude and appreciation to those who’ve come before me, I took the initiative as a tutor/coach to my juniors and other students across Indonesia to guide them in their new journey for international debate competitions, fostering confidence, innovation, and critical-thinking.
Not to mention, I personally believe the publications made by the school of students’ achievements are great motivators. You get to realize how there are so many students, just like yourself, who are also able to achieve and be recognized for amazing things. Rather than being insecure from seeing people’s achievements, it’s far more beneficial to implement a mindset where, “This person is really cool, I’d like to be someone like them too” in a healthy manner. Once you get published and recognized by the school as well it does act as a source of validation, yet it emphasizes the fact that your journey and efforts are not ignored and appreciated. Sekolah Ciputra takes pride in striving to be the best version of ourselves, building an environment that doesn’t shun those who wish to improve themselves.

6. What was the best thing about Sekolah Ciputra? Tell us something memorable from your time at Sekolah Ciputra
The things I remembered the most were the several opportunities I was able to perform. I was able to still practice my non-academic skills such as performing in front of audiences. It’s great to know that I have a space for expression that can be appreciated by my fellow peers, teachers, and students that even encourages the juniors to find the confidence in performing themselves or being creative. As minor as it sounds, I’m still really grateful for the instances I was offered to perform for Sekolah Ciputra and be happy doing something I love.

7. What advice would you give to a graduating student?
To future graduates of Sekolah Ciputra, don’t have a small heart if you think you could have done so much more in high school or if you think you’ve lost a lot of things as your high school years are over. This is not a “brand new book” of your life where you start from 0, but it’s a sequel. Don’t be intimidated by other fellow graduates or even current students in Sekolah Ciputra who seem to be doing far more than you. Take the opportunities that are shown to you because every small step counts to self-improvement. Don’t feel anxious if people will start judging you for starting something that you’re still learning or haven’t mastered yet as it is part of the process. I’d like anyone who’s embarking their academic journey to keep in mind that later on when you graduate, have things to look back on. Imagine that later when you’ve graduated from high school or university, you can look back and say to people or yourself, “Hey I was pretty cool back in high school” or “I’m glad I did this one organization/competition and learnt how to do this”.

8. Would you recommend Sekolah Ciputra to others? If yes, what would you say about it?
Realistically, it’s very subjective. Every individual is different and thus meaning every curriculum or education structure that will compliment them could vary. Personally, if someone asked me, “If you had a repeat in life and had to go through primary to high school again, would you go to Sekolah Ciputra again?” My answer will always be a yes. I’m glad I was able to foster my critical-thinking, public speaking, and creative skills in school that’s in an international field. I wouldn’t be able to inspire and start initiatives without the soft skills that were fostered in me by teachers and seniors I met in high school. However, I would like to emphasize that your high school institution, including Sekolah Ciputra itself, should not be your “everything”. Don’t limit yourself to just achieving things or doing activities in-school. Explore beyond what Sekolah Ciputra has to offer, such as external opportunities. Thus, treat Sekolah Ciputra as a home base that’s supportive because it’ll be a solid foundation for us to start creating an impact around us.

9. What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Other than my current university academics and organization work, I still do dancing but have started to do hobbies I haven’t done in a while. I’ve actually taken a liking to scrapbooking and fashion-designing lately. With scrapbooking, it’s a way for me to look back on things I’ve done from the receipts, stickers, and pictures I collect of memories. I also still do fashion-designing which is a continuation of a hobby back in high school where I would design my own clothing such as during MYP graduation, Grade 12 graduation, prom, DBL, and so on. I’ve developed my hobby in fashion designing by opening commissions that several of my friends had also commissioned me to design their graduation outfits and was offered a collaborative opportunity to open a clothing line (that’s still in consideration by me and the demand there is).