Learning from Ariek: The Handicapped Student in His Struggle to Complete His Degree Program
Students with disability should be able to pursue their higher learning education or should not be barrier for them to continuing education. This is the experience of one of Bogor Agricultural University (IPB) students who successfully graduated on time and became the inspiration for many people because of his persistence in reaching the ideals. He is M. Ariek Dimas Santoso, Student of Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA). Ariek will be graduated on Wednesday, 26 July 2017.
Ariek has been known to suffer Muscular Distrophy, (MD). It is a group of muscle diseases that results in increasing weakening and breakdown of skeletal muscles over time. In general is a symptom of progressive skeletal muscle loss. No wonder this cause him hesitate to pursue his higher learning education or not.
The boy who was born in Jakarta made confession that his decision to pursue his undergraduate program was due to the support of various parties either family, friends, teachers and people around him. IPB was his first choice to take under the SNMPTN (invite) system. "I am very grateful to God I was admitted to be student of IPB through SNMPTN system. Once when I was in the high-school I was so worry to imagine whether I will be admitted to continue my studies to the university level. How happy I was to know that I had been admitted to IPB, I feel grateful because it is rather difficult to understand for my condition to be accepted by one of the leading universities in Indonesia. Again, I was very grateful to God as IPB accepted me with my condition as well, "he said.
Ariek chose Biology because he is interested in Biology since he has been in high school. In addition, he wanted to explore the genetic abnormalities that occur on him. "I want to try to find out how we can stop the progressive muscle weakness," he added. However, as the course progresses Ariek stops exploring the cause of his illness, because the heavy loads of courses he took ranges from plants, animals, and microbuses. It was the reasons why Ariek changed his interests, finally Ariek decided to be a taxonomic expert of plants.
Ariek has been very grateful to God as he finally able to complete his study. In addition, he has been thankful to God that there are no stairs lead him to go upstairs in the university building where Arie studies, instead the building is equipped by elevators enabled Ariek to go to upper floors to attend his classes easily. The stairs is the enemy for everyone who uses a wheelchair.
"Since childhood my activities have always been assisted by my parents, especially my father, from waking up, bathing, etc. As I studied in Bogor, my father works in Jakarta, thus I found difficulties to do my regular activities at the university as I was way from my father. But I just prayed to God to lead my way, God answered my prayer. Not long after begun my university, my father was suddenly transferred by his company to work in Sentul, near Bogor, "he added.
Ariel also expressed his gratitude to Rector of IPB, Prof. Dr. Herry Suhardiyanto, as the university provided an electric wheelchair to facilitate him to do his university activities.
However, that did not mean there were no challenges. Ariek told how he challenged to carry out his practical works, especially the difficulties he reached the laboratory table. In fact, his hands are not strong enough to use laboratory equipment. Accordingly, he often did not perform his field works. Nevertheless the Department of Biology has been very helpful, the Department provided facilities for him,, such as provided special wheelchair, special table for Ariek to enable him easily in performing regular activities in the laboratory, and so on.
Ariek did all his activities such as lectures and practicum well. "I have been enjoying everything in IPB. From the beginning I have targeted to complete my study on time so as not to burden my parents, thank God I can finish my study on campus IPB according to the schedule," he said.
Ariek expected that in the future, educational institutions should provide facilities for handicapped students to enable them to carry out their studies well. He also hopes that in the future not only educational fields should provide facilities, but also other general public as well. "I hope the existing public facilities can support people with special needs in order to be able to do daily activities well without any obstacles," he concluded.
When he was asked his next program after graduation, Ariel stated that he wanted to become a businessman. Good luck! (Wied)
