Universitas Gajah Mada (UGM) is known as the second-highest-rank education university in Indonesia. I recently graduated with a psychology bachelor’s degree, and UGM profoundly guided my academic and personal growth throughout the 3,5 years of study. I have delved into various courses, from psychology assessment and intervention to counseling, organizational, life-span development, and cognitive, in which I have discovered an interest in the cognitive nuance of psychology.

One of the highlights of my university journey was the student exchange experience at Groningen University, where I was allowed to explore more depth regarding cognitive behavior across mental disorders and neuropsychology. The idea of cognitive psychology is exploring the neurotypical human mind; conversely, the neurodivergent human mind, explained in neuropsychology at the time, was unavailable as a course at my home university. Thus, UGM, with its university partnership, gave me the privilege of going to another university to explore my interests. The exchange student experience introduced me to different studying cultures at a faster pace, which modified my learning style to this day.

Removing the student exchange experience as a context, the general experience of studying at UGM increased my personal growth in terms of self-discipline, time management, teamwork, and, most importantly, it gave me a chance to apply my knowledge to the field. It was a mandatory program by UGM to do community projects in a village for almost two months. These experiences helped me navigate diverse perspectives in a multicultural environment and build a greater sense of resiliency, adaptability, problem-solving skills, and empathy, which are vital to my future career.

Although my experience has been mostly positive, some things could have been improved. The library in UGM was not friendly with the digitalization style of learning, where charger outlets were challenging to find, especially when the library was crowded. It unfortunately hindered my learning experience as I prefer studying in public spaces. However, overall, I was grateful for my experience, and I would still recommend my university, as many high school students dream of getting into my university.