The 96th Youth Pledge commemoration is a moment of reflection and celebration of the fighting spirit and unity of Indonesian youth. This year, students from Universitas Indonesia (UI) have successfully demonstrated their commitment to making the nation proud through various achievements, both in academics and sports. One of UI’s inspirations is the athletes who have won various medals in national and international competitions, enthusiastically answering the call of the Youth Pledge to fight for the nation.
In the implementation of the XXI Aceh-North Sumatra PON 2024, 13,039 athletes from 38 provinces throughout Indonesia competed in 65 sports with a total of 1,042 match numbers. UI was also involved in this competition, as many as 11 UI students have managed to collect a total of 24 medals, including 15 gold medals, 5 silver medals, and 4 bronze medals from 10 sports. Three of them are Journalist Nurhakim Baharizki from the Vocational Education Program (Roller Skates), Nadia Indah Amalia (Artistic Gymnastics), and Naura Rahmadija Hartanti (Roller Skates), all three representing the DKI Jakarta Province, making achievements and bringing home a number of medals.
Journalist Hakim Baharizki, a student of the Tax Administration Study Program, UI Vocational Education Program, said, “The race at Pelangi Beach, Sigli, with unpredictable weather conditions, especially strong winds, was a big challenge for me. However, the good track conditions and intensive training for months helped me adapt and stay focused on my own and my team’s performance.” The intensive preparation he did was not easy, Hakim even had several leg injuries due to the high intensity of training. However, instead of giving up, he used the injury as motivation to get up and further hone his abilities. This fighting spirit was inspired by the values of the Youth Pledge, which according to Hakim is relevant to continue to inspire the young generation of Indonesia in facing various challenges.
Nadia Indah Amalia, student of the UI Faculty of Law, said, “The spirit of revival contained in the Youth Pledge gives me the strength to continue to strive and develop. I believe that we live in an era full of opportunities, and every individual has great potential that must be developed, whether in sports, education, or professional careers.” For Nadia, the values of the Youth Pledge are not only relevant in the field, but also in everyday life. As a student, you must be careful in dividing your time between intensive training and academic assignments, extra motivation to overcome various difficulties, both physical and mental.
Naura Rahmadija Hartanti, a student at the Faculty of Economics and Business, UI. Naura’s achievements not only make her and her family proud, but also inspire other students to compete at the national and international levels. “I want to show my fellow students that with hard work and enthusiasm, we can compete and achieve at the highest level. The Youth Pledge is proof that young people have great power to bring about change. This spirit drives me to continue to fight, not only to win medals, but also to inspire others to excel in their respective fields,” she said. She emphasized the importance of the role of the younger generation in building the nation through various fields.
The spirit of this year’s Youth Pledge reminds us all of the importance of the fighting spirit, unity, and perseverance shown by UI students. Hopefully, their achievements can be an inspiration for all Indonesian youth to work and compete to make the nation proud. Hakim, Nadia, and Naura are determined to continue to give their best at every opportunity, with the belief that this is a small step to contribute to the progress of the nation.
