Life in 26

Turning 26

I turned 26 last July 14, 2025, and now I'm on my way to 27. Here I am, reflecting on what it means to have lived a quarter of a century. And honestly? I'm quite satisfied with the life I've experienced so far.

I've never been the type to stress over comparing myself to others. I move at my own pace, and that's worked out well for me. One thing I'm particularly proud of is becoming an expatriate, working abroad in Malaysia. It wasn't planned—I was actually considering going to Japan through an LPK program, but on a whim, I applied to Malaysia and got accepted. I took that as a sign and went for it.

Now, after a year as an expat, I'm setting my sights on new goals.

The Road That Led Me Here

I graduated from SMKN 2 Salatiga, majoring in Information Technology. After graduation, I tried applying to polytechnics and IT-related majors but didn't make it. So I enrolled at IAIN Salatiga, taking Sharia Business Management—initially planning to stay just a year while retrying for IT programs in Yogyakarta.

But after a year, I got comfortable in Salatiga and decided to see it through. My final year coincided with COVID-19. Even my graduation was hybrid—half offline, half online. Despite the chaos, I became the valedictorian of MBS 2017 for the 2021 graduation period and had the honor of delivering the alumni pledge.

During my 6th semester, I ventured into entrepreneurship and opened 'Teras Karsa Coffee & Tea Bar' in Jebres, Solo. It was an area heavily dependent on university students. One month in, COVID hit. Students went home. The shop went bankrupt.

After graduation, I co-founded 'Kon Ngopi' with four classmates—a student-oriented food stall (Burjo Mahasiswa) in Salatiga. It became a hub for students: meetings, hangouts, thesis discussions. The opening was even graced by Sujiwo Tejo. We partnered with Pak Ilyas M.Ag., a lecturer from UNNES and the caretaker of Gambang Syafaat Semarang.

But life moved on. Friends got married, responsibilities grew. I took a job in Semarang, and the coffee shop eventually closed.

After two years in Semarang, I started thinking about Japan again—maybe an LPK program. But then, on a whim, I applied to Malaysia. And I got in. I took it as rezeki and accepted.

Now it's been a year as an expat, working as a Risk Account Analyst. There's not much I can share about the work life itself—I rarely take selfies with colleagues—but here I am with my team. It's a different world, but I'm learning.

A Note on Family

Two years after I graduated, my father passed away. It's a wound that still feels fresh sometimes. But I carry his memory with me, and I believe he would be proud of who I'm becoming.

As for marriage—no plans yet, no partner yet. I've been hurt before, but I've made peace with it. That pain became fuel. My focus now is on pursuing a master's degree through LPDP. Where the wind takes me after that, only time will tell.

Solo Exploration

I want to explore more of my hometown region through solo travel—Salatiga, Semarang, Solo. Every place I visit, I want to document and share the stories through this blog. It's my way of staying connected to my roots while embracing new experiences.