Life in 26

Turning 26

I turned 26 on July 14, 2025, and now I'm making my way toward 27. Here I am, taking a quiet moment to reflect on what it means to have lived a quarter of a century. And honestly? I feel deeply grateful and content with the journey 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 really well for me. One thing I'm particularly proud of is becoming an expat, working abroad in Malaysia. It wasn't in the original plan—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 of rezeki and went for it.

Now, after a year living abroad, 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 majors but didn't get in. 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 to graduation. My final year coincided with COVID-19. Even my graduation was hybrid—half offline, half online. Despite the limitations, I was honored to be the valedictorian of MBS 2017 for the 2021 graduation period and delivered the alumni pledge.

During my 6th semester, I ventured into business and opened 'Teras Karsa Coffee & Tea Bar' in Jebres, Solo—an area heavily reliant on university students. One month in, COVID hit. Students went home. The coffee shop was forced to close.

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

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

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

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

A Note on Family

Two years after I graduated, my father passed away. It's a loss that still feels fresh sometimes. But I carry his memories and lessons with me, and I believe he looks down with a proud smile at who I am becoming.

As for marriage, honestly, I don’t have any plans anytime soon, and there’s no one in particular either. Well, maybe there is a name that sometimes finds its way into my prayers. I don’t know where God will lead me from here, but I believe that when it comes to the person meant for you, they won’t somehow miss their way to you. If someone is truly meant to be part of your life, no matter how complicated the journey is, somehow, you’ll find your way to each other. For now, my main focus is pursuing the LPDP scholarship for my master’s degree. Wherever the wind takes me after that, I’ll let time and destiny answer.

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 through this blog. It's my way of staying connected to my roots while embracing new experiences.