Everyone has their own rhythm in life’s journey. For Windi Susetyo Ningrum, an alumna of the Indonesian Literature Program at the Faculty of Humanities, Diponegoro University (class of 2010), life has been about courage—daring to knock on new doors, even when they seem unfamiliar and challenging.
Born in Sleman in July 1992, Windi grew into an independent and adaptable individual. Her passion for traditions and language led her to pursue Indonesian Literature with a specialization in Philology. It was here that her intellectual foundation was shaped, culminating in her graduation as the best graduate in 2015 with a cum laude distinction.
A Turning Point: Between Idealism and Reality
After graduation, the reality of the job market was not always as smooth as expected. While waiting for a permanent position, Windi worked as an assistant teacher at a kindergarten in Tembalang. However, her desire to keep learning never faded. Inspired by her lecturers, she decided to take a bold step into a new field—Anthropology at the University of Indonesia.
Recalling her father’s advice, “If it’s easy, everyone can do it,” Windi found the motivation to persist through the challenges of transitioning disciplines. That determination eventually led her to earn her Master’s degree in 2018.
Building “Athena” from Scratch
The real challenge came after completing her postgraduate studies. At one point, she felt lost and returned to square one. Following her father’s suggestion, she began offering private tutoring lessons in Semarang. Starting with almost nothing and relying on support from friends, she gradually built her student base.
What began as an effort to avoid unemployment turned into something much greater. Her dedication to teaching paid off, and she successfully established a tutoring institution called Athena. Through this experience, Windi developed extraordinary patience, dealing with students of diverse abilities, including those with special needs.
Journey to Kalimantan and Academic Service
A greater opportunity eventually came her way. After several attempts at civil service recruitment, Windi was accepted as a lecturer at the University of Palangka Raya. Moving to a different island brought significant cultural adjustments—from weather differences to limited facilities compared to Java.
Nevertheless, her experience teaching at Athena became invaluable in handling students from diverse cultural backgrounds. Today, Windi serves not only as a lecturer but also as a department secretary. One of her notable achievements includes contributing to her department’s accreditation process, which successfully earned an “Excellent” rating.