The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) of the Universitas Indonesia (UI) takes great pride in the achievements of its students in 2024. Blasius Bayu Widiastono Wiranto, a student from the Nutrition Study Program at FPH UI, has demonstrated extraordinary ability in balancing academic achievements with non-academic activities. Amidst his thesis writing, Bayu successfully represented Banten Province in the sport of Rugby at the 2024 National Sports Week (PON) XXI in Aceh-North Sumatra, the largest multi-event sports competition in Indonesia, held every four years. The 2024 PON, the 21st edition, took place from September 9 to 20, 2024, with Aceh and North Sumatra serving as the host regions.
Bayu shared the efforts he and his team went through to compete in this year’s PON. “To compete in PON, each provincial team must go through a qualification stage, usually through the national championship or pre-PON. The team I represented from Banten was required to win a medal in the 2021 pre-PON. Thankfully, our team won a silver medal and advanced to PON,” said Bayu. He mentioned that he prepared himself with intensive training after qualifying from the pre-PON. “Since 2021, we have trained 5-6 days a week. The training includes physical exercises, technical skills, and practice matches, both as a team and individually,” he added.
Bayu also expressed his gratitude for the full support he received from FPH UI during his preparation for PON. “I felt very supported, especially by my friends at FPH, the staff, and the lecturers in the Department of Nutrition who encouraged and appreciated me. Even my thesis supervisor understood my busy schedule as I prepared for PON while working on my thesis,” Bayu explained.
In the Rugby event, there were six male and six female teams competing. The winners were determined based on the rankings for gold, silver, and bronze medals. At this prestigious event, after a series of challenging matches, Bayu once again earned recognition as a rugby athlete, bringing home a bronze medal.
The Vice Dean for Education, Research, and Student Affairs at FPH UI, Dr. Ir. Asih Setiarini, M.Sc., also expressed pride in Bayu’s achievement. “While you’re young, challenge yourself to seize every opportunity that comes, both academically and outside of academics. This will enrich you and become a valuable portfolio for the future. There is so much that can be learned from Bayu’s experience; time management, bringing honor to your region, networking, and more. Congratulations to Bayu and the Banten Province Rugby team for winning the bronze medal at PON 2024,” said Dr. Asih.
In closing, Bayu shared motivational advice for his fellow students at FPH UI: “Don’t be afraid to be active in non-academic activities because there are many opportunities to be gained. Maintain good communication with lecturers and academic staff, and if you can balance both academics and non-academic activities, it’s amazing. If you feel like you’re falling behind, don’t forget to catch up. Enjoy the process and appreciate the progress.”
Through his dedication in both academic and non-academic fields, Bayu has proven that students can excel in various areas simultaneously. (DFD)