“What is needed in this era is not only expertise, not merely intelligence, but integrity,” — Emmanuaela Widya Kristianti
Emmanuaela Widya Kristianti graduated Cum Laudewith a GPA of 3.82, completing her studies in 2 years and 5 months. She had moments of despair but rose again and leaped even higher. “I am not the type who is naturally smart, but I am persistent. My motivation to learn is also very strong. In pursuing the dentist profession education program, I could not have done it alone. I had close friends who supported and helped me, and that had a huge impact on me,” said Emmanuaela Widya Kristianti, better known as Nuela.
“During my co-assistants clinical training, I once felt like a failure. Everyone must have experienced being scolded by lecturers—whether for patient indications, misdiagnosis, or wrong treatment planning. I often stopped my co-assistantsclinical training. I felt traumatized to return again, and I stopped. Everything I expressed during discussions seemed wrong and was rejected. I felt unworthy of becoming a dentist,” said Nuela.
Nuela’s struggles deepened during her rotation in Oral Medicine, when she stopped going to RSGM and stopped seeking patients. “At that time, I needed about 2–3 weeks where I truly questioned myself. That was really my lowest point,” explained the alumna of SMAN 8 Yogyakarta.
Yet, her parents constantly motivated her, reminding her that the journey thus far was the result of long-held prayers and her lifelong dream. She promised her parents she would be the first doctor in her family. A principle she holds dear is: wherever gold is, it will always remain gold. What is needed today is not only expertise or intelligence, but also integrity, which her parents instilled in her.
Author: Andri Wicaksono | Photo: Fajar Budi Harsakti
Editor: Shinta
