A glimpse into the story of drg. Anindita Brataningdyah, a March 2026 graduate of FKG UGM, shaped by resilience and empathy
On a scorching afternoon in a corner of the DLC Building at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), Anin walked in slightly hurried before sitting down and placing her bag beside her. “I just finished a graduation photo session with my classmates at GIK,” she said with a bright smile and cheerful laughter, eager to share her story.
The journey to becoming a dentist is often imagined as a story of academic achievement, clinical precision, and meticulous hand skills. However, for drg. Anindita Brataningdyah, a graduate of the professional dentistry program in March 2026 at the Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), the journey was far more than academic accomplishment alone. Anin’s story is one of resilience, empathy, and continuous efforts to remain human amid a profession that often demands perfection.
Born in Surakarta and affectionately called Anin, she did not initially dream of becoming a dentist. “Actually, I wanted to become a medical doctor. I even once considered majoring in international relations and becoming a diplomat,” she said with a smile.
Yet life led her to FKG UGM, a choice initially influenced by family considerations and its proximity to her home in Solo. Unknowingly, that decision opened a long journey that shaped her perspective on knowledge, profession, and humanity.
From Surakarta to Yogyakarta: Entering a Wider World
For Anin, leaving Solo to study in Yogyakarta was not geographically challenging. The cultures of the two cities are relatively similar. What surprised her instead was the academic atmosphere on campus. “When I entered UGM, I met friends from all over Indonesia. They were incredibly smart, and almost all of them had their own strengths,” she recalled.
At first, the experience made her feel insecure. However, those feelings eventually transformed into motivation to grow. She realized that being an outstanding student required more than relying on academic grades alone. The competitive environment became a vast learning space for her.
“If I only relied on report card scores or exam results, I wouldn’t grow. I learned so much from the people around me,” she said. That realization encouraged her to actively participate in various activities beyond the classroom.
Organizations, Competitions, and International Conferences
During her undergraduate studies, Anin did not focus solely on academics. She actively participated in organizations and international activities. At the faculty level, she joined the Indonesian Dental Student Senate Association (PSMKGI) and the Southeast Asian dental student organization APDSA. Outside organizational activities, she participated in numerous academic competitions, ranging from educational poster contests to scientific paper writing.
She also attended international conferences, including one organized by Harvard University during the pandemic. Although all activities were conducted online due to the global situation at the time, the experience broadened her horizons.
In addition, she joined an international student exchange program at Thammasat University, Thailand, in 2024. Her activities did not stop there. To support her expenses during clinical education, Anin taught online English public speaking classes. She also frequently worked as a master of ceremonies (MC) for seminars and public events.
Her routine was packed. From morning until afternoon, she was at the UGM Dental Hospital for clinical clerkship activities. At night, she taught English lessons.
“I teach from 6:30 PM until around 9:30 PM. Sometimes two to three classes,” she explained.
She spent weekends hosting various events.
She did all of this not only to gain experience, but also to help finance the patients under her responsibility during clinical training.
Anin was also selected as the 1st Place Winner of the Yogyakarta Language Ambassador competition, representing the province at the national level. She later won 3rd Place in the National Language Ambassador competition and received an award from the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education in 2023. During her one-year tenure as a Language Ambassador, her main responsibilities included promoting literacy through programs organized by the Yogyakarta Language Center, such as teaching and preserving the Javanese language.
When Her Mother Fell Seriously Ill
Behind her achievements and busy schedule, Anin’s journey was not always easy.
The hardest point in her life came when her mother suffered a stroke and remained in a coma for 30 days at the end of 2021.
At the time, Anin was undergoing an intensive practicum period that did not allow students to leave academic activities. The situation placed her in an extremely difficult dilemma. Yet it became one of the most multidimensional lessons she ever experienced.
“At that time, I was learning to become a dentist, to care for people. But when my own mother was sick, I couldn’t be by her side,” she shared.
She initially felt the situation was unfair. However, her family gave her the strength to continue her studies. They reassured her that the responsibility of becoming a future dentist also required personal resilience amid the pressures between private life and professional duty.
The experience ultimately changed the way she viewed life.
“In the past, I saw hardship as injustice. Now I see it as part of life that must be accepted and faced,” she said.
The Greatest Lesson: Becoming a Whole Human Being
Of all the lessons she learned during college, there was one value she considered most important: becoming truly human. According to her, the dental profession often demands perfection. Even small mistakes in clinical procedures can feel like personal failures.
Yet doctors are also human beings who are still learning. “We are taught to humanize patients. But sometimes we forget to humanize ourselves,” she said.
She believes that doctors who appreciate themselves as human beings will find it easier to treat others with the same empathy.
Experiences in Remote Regions
Anin’s perspective on the dental profession was also shaped by her field experiences. In 2018, she joined a teaching program in North Maluku, a remote area with limited healthcare access. To reach the community health center, residents had to travel by sea for two hours. Reaching a major hospital could take up to 17 hours.
She also participated in a Community Service Program (KKN) in Southeast Maluku, specifically on Kei Kecil Island. There, she discovered a surprising reality. “Even in Tual City, which is fairly large, there wasn’t a dentist at the time. There were only dental nurses,” she explained.
The experience made her realize the serious issue within Indonesia’s healthcare system: the unequal distribution of healthcare workers.
The Challenge of Equal Distribution of Dentists
According to Anin, many dentists are actually willing to work in remote areas.
However, there is one essential requirement: adequate facilities.
She believes the government must ensure transportation access, healthcare facilities, dental equipment, and educational support for the families of healthcare workers.
“If doctors are expected to live in remote areas for 10 or 20 years, then their families’ lives must also be guaranteed,” she said.
She emphasized that optimal healthcare services can only be achieved if healthcare workers themselves are treated humanely.
“How can we serve society well if our own basic needs are not fulfilled?” she asked.
The journey of drg. Anindita Brataningdyah demonstrates that academic achievement is not born from a path that is always smooth. The dental profession is built through perseverance, empathy, and the courage to continue learning from life experiences. In the midst of a fast-moving and increasingly competitive world, the message she holds onto remains simple:
“Becoming a good dentist begins with becoming a whole human being,” concluded the admirer of the literary works of Joko Pinurbo.
(Editorial Team: Andri Wicaksono, S.Sos., M.I.Kom | Photos: Fajar Budi Harsakti, SE & personal archive of drg. Anin)
