Hi, my name is Muhammad Arifin Dobson, people usually call me Arifin or Ipin, but I don’t have a brother called Upin. I’ve just graduated from the Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Information Technology (FTIS), Parahyangan Catholic University (UNPAR). In this article I will tell you a story about my experience studying in Physics.
I would like to thank all of my amazing lecturer especially in Physics; the Faculty staff, Board of Deans, and all of my friends, I am proud to call you guys my new family.
It all started when I attended an Internasional Physics Conference (https://www.ntu.edu.sg/ias/PastEvents/2014/OCPA8/Pages/Speakers.aspx) to present my research about Solar Thermal Collector, before this event the thought of studying physics was never in my mind, all I wanted is Mechanical Engineering. After three days of direct exposure to frontier physics and discussion with prominent physicist from all over the world, my brain sparked, I made a decision that I will study physics, deal. I went back and told my dad that I will go to UNPAR to get my Physics Degree. Why Physics at UNPAR? Well there are several reasons.
First, I know a lecturer from a national science competition, he is an expert in physics show and somehow he knows tons of other interesting physics facts, he is Janto V. Sulungbudi, because of him I am interested in physics so I can also know tons of knowledge, because physics is the foundation of Science with mathematics as the language. Second, I contacted the head of the Department, he told me that there are several scholarship available, if I am lucky I can get the scholarship until I finish my study. Third, the culture, students can easily contact the lecturer to ask questions even do a research together. Fourth, the students community, Bengkel Sains is a community formed by the physics student to teach science in a fun way to schools as an extra lesson and yes you will get knowledge and salary as the bonus of teaching. That is the four reason that I know before I signed the application letter, guess what a week later I submit my document to PMDK, signed the paper, received the scholarship, and enjoy the holiday when my friend are all having headache trying to find a campus. Thank god I live close enough with UNPAR so when waiting for the term to start, I can play in the lab and conduct several experiment, yes true story.
After four years studying, interacting, processing and exploring in the Physics Department, honestly the four reasons I told you before, is not enough to explain why I love physics. But I am just going to tell you three more, just t keep it simple
First, it is about the relationship, the culture in the Physics Department and the faculty really encouraged me to achieve something, I experienced a research in collaboration with the Informatics Department and Center for Innovative Learning to make an equipment for the army, a laser gun for combat training, also the cross department competition to solve a given problem in less than 3 days, such as the University Physics Competition and MCM Mathematical Modeling, the experiences really enriched my knowledge.
Second, it is about the support. Physics and physicist are always labeled as an awkward something, well maybe we are, but that is for a good reason. Anyway what I am going to tell you is the support given by the students, lecturer and the faculty members to do something outside our department, you can join a community, organization, or even lead one of them. My experience has been great, I was given the opportunity to be the Chairman of Physics Student Council and be the Vice Chairman of the University Student Council. Some of my friend also become the Chairman of one of the community in UNPAR.
Third, it is about the quality of the lecturer and the diversity of knowledge. You can background check the lecturer here, what I can say is here in UNPAR you can taste the various flavor of physics, for myself I’ve tasted Medical Physics, General Relativity, Particle Physics, Quantum Mechanics, Electronics, Instrumentation, Computational Physics, and the list goes on. In the end you can choose which one you will dig more into by choosing it as your final project theme. I choose the Computational Particle Physics. It is not common to be able to taste many flavors of physics, but you can do it here.
Well to wrap up the long story, I have a point here that you guys have to remember, I am not saying that everyone should go to Physics, but for those who want to know the secret and love to explore the mystery of the universe you should go to physics, even for those who still confused and afraid of Physics, you can always contact and visit the department. That is the story of my journey in Physics at UNPAR, not everyone will have the same journey, but I will tell you my secret recipe, fill your adventure with curiosity and don’t be afraid to step into new domains.
Cheers,
M. A. D.
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The author is a student of 2014, one of the LXVIX Judicium participants held on Friday, August 10, 2018 at the Faculty of Information and Science Technology of Parahyangan Catholic University. The LXVIX Judicium was attended by 57 prospective graduates. Congratulations to all graduates!
~SW98~