Passion and Resolve in Every Word

As silence filled the meeting room at The Patra Bali Resort & Villas, Nura Sabilla’s heart pounded, her mind scrambling to find the right words. A lag in the video threatened to derail her presentation. 

For a moment, doubt crept in, her words were out of sync with the visuals, and her mind felt blank. But instead of freezing, she decided to improvise. “I thought to myself, just go with it. Match your words to the scene. Don’t overthink, or you’ll make it worse,” she told us during our interview. 

Thinking quickly, she adjusted her narration to match the video, even adding a touch of flair by including pantun to keep the audience engaged. By the time she finished her presentation, the final scene of the video synced perfectly with her last words. It felt like everything had come together, almost as if it had been planned that way all along.

The room then roared with applause, and the judges nodded in approval. One of them even complimented her for her clear pronunciation, especially with some of the trickier Indonesian words.

When the winners were finally announced, Nura was stunned. She earned second place in the Bahasa Indonesia news reporting competition at the Festival Handai Indonesia 2024. “Alhamdulillah, when I first got here, I just wanted UMS to be proud of me. And now I did it,” said the 25-year-old student, beaming with pride.

Still, Nura vividly remembered the moment she learned she was a finalist. “It was already evening, and my roommate suddenly screamed, ‘Nura you are going to Bali!’” Nura recounted, laughing at the memory.“ The shouting and laughter were so loud that other residents of Pesma joked it sounded like a supernatural event.

Her path to the Festival Handai was far from easy. Though she was familiar with public speaking, thanks to storytelling competitions and her experience as a vlogger, this news reporting competition was on a different level. It pushed her communication skills to the limit.

“News reporting is really hard, especially in non-native language,” Nura admitted. Initially, she wanted to compete in storytelling, a familiar territory for her. But her mentor, Dr. Dipa Nugraha Suyitno, encouraged her to take on the news reporting category instead.

“I was hesitant but If I keep doing the same thing, how will I grow?” she reasoned.

Preparing for the competition was tougher than she had anticipated. The theme of environmental protection left her racking her brain for ideas until she finally chose Waduk Cengklik, a reservoir near UMS, as the focus of her report. With Dipa’s guidance, she spent hours crafting her script, perfecting her delivery, and learning the nuances of news reporting. 

“It’s formal and precise, and you really can’t afford to mess up a single word,” explained Nura.

Nura was candid when asked about the filming process. With no professional equipment, Nura borrowed a tripod and an iPhone from friends. Battling harsh sunlight and tricky angles, she made the best of the situation. Editing proved even tougher. “I probably made it worse by trying to make everything perfect,” she said with a laugh.

Nura’s determination comes from her upbringing in Yala, a predominantly Muslim town in southern Thailand. She was raised in a tight-knit farming family where education was highly valued. “My mother always tells me and my siblings that one of you should pursue a master’s degree,” recalled Nura. 

Her love for language began early. A visit to the airport to see her cousin off to Dubai left a lasting impression. The elegant English announcements sparked her dream of learning the language, “When I was in elementary school, I went to the airport to see him off, and I heard an announcement. I was amazed! It sounded so elegant. That’s when I knew I wanted to learn English.”

In 2018, Nura began her studies at UMS, pursuing a bachelor’s degree. Like many students around the world, her education was disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Returning to UMS in 2023 to begin her Master of English Education program, she was amazed by the university’s progress. The improved facilities and growing international student community made her proud to be part of the university. Currently, she enjoys the diverse community at UMS, which brings together international students from all over the world.

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“My class has students from Thailand, Yemen, Palestine, Laos, and Indonesia. We help each other out. Each of us has unique strength and so we help each other when we’re struggling,” said the first semester student.

Despite this lifelong love for language, Nura acknowledged that pursuing a master’s degree is quite a challenge. Nura reflected on her bachelor’s degree, noting that while assignments were frequent, they were more manageable compared to master programs. “Now, the assignments are fewer but much harder. For example, I have to publish an academic article just to pass one subject!”

Her time at UMS has led to countless unforgettable experiences. By joining multiple summer camps organized by universities across Indonesia she had the chance to explore the country, visiting cities like Yogyakarta, Malang, Jember and Bandung.

“I already knew enough Bahasa to communicate, so I thought, ‘Why not join a summer camp?’ It was a chance to travel, see new places, and experience more of Indonesia.”

Those summer camps became some of the most memorable experiences for Nura, it became the opportunity to immerse Nura in Indonesian culture, connect with students from all over the world, and build friendships that would last a lifetime. 

“The environment is so much more fun than sitting in a classroom,” Nura said. “You get to meet people from other countries, exchange ideas, and build a network. That kind of connection is so important.”

Studying at UMS marks a defining chapter in Nura life. “This whole experience has been a blessing. Every step has shaped who I am today,” she said.

UMS stands out to her as a hub for cultural exchange and academic growth. “If you want to continue your education, UMS is a wonderful place to do it. The international community here is so diverse, and it creates so many opportunities to learn and network,” she shared.

As the interview came to a close she reflected on her experience. “Every day here is a chance to learn, not just from my studies but from the people around me. It’s such a unique experience,” she concluded.