UNDIP, Semarang (August 16, 2025) – The presence of Felicia Hestiawan captivated thousands of participants at Diponegoro University’s 2025 new student admission ceremony (PMB) at Muladi Dome, Tembalang Campus, on Friday, August 15, 2025. Felicia, a 2022 student of Chemical Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, has become widely recognized as one of UNDIP’s most accomplished students, bringing honor to her alma mater on an international stage.
At the event, Felicia delivered an inspiring talk titled “The Power of Doing Your Best.” She shared her long journey of overcoming setbacks, including being rejected by more than 10 universities and failing five scholarship attempts, which she turned into fuel to keep rising.
“Failure brings strength. From there, I learned never to stop trying. Don’t be afraid of failure, because from it you will find new strength,” she told the crowd of freshmen.
Felicia also introduced two concepts for new students—“Starterpack Freshmen Against Burnout” and “Freshmen Against Stress Culture”—which contain valuable yet straightforward tips. “Be adaptive and flexible, never underestimate small things. Dare to challenge yourself and keep a balance between mind and knowledge,” she said.
“Motivation means nothing without action. Make your decision today, Diponegoro Muda, to always do your best,” Felicia urged, greeted by loud applause.
Since her early college years, Felicia has been actively involved in student organizations while consistently challenging herself in academic competitions, including essay and scientific writing contests. For her, UNDIP has provided vast opportunities to explore her potential. “I received many opportunities from campus, from funding support for competitions to chances to conduct research and invaluable learning with professors,” she said.
Her achievements span far and wide, including first place in the 2025 KURVA Kujang Fertilizer Innovation Competition, first place in the 2024 APEC YES Challenge in Thailand, champion of the Paper and Poster category at DERRICK 2023, and recognition as Jawa Tengah’s Outstanding Student of 2025. Behind these accomplishments, Felicia stressed the importance of focus, repeated research, and teamwork. “I’m used to brainstorming to find truly new ideas. That makes every competition a valuable learning experience,” said Felicia, who entered UNDIP through the regular Independent Admission path.
For her, UNDIP’s tagline “Noble and Valuable UNDIP” is not just a motto but a responsibility. “As a UNDIP student, I feel obliged to be useful to society with the knowledge and work I produce. Through achievements, I also want UNDIP to be increasingly recognized, not only in Indonesia but worldwide,” she said firmly.
When asked about her greatest motivation, Felicia answered sincerely: “I want to challenge myself to see how far I can go. Representing Indonesia in research is an honor. But above all, the most important thing is my family’s happiness. The proud smile of my parents is priceless.”
She described her experience in the 2025 Clash of Champions Season II as both tense and exciting. “At first, I was intimidated by such outstanding competitors, but I learned to give my best effort—not only for myself but also for UNDIP. I believe my presence at CoC can ignite other students’ spirits to compete,” she said.
To thousands of UNDIP freshmen, Felicia left a final message: “Four years of college go by fast. While you still have the chance to learn and even make mistakes, take advantage of it. Don’t be afraid to try, never stop achieving, and never be easily satisfied. Let’s advance research and aim for achievements not only at the national level but also at the international level. Let’s make our alma mater proud on the world stage. Long live the students!” she concluded with passion.
Through her journey of perseverance, Felicia stands as a living example of how UNDIP students can contribute to realizing the vision of becoming a world-class university while embodying the spirit of “nobie and valuable UNDIP.” (Public Communication/ UNDIP/ DHW)