EduAsiaNews, Jakarta – Starting from a remote area in Pulau Burung Subdistrict, Indragiri Hilir (Inhil) Regency, Riau, Yosua Christian Hia, a student of the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences (FISIP) at the University of Indonesia, has successfully carved out a series of impressive achievements at both national and international levels throughout the fifth semester of 2025.
Coming from a regional school background with a limited competitive ecosystem, Yosua demonstrated remarkable consistency across various academic and debate competitions. Amid these accomplishments, he also faced profound personal loss following the passing of his father in the same year. Nevertheless, the hardship did not dampen his determination to continue growing and excelling.
Over the course of a single semester, Yosua collected numerous prestigious awards. One of the most notable was being crowned Grand Champion of the International EXCESS Essay Competition, which brought together participants from five countries—Malaysia, the Netherlands, India, Germany, and Indonesia. In addition, he secured multiple titles in international essay competitions as well as open inter-university debate tournaments.
For Yosua, participating in competitions is not merely about pursuing medals, but also serves as a space for personal recovery and a means of sharpening critical thinking skills. He views the process of writing and debate training as a way to maintain mental well-being while sustaining academic productivity.
“I believe that winners are always born out of failure. The real question for us is this: are we willing to fail in order to become winners?” Yosua said.
Throughout 2025, Yosua recorded the following achievements:
1st Winner – International Essay Competition “Creation 2.0”, Malikussaleh University
Best Paper – International Essay Competition “Creation 2.0”, Malikussaleh University
1st Winner – National Essay Competition “Gelora Kebangsaan”, Syiah Kuala University
1st Winner – International Essay Competition EXCESS, University of Lampung
1st Winner – Open Debate UI Mine Summit (UIMS), University of Indonesia
2nd Winner – Open Debate LSF Championship, Brawijaya University
2nd Winner – Essay Competition, University of North Sumatra
3rd Winner – Open Debate PECO, University of Jakarta
3rd Winner – Open Debate KDLK
3rd Winner – Open Debate Pancaraya, Indonesian University of Education
Best Speaker – Open Debate Pancaraya, Indonesian University of Education
Beyond non-academic accomplishments, Yosua believes that the skills he gained through competitions—ranging from writing and research to argumentation and critical thinking—have significantly supported his academic performance.
He hopes that his journey can inspire other students, particularly those from regional areas, to trust the process and have the courage to seize opportunities for self-development.
The faculty noted that Yosua’s achievements not only enhance the institution’s reputation, but also serve as evidence that opportunities for excellence are open to anyone who consistently learns and dares to rise beyond limitations.
