EduAsiaNews, Surabaya — Annas Sholihin could have given up when financial constraints nearly halted his journey midway. However, the graduate from Sampang, Madura, chose instead to double his determination. His perseverance ultimately paid off when he was named the best graduate at the Master’s (S-2) level at Universitas Negeri Surabaya (Unesa), achieving a perfect GPA of 4.00 at the 118th Graduation Ceremony in early February 2026.
Annas’s journey demonstrates that limitations are merely opportunities to test creativity. Beginning his undergraduate (S-1) studies through the independent admission pathway, he faced significant financial hardship.
Rather than taking a leave of absence, he assumed greater responsibility by working as a scout instructor at three schools simultaneously. The income he earned was carefully saved to ensure that he could complete his academic responsibilities without interruption.
“If I had given up at that time, the story might have been different. I have always believed that difficulties simply challenge us to be more creative in finding solutions,” Annas recalled.
This resilient mindset continued throughout his master’s studies. Annas completed his graduate program in just 1.5 years.
Notably, from his very first semester, he had already begun his thesis research, which later secured funding from the DPPM BIMA program of the Ministry of Education.
At its peak, his scientific article was published in a reputable international journal indexed in Scopus Q1 in June 2025.
Although he had the option to graduate without a thesis defense through the publication track, Annas chose to complete the entire academic process. “For me, the academic journey is not only about speed, but about completeness and merit,” he emphasized.
Annas’s perseverance is reflected in his remarkable productivity. To date, he has registered 142 Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and published more than 23 national and international journal articles.
His name is now recognized in the field of mathematics education research, with an h-index of 10 and a Sinta score of 88—an exceptionally rare achievement for a master’s graduate.
One of his notable innovations is the development of ethnopedagogy-based learning media. He integrates local Madurese culture, such as the Karapan Sapi tradition, into mathematics classrooms to make learning more relevant to elementary school students. For him, education must remain rooted in its cultural origins.
Currently, through a fast-track program, Annas has advanced to doctoral (S-3) studies even before receiving his master’s degree certificate.
From a small village in Madura to achieving the highest academic honors at Unesa, Annas Sholihin has proven that when someone chooses to keep moving forward, the world will open pathways for them.
