Stories From a quiet village to the heart of agronomy: The making of a top scholar

Limbung, a quiet corner of Gowa in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, moves at its own calm rhythm. Here, the streets are lined with familiar faces. Parents teach not by lecture, but by doing — planting, repairing, and showing up. And children carry those lessons forward in how they speak, work, and dream.

From this place comes Muhammad Arham Hakim, the youngest of four, whose quiet determination carried him far beyond the village roads he walked every day. In 2025, he graduated as the Best Graduate of the SMART Scholarship, an annual scholarship programme by our subsidiary Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food. It was a moment that filled his parents with pride and opened a new chapter in his life.

His story shows how strong values and a belief in education can open opportunities for those who dare to dream.

Roots that shape a dream

Arham likes to joke that he was raised by two very different teachers: his father’s discipline and his mother’s patience. His father, once a private-sector worker, taught him to value time and responsibility. His mother, a kindergarten teacher, nurtured his curiosity and encouraged him to ask questions.

“I was raised by hardworking hands,” Arham says. “My parents’ effort is the reason I can stand where I am today.”

Their support shaped his worldview. They lived simply, their home full of warmth. Moral values came first, long before grades and awards.

One principle from South Sulawesi became his inner compass: “Kualleanga Tallanga Natoalia,” – I would rather drown than retreat. The phrase reminds him to stand firm when challenges rise around him.

Even as a child, he understood what school could mean. Watching a sibling step into campus life planted a quiet hope. By the time he was in junior high school he’d decided: He wanted to study, not just for himself, but for the opportunities it could unlock for his family.

“For me, a degree is more than a piece of paper,” he says. “It’s skills, opportunities, and a chance to build a better future for my family.”

The path to opportunity: When ambition meets access

Before joining the SMART Scholarship, Arham had already taken his first steps into university life. He studied at a campus in Makassar while serving as the head of a community organisation at the subdistrict level.

One day, while scrolling through social media, a scholarship information page caught his attention. The post introduced the SMART Scholarship from Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food. Curious, he clicked.

He began reading about the programme, the facilities, and the experiences of previous awardees. The more he learned, the clearer the picture became. This scholarship offered more than tuition support. It included mentoring, a peer community, and a direct pathway into one of Indonesia’s key industries.

He decided to try. Each round of the selection came with its own demands – and he had to make it all fit into an already packed schedule:

• Registration and online psychology test where he shared his background, aspirations, and completed an initial assessment.
• Online academic potential test to measure his analytical and problem-solving ability.
• Interview – a conversation that explored his motivations and readiness for the programme.
• Medical check-up to ensure he could take part fully in campus life and future field assignments.

“Those weeks trained my time management,” he says. “I needed to honour my commitments in Makassar while giving my best in every selection step.”

His efforts paid off. The day the acceptance news arrived, a deep sense of relief and gratitude washed over him. “When I became an awardee, it felt like my world grew bigger,” he says. “I saw a clear line from my village to an industry where I could contribute.”

Growing through challenges and learning to lead

At ITSB (Institut Teknologi Sains Bandung), Arham chose the Palm Oil Processing Technology programme with a specialisation in plantation management. He wanted to contribute to an industry that plays a significant role in Indonesia’s economy and provides millions of jobs.

“Palm oil supports many families. I hope my work can support its sustainability.”

University life brought fresh challenges. To stay within the top ten students, he needed strong discipline and a healthy sense of competition with himself. SMART Scholarship also encouraged involvement in student organisations, so he joined the BEM (Student Executive Board) KM-ITSB.

“Being in BEM helped me see that organisations can support learning,” he says. “As long as I managed my time, it became a place to practise leadership, not a distraction.”

His final thesis was one of his toughest tests. “Finishing my thesis felt like lifting a heavy weight,” he remembers. “It taught me persistence and the courage to seek help when needed.”

When graduation day finally arrived, he received the title of Best Graduate of ITSB 2025. Standing on stage, he searched for his parents in the crowd. Their eyes were full of pride.

“I felt deep gratitude,” he says. “Joy, relief, emotion, all mixed together. This achievement came from many people, especially my parents and the SMART Scholarship team.”

Walking toward a future built with purpose

Today, he is undergoing training in the SMART Agro Assistant Agronomy programme. The training brings him closer to plantation life, where he can apply what he learned in class to real fields, trees, and teams.

His dreams stretch further into the future. He hopes to continue his studies to bachelor and postgraduate levels. With a strong interest in people development, he also imagines a long-term career in the Learning and Development team at Sinar Mas Agribusiness and Food, guiding future generations of students and young professionals.

“I enjoy sharing stories and motivating others,” he says. “One day, I want to stand in front of young people and tell them that they can also reach their goals.”