Hello World: Why I Chose Information Systems

Tags: Personal Growth, Information Systems, Education, Technology

The Spark: Internet Cafes and Cheat Codes

If I had to give you the short version of how I ended up majoring in Information Systems, I would say it was simply the best option presented to me. But the real story is a bit more complicated—and it starts back in elementary school.

Back then, computers and the internet were fancy, expensive luxuries. My father introduced me to the internet on a small laptop he used for work. While I was mostly interested in PC games, he taught me the basics of the digital world: how to create an email address and how to set up a Facebook account (even though I was far from seventeen, I just set my birth year to the 1990s and went with it).

At school, we had a computer lab with maybe a dozen or twenty Intel Pentium-powered PCs. My favorite activity was playing Plants vs. Zombies with my friends, and occasionally even with my teacher. By the 6th grade, my curiosity had expanded. Outside of visiting the local library, I started spending my time at the local internet cafes, or it is called as warnet. I would spend hours Googling, playing Facebook games, and—most importantly—hunting for cheat codes with my friends. That thrill of figuring out how a system worked and how to manipulate it was my first real introduction to IT.

The First Heartbreak: A Change of Plans

By the time I was in the 3rd grade of junior high, I knew I wanted to leave my hometown for high school. My sights were set on SMK Telkom Malang to major in IT. I was so determined that I even sacrificed my final year study tour, saving the trip money just so I could afford to travel and take their entrance exams.

The testing involved both academic and health assessments. I was confident in my academics, but the health test included a color blindness check. Before I left for Malang, I Googled what this test looked like, downloaded a PDF of a color blindness test book, and printed it out to test my sisters. Looking at the pages myself, I had a sinking feeling: I couldn't see the correct numbers even not seeing it at all.

When I finally took the official health test in Malang, my fears were confirmed. I failed. The doctor diagnosed me with partial color blindness. My mom didn't believe it at first and took me to a hospital for a second opinion, but the result was the same. Because it is genetic, there was no cure. My dream of going to that specific IT school ended right there.

The Detour: Oil, Gas, and Thermodynamics

I was frustrated, but I still wanted to study outside my hometown. During a family gathering, an uncle suggested I try SMK Migas Cepu, an oil and gas school in Blora. I took the entrance exam—which strangely also included a color blind test that I somehow passed—and I was accepted.

I ended up majoring in Refinery Engineering. Instead of coding and computers, I spent the next three years learning the physics and chemistry of fluids, petrochemicals, heat transfers, thermodynamics, and distillation processes. To be honest, it was incredibly difficult, but also surprisingly fun.

As graduation approached, I tried to map out my future. I took a scholarship test for President University via Ruangguru and actually passed, securing an 80% tuition discount. Unfortunately, due to my own lack of reading the terms and conditions carefully, I hadn't realized there were options that offered a 100% scholarship. My parents couldn't cover the remaining 20% of the expensive tuition, so I had to let it go. I tried testing for public universities and failed. I tried looking for a job in the refinery field, but it was incredibly difficult for a fresh graduate—especially one with partial color blindness.

The Scam That Wasn't

Then, one morning, I received a random message stating I had been selected to register at Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani Yogyakarta, and that they had scholarship slots available.

Since most public and private university registrations were already closed, I immediately thought it was a scam. I checked Google Maps, and it only showed a university in Cimahi, West Java. My suspicion peaked. But after a bit more Googling, I discovered they had recently merged and rebranded into a university (previously STMIK and STIKES A.Yani Yogyakarta). It was real.

Determined not to repeat my previous mistake of ignoring the fine print, I interrogated the contact person. I asked how they got my number, what the exact scholarship slots were, and what faculties were available. The options came down to the Engineering and Information Technology faculty. Specifically, I had three choices: Information Systems (Bachelor's), Information Systems (Diploma), or Information Technology (Bachelor's).

Choosing Information Systems

To make the right choice, I took a personality and talent test on a platform called YouthManual (now rencanamu.id). The results showed I was well-suited for both IS and IT.

I dug into the curriculum differences. I learned that Information Technology was heavily focused on networking and security, while Information Systems was how to utilize technology for business. That unique point hooked me. I chose Information Systems. After running the numbers on potential costs, I opted for the 4-year Bachelor's degree over the 3-year Diploma, because why not?

The Takeaway: Nothing is in Vain

Today, as I sit in my university classes learning about digital architectures, I often reflect on my time studying Refinery Engineering in high school.

I used to study physical things—fluids I could see, feel, and smell. Now, I study things that are entirely digital; things that have no physical shape and vanish the second the electricity is cut. But the truth is, those three years of learning complex engineering systems weren't wasted.

The biggest lesson I have learned so far is that knowledge is never in vain. The core concepts of understanding a process, optimizing a system, and mapping an architecture are exactly the same, whether you are distilling crude oil or processing digital data. You just have to know when to use the tools you've been given. No regrets!