Proprietary

Please do keep in mind that these essays are written based on the author’s personal
experiences and shared for educational purposes only. It is strongly advised that you draft your
own essay and not rely solely on either the author's or other awardees' essays to avoid
plagiarism.

Best of luck on your application!

 Enrique Owen
IISMA 2022 Awardee to the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America

Discuss your academic and non-academic achievements, including the process

and skills involved in your previous or current degree program!

I was only six when I won my first award and have always been a competitive individual
ever since. During my high school years, my grit led me to achieve numerous
achievements despite many failures, the most prestigious of which was being the Bronze
Medalist at the Singapore and ASEAN Schools Maths Olympiad. Eventually, I was
accredited as the best graduate and gained admission to my dream university, Universitas
Gadjah Mada. Shortly after, I was granted a fully-funded, prestigious scholarship by
Tanoto Foundation, which fueled my motivation to excel even more. As a penultimate-
year student studying Chemical Engineering, I can say that my major is immensely
challenging. Besides having a rigorous academic schedule, I was still determined to
develop myself and take part in various non-academic activities. To emphasise, I have
participated in international online conferences such as the Asian Student Leadership
Conference, volunteered at several community services in Yogyakarta, and been invited
as a speaker at national events, e.g., Pahamify Campus Fair, Pekan Beasiswa, etc.
Moreover, I have always been active in organisations and events, because I am aware of
the skills and experiences they bestow. Recognized as a person with good interpersonal
skills and superior leadership qualities, I am honoured to lead 100 more individuals with
their own personal goals and impacts as the President of Tanoto Scholars Association.
Academically, I have consistently shown outstanding scholastic performance and hard
work, as evidenced by my 3.83 GPA. Indeed, none of the aforementioned achievements
came in the absence of joy and adversity, including burnouts, failures, and rejections.
These obstacles never stopped me from moving forward and striving for excellence.
Instead, I learned how to manage my time effectively, be persistent, lead both myself and
others, and created a stronger personal brand. Coming from a small town in North
Sumatra, I believe I have grown so much as an individual, being independent, agile, and
open to new opportunities. With big ambitions of studying abroad, I am confident that the
skills and experience I have gained can help me adapt overseas and make the most of my
time there.

(347 Words)

@enrowen on IG & Tiktok // @_dexterus on Twitter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriqueowen/
 Enrique Owen
IISMA 2022 Awardee to the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America

Please outline your plans to engage with local and international communities during
the IISMA program using clear examples!

Upon the importance of seizing every opportunity IISMA provides, I have curated a
balanced outline to enhance my studies whilst building connections and familiarity with
the communities I am placed into. To begin, I plan to spend my pre-departure days
conducting extensive research and discussions in order to enrich myself with everything
related to the University of Pennsylvania and the United States. Once I get accepted, I
intend to volunteer as a student representative and strive to be the best awardee. This
will be accomplished by actively participating in student organisations and even simple
events like the ones held by each college house, while still prioritising my academic
studies. Once I set foot in the US, I envision myself as an Indonesian ambassador who in
daily engagements will preserve the compassionate, warm-hearted, and studious image
of Indonesians. It is in my best interests to conform to their communities and understand
the social and cultural norms around them. I aim to actively engage with Indonesians and
international students there by applying to several Penn Clubs, including Penncasila, Penn
TechnoGrads, and Penn DiscoverMates. I also plan to nurture the Penn Indonesia Cultural
Fair by Penncasila and increase its exposure, as it would be an honour to contribute to
such a phenomenal showcase of Indonesia or any event of similar intent. As a student
with an engineering background, it would be life-changing to exchange ideas with other
engineering enthusiasts from UPenn through Penn TechnoGrads. With Penn
DiscoverMates, I expect to have a platform to share more about Indonesia and experience
cultural diversity while gaining international exposure through meaningful friendships and
exploration of the vibrant Philadelphia community. Holding the spirit of giving back to the
community—before, during, and after my stay—I will be sharing my IISMA experiences
through workshops and content creation on social media platforms. In addition, I aspire
to befriend myriads of people with similar goals and interests (i.e., other IISMA awardees)
with whom I shall collaborate in assisting future awardees. I truly hope that my time there
benefits not only myself but also many others including my home country, Indonesia.

(350 Words)

@enrowen on IG & Tiktok // @_dexterus on Twitter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriqueowen/
 Enrique Owen
IISMA 2022 Awardee to the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America

Discuss a time when you faced a difficult academic challenge or hurdle and how
you navigated through it!

I recalled going through a period of burnout as I felt emotionally exhausted and physically
fatigued in December 2020. To put it succinctly, I was stuck in an unhealthy obsession
where the idea of productivity constantly dangled in my head. Regardless of how packed
my schedule was, I kept looking for new opportunities. This impulsiveness was a mistake
and the sheer number of responsibilities I had to carry turned out as the crux of a long-
standing problem. At that time, I was in my sophomore year which was an extremely hard
year for my major. I had to handle three organisations, compete in a study case
competition, prepare for my finals, revise a webinar proposal, and fulfil other obligations
simultaneously. Not to forget, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the situation. I was
unaware that my physique and mentality struggled to keep up with the activities, resulting
in a cynical feeling towards my work. It was only after experiencing sleepless nights and
loss of appetite–which resulted in constant boredom and inability to focus–that I realised
I was burning out. Eventually, I decided to take some time off to reevaluate my goals and
simply relax. I started to keep my life on track by writing down my plans for the day and
exercising regularly. As luck would have it, I was surrounded by supportive people—my
family and friends—who wholeheartedly heard my situation out. They convinced me that
this was a necessary part of being alive, thus I fought back. When I finally became aware
of my own predicament, I realised that the way to overcome these obstacles was by
getting them done. Despite countless setbacks, I was able to get my priorities straight and
finish all my work. Along the way, I persevered and developed a growth mindset. Albeit
losing the competition, I still earned a 3.98 semester GPA, and the webinar I led went off
without a hitch. As a result, my solid work ethic secured me positions and life-changing
opportunities. Nowadays, I no longer deal with burnout, on account of my dedication,
resilience and the well-planned strategy I put on.

(350 Words)

@enrowen on IG & Tiktok // @_dexterus on Twitter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriqueowen/
 Enrique Owen
IISMA 2022 Awardee to the University of Pennsylvania, United States of America

Explain your health condition (i.e., dental and oral treatment/medical

treatment/covid-19 medication/mental health therapy/counseling)!

Being mentally and physically well is a promise I made to myself. For that reason, I have
always tried my best in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. I am proud to say that I have never
consumed alcohol or smoked before. Additionally, I am an active person when it comes to
working out and balancing a nutritious diet. These might be the reasons why I have never
been diagnosed with chronic diseases or hospitalised for both dental and medical
treatment. Even though I have experienced burnouts in the past, I am fortunate enough
to never have had the need for mental health counselling. Besides, coping with burnout
and stress is no longer a problem for me, thanks to my regular workouts, meditation, and
support system. All in all, I am now in a fit state, and I am certain that my health will not
trouble me while studying overseas. Despite being fully vaccinated, I still contracted
COVID-19 and tested positive in February 2022. The symptoms I experienced were a
headache, sore throat, and mild fatigue. Thankfully, these symptoms only lasted barely a
day, and all I needed to do was consume enough vitamins as well as get enough rest to
recover completely. I took a rest day and got back to being productive in the following
days. For an extrovert like myself who loves to engage in direct conversation and study in
public spaces, it was definitely a tough experience as I had to isolate myself for ten straight
days. Furthermore, this isolation impeded me from attending classes on campus and
conducting laboratory research for my thesis. I expected those days to be lonesome and
boring, but I got invigorated instead. It made me realise the importance of adhering to
the safety protocols, not only for COVID-19 but also for diseases of any kind. Luckily, my
academic supervisor was kind enough to let me take a week off which I used to prepare
for IISMA, including taking my English proficiency test. After making the most of those ten
days, I became more aware of my surroundings and felt stronger than ever.

(349 Words)

@enrowen on IG & Tiktok // @_dexterus on Twitter

https://www.linkedin.com/in/enriqueowen/