Meet Christina, a final-year International Business Management (IBM) student with a GPA of 3.9. She came from a small island near Batam called Tanjung Balai Karimun. She’s currently participating in BINUS Enrichment Program as an intern at J&T Cargo’s Quality Cargo Centre.

More Than Just a Student: Christina’s Campus Life in Motion

From her very first semester, Christina didn’t just attend classes but she began building an active campus life through BINUS ENGLISH CLUB (BNEC). What started as a way to improve her English skill soon grew into deeper involvement. By the second semester, she became an Human Resources Department (HRD) staff in BNEC, handling training sessions, recruitments, interviews, and team gatherings. She also took on committee roles for two major BNEC events. Where she learned budgeting, financial reporting, media negotiation, MoA handling, and creating poster design layouts. In the third semester, she earned the SASC Mentoring Scholarship and taught Accounting for Business once a week, adding another meaningful responsibility to her routine.

Just when things seemed busy enough, the fourth semester brought a major step up for Christina. She was promoted to HRD Manager in BNEC, leading 8 staff members and overseeing 13 work programs. This role strengthens her leadership and teamwork skills. Then the fifth semester became Christina’s busiest chapter yet. Alongside being a student and HRD Manager in BNEC, she also became a SASC Mentor for three mentees across multiple subjects and took on a part-time role as Management Laboratory Assistant, teaching four Business Statistics classes. Despite her packed schedule, Christina has no regret. These experiences transformed her from a shy person into someone confident in communication, public speaking, teamwork, and leadership.

Christina’s Study Habits That Keep Her Ahead

Christina shared that her way of managing her time between classes, organization, and studying is by creating a priority list based on urgency level, from the most urgent to the least, and always completing every task as soon as possible. For studying, her best method is the Podomoro technique, which helps her to balance study time and social life. She also stated that she developed a habit of reading the study material before classes begin to avoid confusion. 

During exam week, she usually takes 3 – 2 weeks beforehand to write summaries for every course and even open a free tutoring session for her friends where she becomes the mentor to help them prepare for exams. Christina also shared her tips for avoiding procrastination, such as taking short breaks to engage in social activities or going to the gym. She also gives herself small rewards after completing a task or achieving something to keep herself motivated.

When Challenges Become Fuel for Growth

Even with strong habits, university didn’t exist without its challenges, especially when unexpected academic hurdles appeared. Christina’s toughest moment came during her Financial Management class. With only a week to catch up under a new lecturer, Christina chose not to panic, instead she studied intensively and reached out to friends from other classes for notes and exam materials. It was a stressful moment, but it taught her resilience and the importance of seeking help when things get tough.

Tips for Thriving in College — Not Just Surviving

Christina shared tips and tricks for students who want to achieve what she has by finding the best way to manage their time and understanding whether they prefer working alone or in a group. She encouraged students to not be afraid to explore new things and step out of their comfort zones. She also shared tips for freshmen on how to use their time on campus more effectively such as joining an organization, becoming a mentor, or serving as lab assistants like she did to build wider connections and enhance soft skills. However, she also noted the importance of taking on only what you can handle– avoiding too many activities that may feel overwhelming. Joining one organization is recommended. 

Written by,

Kylla Kirsten Jonathan – 2602146090

Vanka Adinda Wahyudi – 2602119732