(Inspirational Story) – Surabaya, Monday, October 6, 2025 – Being active in various fields and achieving success in them should be something every student should strive for. That's roughly what Afrizal Naufal Ghani, an alumnus of the Islamic Economics Bachelor's degree Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), who recently graduated cum laude on Saturday (October 4) at the Airlangga Convention Center, Campus Merr (C), UNAIR, believes.

For Ghani, as he's familiarly known, campus provides ample opportunities for each student to continue growing and developing according to their individual interests. Continuing to engage in activities and exploring every opportunity allows students to gain more experience, rather than simply learning by sitting in a classroom and listening to lecturers or peers presenting assignments.

"UNAIR is truly comprehensive. Whatever potential we have, UNAIR provides it. Do you like martial arts? We have a lot of martial arts student clubs (UKM)! If you were active in the Student Council (OSIS), you can also try executive organizations at the study program and university levels," he said.

Cultivating a Hobby of Writing and Organizing

Since the beginning of his first semester, Ghani's active involvement has been evident. He served as the class coordinator for the Islamic Economics Department of 2021. As a COVID-19 student, coordinating over 240 students virtually was certainly no easy feat. However, this is where he learned leadership skills that would later open new doors in the academic world.

Besides being a class committee member, Ghani was also active in the Student Executive Board (BEM) of FEB UNAIR, specifically in the Department of Strategic Studies and Action (Kastrat). His last position was head of department there. His passion for writing and political economy has made him find a healthy home there. For him, BEM and Kastrat are not just about being on the committee for activities, but also a place to hone his thinking and become more mature.

His interest in writing also continued to grow throughout his studies. He was an active journalist for two years at UNAIR Public Relations. From there, he learned how public relations and journalism work. Eventually, Ghani gradually began to build a broader network on campus. His face often appeared on various campus social media accounts, including as a host for several UNAIR content. Most recently, Ghani was trusted to host a podcast with UNAIR Rector 2015-2016, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Nasih as a resource person.

"Since I was a freshman, I've had a goal to build networks at various levels. And I'm working towards that. At the department level, I'm active in the committee committee, at the faculty level, I'm active in the Student Executive Board (BEM), and at the university level, I'm active in UNAIR Public Relations. Ultimately, my network has become broader and more diverse," he added.

In addition to his work with UNAIR Public Relations, his writing career continues to this day. He established his personal blog on medium.com and continues to write on various topics. His writings have also frequently appeared on various national media outlets, such as detik.com, kompas.com, and Antara. Now, his personal blog account is one of the most followed Indonesian-language accounts.

Trying Another Chance

Not only that, Ghani also tried his luck as a public speaker. He actively speaks at various forums, both as an announcer, moderator, and resource person. His passion for literacy (reading, writing, and speaking) has made him less nervous when facing large crowds. Most notably, he was a keynote speaker at TEDx Universitas Airlangga, an international non-profit organization that has invited renowned speakers from around the world.

"Communication skills, both verbal and nonverbal, seem to be crucial, especially for students whose mission is to share their knowledge with the community," said the Paragon scholarship recipient.

Ghani isn't just trying to maximize his organizational and hobby skills; he's also trying to broaden his experience through internships. He was a recipient of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology's internship program for two consecutive years, first at PT. Paragon Technology and Innovation and second at PT. Nutrifood Indonesia. This experience has given him a better understanding of how the world of work works.

"If I may suggest, I think there are six things you should at least try to do while studying: academics, organizations, competitions, internships, community service, and international activities," he concluded.

In 2023, Ghani finally earned the title of Most Inspiring Student at FEB UNAIR. It was a truly memorable achievement for him. This achievement wasn't the end, but rather a driving force to become even better.