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Angelica’s path to ITB began during the pandemic. At that time, she had considered pursuing her undergraduate studies abroad, but the uncertainty of the situation led her to continue her education in Indonesia.

“ITB became the only clear option for me, and I felt that it was the path that opened up naturally,” she recalled. From the very beginning, she had her heart set on studying Product Design, a discipline that, in her view, connects creativity with social purpose.

“I have always been drawn to art and creative work, but I realized that product design can go beyond creating objects. It can be a way to solve social and environmental challenges. That conviction led me to study Product Design at ITB,” she said.

Throughout her years at ITB, Angelica was known for her deep interest in culture and local wisdom. This passion took root during high school, when she learned about Dicky Senda, a cultural activist from Mollo, NTT, who empowered local communities through creativity and local food initiatives. “After learning about it, I dreamed of contributing to social and cultural causes through design,” she shared.

That dream began to take form when one of her lecturers offered her an opportunity to join a research project in NTT, focusing on the development of the Timau National Observatory. Angelica agreed immediately.

“I said yes right away because I had always wanted to go to NTT,” she said. Although she was unsure what her specific role would be, she decided to take the leap and quickly learned to adapt. When her supervising lecturer suddenly fell ill during the trip, she had to take initiative and engage directly with local officials, including the village head and district leaders.

Her experience in NTT completely reshaped her perspective on what it means to learn and to engage with communities. For two weeks, she lived among local residents while conducting ethnographic research to understand how traditional knowledge of the stars shaped their daily lives. “I learned so much from the people there. They showed me how to determine planting and harvest times simply by observing the stars. Something that seemed so ordinary turned out to hold deep meaning,” she said.

From this experience, her final project emerged: the development of ethnoastronomy knowledge through the oral traditions of local communities. Through this work, Angelica discovered that knowledge is not confined to classrooms or academic theories but also found in the lived experiences of people. “Studying at ITB did not necessarily make me smarter. It taught me to be more humble and to listen,” she reflected.

She described her time in NTT as a turning point in her academic journey. There, she learned that true education is not only about mastering theories or achieving good grades, but also about developing empathy and understanding life from different perspectives. “For me, this journey was a school of life. I learned so many things I would never have encountered in the classroom,” she said.

As she concluded her story, Angelica shared a message for ITB students who are still on their academic journey. She encouraged them to appreciate every stage of the process, including the struggles along the way. “The learning process is not just about getting good grades or securing your supervisor’s signature. It is through failure and confusion that we learn the most meaningful lessons,” she said.

Angelica’s journey is a reflection of how knowledge and local wisdom can grow side by side. From an institute in Bandung to the fields of NTT, she has shown that design is not only about creating products but also about connecting people through empathy, culture, and humanity.

Reporter: Dina Avanza Mardiana (Microbiology, 2022)