A Small-Town Dream, A Global Impact: Bryan on the Power of Education
5 August 2025
Trishaws and water buffaloes.
Those were the day-to-day scenes that Bryan traded in when he left his village to further his education in the city centre alone.
He was only 13 then.
Growing up in the outskirts of Jember, Indonesia, Bryan witnessed promising peers giving up on education as they couldn’t see how it could help improve their economic status. Many were also pressured by their parents to start work early to help the family.
But Bryan’s family thought differently.
With the support of his parents, Bryan continued his junior high school education in the city centre where he would stand a higher chance of getting into a better high school.
Everything from sights to culture was a completely new experience for him.
“My friends talked about the latest games, used the newest gadgets, and often discussed new movies I hadn't even heard of,” he recalled. “I felt left out because my phone couldn't run the games they played, and I couldn't relate to most of their conversations.”
“I even struggled to order online rides, something they did so naturally. Back home, we simply used pedicabs.”
Experiencing this disparity firsthand shaped Bryan. He began dreaming of creating systems to bridge socioeconomic gaps.
Understanding that knowledge, when directed by purpose, can be a powerful instrument for societal transformation, Bryan sought to pursue his higher education in Singapore. It wasn’t just the academic credentials he was after — he knew he needed the networks to create meaningful change.
This led him to pursue a diploma in International Business with Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) where he was later accepted into the SIM-University of Birmingham’s Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in International Business.
“I chose Singapore because it allows me to meet students from diverse backgrounds and cultures,” Bryan reasoned. “The facilities are also guaranteed, from education to transportation, and health. Therefore, I feel that I am fully supported to develop myself.”
“It also allows me to experience two systems of education: Singapore’s and the United Kingdom’s.”
Having completed his diploma at SIM, and about to begin his undergraduate programme, Bryan commented, “SIM gave me more than just classroom lessons. It provided me with a place to grow personally — both in knowledge and mentality — through a global curriculum taught by high-calibre lecturers, with lessons applied to the real world.”
FROM LIVED EXPERIENCES TO MEANINGFUL IMPACT
This drive to address social disparities extended beyond academics, leading Bryan to engage in impactful volunteering experiences.
From creating financial literacy workshops tailored for youths with Young On Top to being a National Ambassador for Dealls, organising career workshops for jobless youths in rural Indonesia, to empowering people with special needs at Bedok Youth Society For The Disabled with their employment journey, Bryan has a heart to serve the communities around him.
“This passion first grew from seeing the needs of people around me where I lived,” he recollected. “Many children do not have dreams about what they will do in the future; most of them just live a mediocre life, going with the flow.”
This was further cemented when Bryan had the opportunity to give back to Jember — the place where he came from.
“It was one of the most emotional things I’ve ever done,” Bryan described. “Seeing Jember, with all its constraints, motivates me to help. It is something that I cannot ignore.”
“I also wanted the children in my village to see that someone like them could come back as a changemaker.”
During the expedition, he came across a nine-year-old girl who was initially very quiet. Influenced by her upbringing, she felt that there was no need for her to pursue education. However, after Bryan shared stories about female leaders, global cultures and how the world works, her eyes sparkled as she began to have dreams and hopes for the future.
“Education is not only about changing people’s skepticism, but also about helping them achieve their dreams,” Bryan affirmed. “It strengthened my belief that knowledge can be used as a catalyst for lasting change.”
The beneficiaries weren’t the only ones benefiting from this exchange. Bryan explained that each opportunity was a way to develop a more holistic understanding of what it means to serve.
“Volunteering taught me things textbooks couldn’t: empathy, patience, negotiation, and the power of listening,” he posited. “It didn’t take away from my studies; it added depth to them.”
EDUCATION AS A RIPPLE EFFECT
With his outstanding academic achievement and commitment to driving positive change, Bryan was awarded the SIM STARRR Award before the start of his undergraduate programme.
Covered under the SIM Impact Fund, the STARRR Award honours new undergraduate students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, displayed leadership potential, and embodied the values of a SIM student.
Up to $6 million will be disbursed annually over the next decade through the SIM Impact Fund via various scholarships, awards, and overseas trips, making learning opportunities more accessible and inclusive for students from diverse backgrounds.
For Bryan, this scholarship would alleviate his parents’ financial burden. It is also SIM’s investment in his education which would result in a ripple effect where lives and communities will be transformed.
Bryan agrees, seeing this opportunity not as an endpoint, but as the beginning of a long-term relationship with SIM.
“Coming from a small town, I understand the value of being given an opportunity, and I want to make the most of what SIM has to offer,” he explained.
He continued, “Receiving the award means hope. It means that someone from a small village can achieve their dreams, no matter how lofty they may be.
“It also means responsibility. This award isn't just about me — it represents every student from a small town who wonders if their story matters. It's my reminder to keep pushing and serving.”