“Don’t Be Afraid to Try” Breaking Free from Post-Graduation Anxiety

Source: LPM Campus

Amid the hustle and bustle of college life, there is one invisible anxiety that almost always haunts the minds of both seniors and freshmen alike: the fear of what lies ahead after graduation. Fears of intense job competition, family expectations, and the confusion that comes from realizing that their desired career path may not align with their major often become a burden that saps their courage to move forward. Many end up trapped in doubt, afraid of making the wrong decision, and procrastinating because they feel unprepared to face the real world.

However, the life journey of Kinski Ridhwan Hafizh, often called Kiki, a 2019 graduate of the Sharia Economic Law program in the Faculty of Islamic Studies at Muhammadiyah University of Surakarta (UMS) serves as an inspiring example for anyone currently at such a crossroads. Kiki has proven that youth is the best time to experiment, and that post-college success belongs not to those who most strictly adhere to formal expectations, but to those who are boldest in taking risks and seizing opportunities.

Kiki’s story didn’t begin with a perfect scenario; from the moment he set foot on campus, he realized one important thing: that classroom theory is only a small part of life’s preparation. He wasn’t the type of student who was content to merely be a spectator in the academic world. To hone his mental acuity and resilience, the world of Food and Beverage (F&B) and retail became his first laboratory. He explored various positions, ranging from staff roles at Namdwa, Cool and Brew (CNB), and Lavana, to becoming a freelance reseller of Fairplay brand clothing in Solo.

Along that winding path, social challenges came one after another; in the early days of his job, his parents were concerned about his decision, worried that his focus on his studies would be divided. But instead of backing down, Kiki responded to their doubts by proving his integrity. Amid his busy schedule, he also honed his organizational skills at the UMS Student Cooperative (Kopma), developing communication, negotiation, and leadership skills that would later become his greatest assets.

The decision to work while attending college certainly came at a cost; Kiki had to think creatively to manage his time and academic workload so they would balance with his busy work schedule. Even so, Kiki officially completed his higher education in 2025.

Kiki graduated without a thesis through the Manuscript-Based Output (OBN) program, which requires students to have a legally registered business that has been operating for at least one year with a target of accumulating Rp100 million in revenue. In 2023, taking advantage of a long break from classes, he founded a beverage shop called Sekala Cokelat, located in Sumbergedong, Trenggalek.

The lack of significant startup capital didn’t deter his. Kiki’s clear concept and perseverance succeeded in convincing one of his professors at UMS to invest. Reality on the ground dealt him a harsh blow: on opening day, his business sold only two cups over an eight-hour shift. However, his resilience, honed in the F&B industry kept Kiki from giving up. He quickly refined his concept until his business went viral and gained a large following. Today, Sekala Cokelat stands strong and employs five people.

Kiki’s ambitions didn’t stop there. In 2026, he took things a step further by launching a second business venture called Terasa. Kiki deliberately chose a different location to test his business instincts in a new market segment. Currently, his second business is still in the development stage.

Interestingly, when asked about the correlation between his legal education and the entrepreneurial career path he is now pursuing, Kiki emphasized that the meaning of education should not be interpreted too rigidly. Success does not necessarily mean becoming a bank employee, lawyer, notary, or civil servant. A college education provides a mindset, ethical discipline, and professional communication skills, fundamental elements that serve as the primary fuel when he manages employees, negotiates with investors, and serves customers.

“We’re still young, we have a long life ahead of us,”

The deepest message from this journey is actually very simple yet intuitive: don’t let the fear of uncertainty stop you in your tracks. While you’re still young and full of energy, try new things without worrying too much about failure. We’ll never know where a door of opportunity will lead us if we never knock on it. As long as we’re willing to keep moving forward, hone our skills, and not be weighed down by others’ standards of success, the path to an independent future will always be wide open.

Writer: Nurhabibah Khoirotunnisa/Medicine’24

Editor: Sapna Fullaili/Architecture’25