Albert Lukas Hasugian, a student in the Entrepreneurship Study Program at the SBM ITB, has been named the Second National Outstanding Student. Albert shared that he was not always an academic high achiever.
“I wasn’t even get into the top 10 at school,” he said.
From that point, he began to share his long journey, shaped by hard work, self-awareness, and a strong determination to make a meaningful impact on his surroundings.
The Turning Point of a Realization
Albert did not grow up as a “born genius.” He admits that he spent more time playing than studying during elementary school.
The turning point was in his 6th grade. It was then that he realized that his family did not come from a privileged background. He witnessed firsthand how his parents sacrificed so that their children could pursue higher education.
“My parents always said that education can change lives,” he recalled. “My sense of urgency emerged at that time. I realized my parents were working incredibly hard to pay for my education. So I felt I had to achieve, at least not waste their efforts.”
Since then, his passion for learning grew. The first competition he won in third grade sparked his ambition and awareness to work hard. The prize was a bicycle.
“It was my first bicycle, and I didn’t get it from my parents, but from my own efforts.”
This experience served as concrete proof that hard work can truly change a life. He learned that every effort, no matter how small, yields results if pursued with determination and sincere intention. From there, his journey to various achievements began.
An Unexpected Step to Mapres competition (Outstanding Student competition)
Becoming an Outstanding Student was never actually part of his university plans. However, encouragement from his lecturers and his experience participating in various competitions opened new paths he had never imagined.
“I applied for the faculty’s Mapres competition on a whim, and I actually made it. That’s when I realized that by becoming Mapres, our voice and impact can be much greater. Being Mapres isn’t about the title, but about how we can inspire others and scale our impact,” he explained.
In the competition, Albert brought a creative idea called “Paduan Biru,” a sustainable business initiative that combines social and environmental issues.
“Bandung is a garment city, but textile waste is a major problem. On the other hand, many local tailors don’t earn a decent living. I wanted to combine those two problems and find a solution,” he said.
Through Paduan Biru, Albert and his team process denim waste into fashion products while empowering local tailors. “We’re not just selling products, but also instilling meaning behind them, about sustainability and well-being,” he added.
Although it seemed smooth sailing from the outside, the journey to Mapres Nasional was full of challenges. The biggest challenge for him was managing his time amidst his busy schedule.
“That year, I was working on my thesis, participating in competitions, interning, and also having an off-campus program. It felt like 24 hours wasn’t enough,” he said. He learned to adjust his pace and maintain flexibility in carrying out each responsibility.
When Failure Becomes a Starting Point
Behind his many achievements, Albert also has stories of failure that have become important lessons. One example is when he failed to qualify for the IISMA program, something he had long aspired to.
“I had prepared everything since my first year—grades, organization, essays, interviews—but failed. It felt like my world was falling apart.”
However, that failure opened a new path. “The next day, I interviewed for the Uniqlo Global Management Program and was accepted. I used all my IISMA preparation for this program,” he said.
That moment became a turning point in how he viewed failure. He learned that effort is never wasted, even if the results don’t meet expectations. For him, failure is a process for growth. “A baby can’t run if they don’t fall first. Falling is part of the process of learning to walk.”
Now, after a long process, Albert views achievement not as an end state but as a journey. The experience of winning and losing has shaped him into a stronger, more resilient person.
He realizes that achievement doesn’t always have to be in the form of an award or a title.
“In my opinion, being an Outstanding Student doesn’t mean having to have a prestigious title,” he said. “Everyone has their own achievements. You are your own prestigious title in your own way.”
For him, every student has their own path to growth and impact. Achievement isn’t about who stands out the most, but about who keeps progressing, learns from failure, and keeps striving for their best.
Albert believes that the true meaning of “achievement” is seeing one’s own journey as a form of progress, no matter how small the steps.
