Succeeding in higher education is not only about earning an academic degree. For Suryanto, a graduate of the Social Welfare Study Program in the Faculty of Da'wah and Communication (FDK) at UIN Sunan Kalijaga Yogyakarta, the road to graduation holds a long story of steadfastness, the courage to face limitations, and the determination to be of benefit to others.

Among the 687 graduates at the Period I Graduation Ceremony of Academic Year 2026/2027, held at the UIN Sunan Kalijaga Multi-Purpose Building on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, Suryanto was one who carried a story of his own. As a person who is blind or visually impaired, he proved that limited sight does not have to stand in the way of pursuing higher education and realizing one's dreams.

Two things were his greatest sources of motivation throughout college. First, the wish to make his parents happy. Second, the dream of becoming a social worker who can advocate for the interests of people with disabilities.

His wish to become a social worker is not without reason. He sees that people with disabilities still face many problems, including in having their rights fulfilled before the law and in community life. His experience as part of the disability community has made him understand that the struggle for an equal life still needs the attention of many parties.

His college journey was not without obstacles. Suryanto admits that he once reached the point of nearly giving up and considered taking a leave of absence. Later on, he faced another test when he broke his hand. The situation left him frustrated for a time, but he chose to keep trying until he got through these hurdles.

Support from the campus environment was an important part of his journey. Suryanto felt the help of the Disability Service Center (PLD) and the accommodations lecturers offered during his studies. For him, equal acceptance was a valuable experience as part of the wider UIN Sunan Kalijaga family.

He felt he received the same learning opportunities and academic assessment as other students. For him, equal treatment does not mean giving special privileges but giving every student a fair chance to grow and show what they can do.

However, the experience also made Suryanto realize that efforts to build an inclusive campus still need to be strengthened. He pointed out that lecture buildings are not yet fully accessible for students with disabilities, especially students with physical disabilities who need elevators or ramps to reach upper floors.

In addition, access for blind or visually impaired students still needs improvement. The absence of accessible signage, such as Braille lettering or recognizable directional symbols, means blind students still need assistance finding classrooms.

In his view, accessibility should be part of an education service system designed from the start, not just a fix when students with disabilities run into difficulty. In this way, every student can reach facilities and take part in academic activities independently and with dignity.

Now that he has completed his bachelor's degree, Suryanto wants to step into the world of work in the field he studied. He hopes to contribute as a social worker, whether through a Social Affairs Office (Dinas Sosial), a foundation, an orphanage, or other social institutions.

He also has a message for friends with disabilities who are still hesitant about going to university. He urges them not to feel inferior and to start building confidence, even if it has to be done little by little.

He still remembers when he first lost his sight. At that time, he felt ostracized and did not receive good acceptance from the community. But slowly he worked to get back on his feet, rebuild his confidence, and prove that he, too, has a chance to achieve his dreams.

"Don't feel inferior, be confident. Anything can be worked toward. If there is conviction and will from the heart, God Almighty will provide a way. Because with every hardship there is ease," he said.

Suryanto's story is a reminder that educational success is measured not only by the degree earned but also by a person's courage in facing challenges and the determination to give meaning to others' lives. At the same time, his story calls on universities to keep widening accessibility and to make sure every student, in all their diversity, has an equal chance to learn, grow, and achieve.

For Suryanto, graduation is not the end of the journey. It is the start of the next step toward realizing his dream: becoming a social worker and advocating for a more inclusive life for people with disabilities. (humassk)