Written by: Lili Awaludin
Translated by: Khaila Bilqis Syaharani
On Friday, August 23, 2024, the Faculty of Adab and Humanities (FAH) held a graduation ceremony for its 99th cohort, celebrating 117 graduates. This event, which is routinely conducted before graduation day, took place in the FAH Auditorium on Campus 1, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati.
Eka Lusiana, a graduate of the English Language and Literature program and representative of the graduates, expressed mixed emotions of joy, sadness, and nostalgia, as she now transitions from being a student to having achieved her dream of earning a degree. She extended her gratitude to everyone who had supported her journey, including faculty, academic staff, and administration.
Vice Dean for Alumni Affairs, Student Services, and Partnerships, Dadan Firdaus, remarked that the number 99 holds special significance. He wished that this symbolic number would bring favor to the graduates, as not every student manages to complete their studies successfully. He emphasized that the services and connections provided to alumni do not end with graduation, urging the graduates to stay engaged with alumni tracking programs. He also noted that 108 of the graduates belonged to the 2020 intake, indicating that nearly 90% of FAH students graduated on time.
The best graduate or highest GPA achievers was awarded to Dian Purnomo from the Islamic Civilization History program with a GPA of 3.91, Fitri Widyawati from Arabic Language and Literature with a GPA of 3.78, and Neng Tya Muthia from English Literature with a GPA of 3.81.
During the ceremony, alumni, faculty, and students joined together in singing songs such as “Allah Karim (Allah is the Generous)” and “Menunggu (Waiting).”
The Dean of FAH, Dedi Supriadi, reinforced that the number 99 symbolizing the asmaul husna (the 99 names of Allah), which serves as a prayer and hope for the graduates to realize their dreams soon after completing their undergraduate studies. He explained that FAH’s tagline, #humanis (humane), emerged from students feedback desiring that the leaders of the faculty, lecturers, and administrative staff remain friendly and responsive.
The Dean shared an Arabic proverb that means “learning is a journey that never ends.” He hopes that the graduate will continue to feel the need to learn wherever and whenever they are. The dean refers the need to learn to enhance their personal capacities. He emphasized that what was they learned at the university was only “a drop in the ocean”, and life itself is “an endless sea of knowledge”.
