“Every opportunity, no matter how small, can open the door to something greater.” This belief has guided Imtiyaz Alnatanisa, a student in the International Management Program at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU), on her remarkable journey to becoming the First Place Winner of the Outstanding Student Selection (PILMAPRES) at the LLDIKTI Region I North Sumatra level.
Born in Jakarta on December 19, 2004, Imtiyaz is the only daughter of Agus Salim and Erlinda Fitri. She is widely recognized as an active, high-achieving student with a strong passion for continuous learning and self-development through both academic and extracurricular activities.
She firmly believes that every opportunity—regardless of its size—has the potential to lead to greater experiences. This mindset has encouraged her to embrace new challenges and constantly push herself beyond her comfort zone.
Imtiyaz’s journey in the Outstanding Student Competition began during her sixth semester. Motivated by a desire to challenge herself and encouraged by her academic mentors, she decided to participate in the faculty-level selection.
Supported by her academic achievements, leadership experiences, and active involvement in various organizations and community activities, she successfully advanced through the faculty and university selection stages before being chosen to represent UMSU at the LLDIKTI Region I competition and subsequently at the national level.
Although she initially doubted her ability to compete alongside many outstanding students from other universities, the unwavering support of her lecturers, friends, and family strengthened her confidence and motivated her to prove her capabilities.
To prepare for the competition, Imtiyaz devoted herself to a comprehensive process that included completing administrative requirements, strengthening her presentation and English communication skills, and developing an innovative research-based project.
Working closely with her academic supervisors and the Chair of the Student Research and Creativity Center (SRCC) of the Faculty of Economics and Business, she conducted field research in Kampung Tahu Binjai and the Aksi Baik Binjai Foundation to better understand community needs and formulate practical, sustainable solutions.
She also deepened her understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which became an integral component of her competition project.
The greatest challenge throughout the competition was maintaining her motivation and emotional resilience while balancing academic responsibilities and intensive competition preparation.
Whenever she felt exhausted, she reminded herself of the long journey she had already completed, using each challenge as motivation to continue giving her best.
One of her most memorable experiences was meeting and interacting with outstanding students from universities across North Sumatra. Beyond the competition itself, she valued the opportunity to build meaningful friendships, exchange ideas, and learn from diverse perspectives.
For Imtiyaz, achievement is far more than receiving awards or recognition.
It is about using knowledge, experience, and skills to create meaningful contributions to society.
She summarizes her life philosophy in a single statement:
“Remain resilient throughout the journey, continue growing through every experience, and believe that every small step can become a path toward empowering others.”
Throughout her university years, Imtiyaz has accumulated an impressive portfolio of achievements at both national and international levels.
Her international accomplishments include:
- Champion, International Public Speaking Competition
- Participant in the Global Cultural Exposure Program in Penang, Malaysia
- First Place – Excellent Performance Category at the International Risk Management Roleplay Competition, organized by the Faculty of Accountancy, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia in 2025
At the national level, she earned:
- Bronze Medal at the 4th National Young Scientific Week
- Favorite Poster Award at the same competition
Beyond competitions, Imtiyaz has actively participated in community service initiatives and international collaboration programs.
She served as a delegate in the SULAM Project Malaysia, a collaborative program involving UMSU, where she conducted business analyses for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and provided recommendations to improve business sustainability and growth.
The experience enhanced her teamwork, cross-cultural communication, and problem-solving skills.
She has also been actively involved in public health education programs focusing on adolescent health, cervical cancer prevention, and stunting awareness through various community empowerment initiatives.
Her commitment to youth development earned her the title of First Runner-Up of Putri Duta GenRe (Generation Planning Ambassador) of Binjai City 2024.
According to Imtiyaz, her motivation to achieve excellence stems from her aspiration to become the person she envisions for her future.
She believes that every meaningful achievement requires perseverance through challenges, fatigue, setbacks, and failure.
Yet it is precisely through these experiences that personal growth takes place.
For her, university life is not merely about acquiring knowledge inside the classroom. It is about having the courage to seek new experiences, broaden perspectives, and create opportunities for continuous self-development.
This belief has inspired her to actively participate in competitions, student organizations, community service, and both national and international programs that have strengthened her communication skills, leadership abilities, and resilience.
Interestingly, Imtiyaz considers her younger self to be her greatest source of inspiration.
Every competition she has entered and every opportunity she has embraced—including representing UMSU at prestigious events—has reinforced one important lesson: true growth begins when we dare to step outside our comfort zone and keep moving forward, even when faced with uncertainty and adversity.
Today, Imtiyaz Alnatanisa stands not only as an award-winning student but also as a symbol of UMSU’s commitment to nurturing globally competitive graduates who combine academic excellence, leadership, social responsibility, and the courage to make a positive impact on the world.
