From Al-Zaytun Community Service Tutor to Outstanding Graduate: Hartono’s Story of Breaking Through Educational Boundaries
By: Hartono, S.Pd. M.Pd (Al-Zaytun Community Service Tutor)
JAKARTA-JAYANEWS.CIM – “Education is not about how far someone has fallen, but how strongly they choose to keep going.” This saying seems to be embodied in Hartono. From a volunteer at an Islamic boarding school whose education stopped at junior high school, he has successfully embarked on a long journey that has led him to become an outstanding master’s graduate with a Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.97. Furthermore, he now stands at the forefront as a Tutor at Al-Zaytun Community Service, the institution that helped him find his path back to education.
Hartono’s journey was not one built overnight. Since 2000, he has served as an active volunteer at the Indonesian Islamic Boarding School Foundation. Amidst these community service activities, a burning hope remained: to continue his interrupted education.
Hartono’s formal education ended at junior high school (SMP). However, this limitation did not dampen his enthusiasm for learning. After years of social activities and service within the Islamic boarding school (pesantren), he decided to take a bold step. In 2010, Hartono enrolled in the Package C Program at PKBM Al-Zaytun, a non-formal educational institution that provides opportunities for the community to obtain a high school-equivalent education.
This decision became a turning point in his life. With perseverance and a strong sense of discipline, Hartono successfully completed his Package C program and graduated in 2013. Graduation was not merely a high school diploma, but also opened the door to greater aspirations.
A year later, in 2014, Hartono continued his education at the Al-Zaytun Indonesian Islamic Institute (IAI Al-Azis). He chose the Elementary Madrasah Teacher Education (PGMI) study program, a field that aligned with his experience serving in Islamic boarding schools and his passion for education. After a lengthy study process, Hartono earned his bachelor’s degree in 2021 with a GPA of 3.22.
However, for Hartono, a bachelor’s degree was not the end goal. In fact, that same year, he returned to the place that had changed the course of his life. Since 2021, Hartono has served as a tutor at the Al-Zaytun Community Learning Center (PKBM). In this role, he guides adult learners who are struggling to continue their education, just as he once was.
In the PKBM classrooms, Hartono not only teaches subject matter. He also shares his life experiences, his unyielding spirit, and his belief that age and background are no barriers to achieving higher education. His presence is clear evidence that non-formal education can bring about significant social change.
His commitment to education continues to grow. In 2024, Hartono continued his postgraduate studies at the Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri State Islamic University in Purwokerto, majoring in the PGMI Study Program. His studies, lasting one year, seven months, and six days, proved to be both challenging and challenging.
The results were truly impressive. In 2026, Hartono completed his master’s degree with a GPA of 3.97. This achievement demonstrated remarkable academic progress and reflected his unwavering commitment to learning.
The culmination of his academic journey was celebrated on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Amidst the solemn atmosphere of the graduation ceremony, Hartono was among the 475 graduates inaugurated by Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri State Islamic University in Purwokerto. This number consisted of 455 bachelor’s (S1) graduates, 18 master’s (S2) graduates, and 2 doctoral (S3) graduates.
For many, graduation may be merely an academic ceremony. But for Hartono, the moment symbolizes victory over the various limitations he has faced. He went from junior high school graduate, to Package C student, to undergraduate student, and finally to earning a master’s degree with distinction.
Hartono’s story provides a valuable lesson that education is a lifelong journey. It’s never too late to learn, improve oneself, and pursue one’s dreams. He also demonstrates the strategic role of non-formal education in opening access to education for those who previously lacked the opportunity to continue their education.
More than just academic achievement, Hartono’s journey demonstrates the importance of giving back to the community. After experiencing the benefits of education, he chose to return to the Al-Zaytun Community Learning Center (PKBM) as a tutor, helping others retrace his own path. From a student to an educator, from a beneficiary to a driver of change.
Today, Hartono’s name is not only known as an outstanding graduate. He is a symbol apan for adult learners, volunteers, workers, and anyone who has ever felt left behind in education. His journey proves that second chances always exist for those who have the will to continue learning.
Graduation on June 9, 2026, is not the end of Hartono’s story. Rather, it is the beginning of a new chapter of broader service. As a tutor at Al-Zaytun Community Learning Center (PKBM) and an outstanding master’s graduate, Hartono has demonstrated that education can change lives, and service can give meaning to every achievement. This feature has been compiled in a human interest media style: an inspirational lead, a chronological flow, reinforcement of the value of struggle, and an emphasis on Hartono as a PKBM Al-Zaytun Tutor born from the educational process at PKBM itself, thus possessing a strong inspirational power for adult learners.**
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