Passion, Purpose, and Persistence

“Know what you want, know your passions. Knowing what you want will help you a lot in achieving [your goals], so give it 110%.” This is the message Hanif Noegroho (Class of 2021) wishes to pass on to young people everywhere, but particularly students applying for JIS’s Bhinneka Tunggal Ika (BTI) Scholarship.

As one of two recipients of the program in its inaugural year in 2018, Hanif joined the JIS Class of 2021 with enthusiasm and purpose. He saw the BTI as a chance to not only study in a multicultural environment, but also deepen his skills in computer science and music, two areas that have long been his passion. At JIS, he found friends he still connects with today, a valuable support system, and the confidence to face life’s challenges head-on. He also embraced all the school had to offer — from completing the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma to performing in the IASAS Cultural Convention for Band.

After graduation, he continued his academic journey at the University of Toronto with a double major in computer science and environmental studies. He hopes to apply both disciplines in his work to make positive changes from within the oil and gas industry.

We had the chance to sit down with Hanif as he looked back at what drove him to apply for the BTI Scholarship, his time at JIS, and his goals for the future.
 

Congratulations on your new job! Can you tell us about it?

I'm working as an IT applications officer at an Abu Dhabi-based oil and gas company. So far, I’ve been involved with a lot of things even outside of the IT applications/software development scope, ranging from operations in IT, networks, and infrastructures, IT governance, and compliance. It is a very engaging job, which I'm happy about. IT has always been one of my biggest interests: the other being music.

Can you tell us a bit about your personal background?

I was born in Balikpapan, but in terms of ethnicity, I'm Javanese. My life before JIS involved a lot of moving because my parents got a lot of assignments in a variety of places. So, I've been moving around all my life — an average of once every two years. That really helped me in terms of getting a lot of different experiences. Even though I was so young at that time, these experiences helped make adapting to new environments part of my skill set and introduced me to all of my different interests, such as music and computer science.
 

What led you to apply for the BTI scholarship?

I felt like I needed an environment that would better support my interests, whether it be just by meeting people who will support me or having the tools to support me.

And I thought that the JIS BTI scholarship was something that could help with that. I really felt this scholarship would be more than just financial support; I felt it would help me grow.

I spent three years at JIS, Grades 10 to 12, and I'm very thankful for my experience. All the staff and faculty were really supportive, even if they weren't my teachers — JIS is such a welcoming community.

How did your time at JIS shape your perspectives and your aspirations?

Being at JIS, it didn't teach me just how to study; it taught me how to learn and grow, and pushed me to be more than my best self. Being at JIS taught me how to navigate socially and how to handle academic challenges. I remember physics being a particularly challenging course. It pushed me to improve how I communicate, whether it be with my teachers or my friends, and how to seek guidance because I knew help was always there.

You’ve achieved your goal of working in IT. What’s next?

I've already been thinking a lot about my future. Right now, my goals are focused on driving digital transformation. I’m particularly interested in streamlining complex business processes that are often slowed down by layers of inefficiency. I want to develop and implement digital solutions that make workflows more efficient and user-friendly, while maintaining high standards of accuracy, data integrity, and security. But in the short term, I just want to be able to grow in all areas — whether it be technical skills or social skills such as communication and leadership.

What advice do you have for current BTI scholars or students applying for the BTI scholarship?

I think the most important thing is to know what you like; know your passions. Knowing what you want will help you a lot in achieving [your goals], so give it 110%. 

And the second thing is balance. When I was in university, it felt like everything was about having to work extremely hard all day, every day. But rest is just as important as working hard. If you don’t rest, it will affect how you perform while you’re working hard.

Do you have any words of advice for the JIS Class of 2025?

My advice would be to appreciate the past and present while also thinking about the future. Life isn't always just going to give you what you want, but it's really about how you choose to respond and grow from each moment.