In a world where technology often dictates opportunity, where high-end laptops and blazing internet speeds are seen as essential tools for success, one young woman in Papua proved that true determination doesn’t need perfection—only persistence. Her name is Tinamid Selegani, a final-year student in the Accounting Department at Cenderawasih University, Jayapura. She didn’t go viral for the usual reasons. There was no glamour, no fanfare, no filters—only a story of grit, resilience, and an unyielding desire to finish what she started.
Tinamid completed her undergraduate thesis—a task that overwhelms even the most well-equipped students—with nothing but a smartphone.
This is her story. And it’s a story worth telling—not just because of the limitations she overcame, but because of what it says about the strength of Papuan youth and how much brilliance can emerge from the most unexpected places.
When the Laptop Died, Her Spirit Didn’t
It started, as many stories of struggle do, with loss. Tinamid’s only laptop, already aged and prone to malfunctioning, finally gave out in the middle of her thesis preparation. It wasn’t a minor glitch. It was a complete failure—a lifeline to academic tools, documents, spreadsheets, and digital communication severed without warning.
In Jayapura, replacing a laptop isn’t as simple as walking into a store or placing an order online. With economic limitations and logistical challenges, especially for many students from rural or remote parts of Papua, such an option was beyond her reach. And so, many would have understandably stepped back, postponed, or even abandoned their thesis altogether. But Tinamid chose otherwise.
She looked down at the one functioning device she still had—her phone—and decided it would be enough.
The Battle on a 6-Inch Battlefield
Thesis writing is already a marathon of patience. It involves literature reviews, citations, statistical analysis, formatting, constant revisions, communication with supervisors, and tight deadlines. For Tinamid, every one of these steps happened through a tiny touchscreen.
Using a combination of mobile applications such as WPS Office, Google Docs, Google Drive, WhatsApp, and sometimes even manual screenshots to track data edits, she pieced together chapter after chapter on that small screen. Creating tables, correcting citations, checking plagiarism reports, and making the necessary academic references—all while dealing with the limitations of mobile software, low memory, battery issues, and intermittent internet.
She shared in interviews that the experience was exhausting but also empowering. It forced her to focus, to be more meticulous with every tap and scroll, and to value every minute of productivity the phone could offer before it overheated or the power cut off.
Her greatest lesson wasn’t just academic—it was that tenacity beats technology.
Behind the Screen: A Personal Story of Loss and Resilience
Tinamid’s journey wasn’t just marked by technological hurdles. Her personal story reveals deeper layers of perseverance.
She had lost both her parents before her thesis journey began. As a young Papuan woman, navigating university life in Jayapura without the emotional and financial support of a family was already a tall mountain. She credits her strength during those trying times to her younger brother, Ferdinan Selegani, who became her greatest motivator.
“He kept reminding me why I started. He told me not to stop,” Tinamid recalled in one interview. “He said, ‘You’re almost there. Don’t let anything stop you now.’”
In a world that often overlooks the personal struggles behind academic achievements, Tinamid’s story stands as a quiet yet thunderous reminder: the strongest students aren’t those with the best tools, but those with the most heart.
Going Viral—and Sparking a National Conversation
What began as a local success soon caught national attention. Photos of Tinamid after her thesis defense showed her standing proudly, holding signs that read: “AKHIRNYA SARJANA JUGA CUY!!” (finally, become a bachelor).
Her image spread rapidly across TikTok, Instagram, and online media platforms. It wasn’t because she finished fastest or earned the highest grade. It was because her story embodied what many students across Indonesia feel—the deep tension between ambition and adversity, and the will to overcome it.
Tinamid didn’t ask to go viral. She just wanted to graduate. But her quiet triumph resonated far beyond Papua. She became a symbol of perseverance, especially for students in remote regions facing financial hardship, technological inequality, and mental health challenges.
Papuan Youth: Breaking Stereotypes with Every Step
In the national media, narratives about Papua often focus on poverty, unrest, or underdevelopment. Rarely do we see headlines that celebrate its intellectual spirit, resilience, and academic achievements.
Tinamid’s story breaks that pattern. It shatters the stereotype that Papuan youth are behind. On the contrary, it showcases the power of Papuan students, many of whom struggle daily with limited infrastructure, lack of access to digital tools, and systemic neglect—but who still rise, still fight, and still finish.
Her story is proof that Papua is not a place of scarcity—it is a place of strength. That behind every barrier stands a potential breakthrough, if only someone has the courage to push.
What We Can Learn From a Smartphone Thesis
Tinamid’s experience speaks volumes, not only to students but also to educators, policymakers, and tech companies.
For students, her story is an invitation to rethink their excuses and rediscover their own inner strength. For universities, it is a wake-up call to improve digital access and equipment support, especially in underserved areas. And for the rest of us, it’s a reminder that dignity, brilliance, and innovation are not confined by geography or device.
She didn’t just write a thesis. She created a movement of inspiration—unintentionally, but powerfully.
The Final Screen: A Message to the Nation
As of now, Tinamid is officially an accounting graduate from Cenderawasih University. She awaits her graduation ceremony not as a symbol of hardship, but as a beacon of hope.
Her story teaches us that you don’t need the most advanced tools to produce something meaningful. What you need is vision, discipline, and the courage to begin—even if your journey starts with a phone screen.
So the next time someone says success is out of reach, show them Tinamid’s story. Let them know that somewhere in Papua, a young woman stared at a cracked phone screen—and saw her future in it. And then she built it.
Conclusion
Tinamid Selegani’s journey is a testament to the resilience and brilliance of Papuan youth. Despite lacking access to proper technology, she proved that determination and creativity can overcome even the most daunting limitations. Her story challenges perceptions about Papua, inspires students across Indonesia, and reminds us that perseverance—not privilege—is the real key to success. In turning a phone into her thesis weapon, Tinamid didn’t just graduate; she ignited a movement of hope and empowerment for those determined to rise, no matter the obstacles.