“I want to become a doctor, then return home to serve and help the people of Gaza.”
Hanadi Yusuf Shaheen is a well-known name among the April 2025 graduates of the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Hasanuddin (Unhas). The international student from Gaza, Palestine, not only earned her medical degree but was also named the best graduate of the Unhas Doctor Professional Programme.
Hanadi’s journey to earning her graduation gown was filled with bittersweet memories. Born and raised amid constant conflict, she learnt the meaning of fear earlier than most children her age.
While other children studied in peace, little Hanadi had to flee in the middle of exams due to Israeli airstrikes. The experience left an indelible mark on her heart, even now that she is 25 years old.
“I still remember when I was in the third grade. Just as we were about to start the exam, the sound of bombs echoed throughout the city. Everyone panicked and ran from the school. It’s a moment I will never forget,” she recalled on Wednesday (23/04).
Despite the hardships of her childhood, Hanadi was determined to become a doctor. After completing high school, she chose to pursue her studies abroad. She’s also someone who thrives on challenges and is always eager to explore new environments.
Hanadi realised that education was her pathway to achieving her dreams. She wanted to leave the war-torn area and return one day as someone who could serve her country and help those in need.
Out of all the countries she could have chosen, Hanadi decided on Indonesia, a country whose name is warmly familiar to Palestinians. “Since I was a child, I often heard the name Indonesia. People always said that Indonesia is a friend of Palestine,” she said.
Through her own online research, Hanadi found and applied for a scholarship from Unhas, which offered a programme for international students. After being accepted in 2018, she travelled to Indonesia by herself without knowing a single person.
When Hanadi arrived in Makassar, she encountered unfamiliar culture, food, and language. However, according to her, the biggest challenge was the language.
“At the beginning of my studies, I sat at the back of the class and cried. I felt so alone,” she said softly.
Fortunately, some professors and classmates slowly helped her adjust. One of the moments Hanadi remembers was when a professor, noticing she always sat at the back, called her to the front of the class to help her adapt.
It wasn’t just about adapting, Hanadi also had to face academic challenges. Studying medicine in a language she hadn’t fully mastered was a struggle of its own.
When she was asked about her biggest motivation to continue studying medicine, she recalled a message from her mother.
“Before I left, my mom told me that I was sent to Indonesia because I wanted to be a doctor, to go home and help my community, friends, and family in Gaza,” she shared.
Therefore, she tried to prove to her parents that she could achieve her dream of becoming a doctor. She never expected that six years of education in Indonesia would lead to such accomplishments.
On graduation day, the committee only told Hanadi to sit at the front. She had no idea that her name would be announced as the best graduate of the Unhas Doctor Professional Programme.
“When I heard my own name being called, I was surprised yet very proud and happy,” she added with a smile.
Hanadi graduated with a cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.89, earning cum laude honors. On her graduation day, she also took the podium to deliver her speech before the university leadership and fellow FK graduates.
Furthermore, she plans to continue her specialisation in Cardiology before returning to Palestine.
For Hanadi, the key to everything summed up in one word: process. She believed that if we never feel difficult, we wouldn’t know what it feels like to be happy.
Hanadi advised students, especially international migrants, to remain patient in their studies and embrace every step of the process. She believes that knowledge is part of worship, and that with the right spirit and intention, even the biggest dreams can be achieved.
“My message to them is to be patient and follow the journey and learning process as it should be because every step in our lives begins with struggle,” she concluded.
Read the original text in Bahasa.
Original Writer: Marcha Nurul Fadila Jalil
Translated By: Athaya Najibah Alatas
