South Tangerang, FAH Online News – Exciting news comes from two students of the English Literature Study Programme, Faculty of Adab and Humanities (FAH) at the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah Jakarta. They are Zahara Tsabilla Ikhrima and Hasna Aliyah, fourth-semester students, who successfully achieved excellence at the ADIA International Festival 2025 English Speech Competition. Zahara won First Place, while Hasna secured Third Runner-Up. (https://fab.uinsaid.ac.id/pengumuman/hasil-lomba-adia-international-festival-2025/)

In an online interview, Zahara expressed her gratitude for winning the First Place title. This victory felt special after she had been discouraged by not winning in the previous two competitions. ‘Alhamdulillah, I'm so happy and grateful to have won first place,’ Zahara said, showing her unwavering spirit.

Similarly, Hasna Aliyah also expressed her joy and gratitude for the 3rd Runner-Up title. She did not feel discouraged, as she saw it as the fruit of her hard work. Her previous experience in similar competitions gave her insights into tips and tricks. Both were motivated by the desire to learn new things, gain experience, and obtain certificates that would be beneficial for their future.

Their preparation process was also full of challenges. Zahara prepared quietly, focusing on drafting her speech. Hasna also faced difficulties in writing an interesting speech and recording the video, which often required many attempts. ‘The key is bismillah and patience,’ said Hasna.

Zahara's speech, titled ‘Empowering Society Through Digital Media,’ encouraged the audience to utilise digital media as a platform for spreading positive information and motivation, even linking her message to the lyrics of the song ‘Fight Song.’ Meanwhile, the core of Hasna's speech emphasised the role of youth as the nation's future generation with a strong voice on social media, urging them to shift their perspective on social media from merely seeking entertainment to spreading something beneficial.

According to the two students, the key to success is maximum performance, confidence, and understanding the evaluation criteria. They also emphasised the importance of enjoying the process and engaging the audience, even in an online format. The greatest support comes from oneself, parents, teachers, and lecturers.

In closing, Zahara and Hasna both shared inspiring messages: don't be afraid to try, dare to fail, keep learning, and most importantly, be consistent. ‘It is better to fail than never try at all,’ Zahara said. Hasna added, "Consistent practice, self-confidence, and conveying a meaningful message are the keys. Keep learning, don’t compare yourself to others, and enjoy the process. Keep going!"

Author: Hera Awan Sawila