Isnan Hidayat’s journey reflects consistency and dedication in navigating the field of psychology. A 2009 cohort alumnus of the Undergraduate Psychology Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, he completed his bachelor’s degree in 2013. From his early years in university, his academic path was closely tied to active involvement in community service and education.
Isnan’s interest in psychology began with a desire to help many people through a field that allows minimal distance between learning and real-world practice. Despite coming from a science (IPA) background, he chose psychology as his life path. For him, psychology offers a space to engage directly with society without having to wait long to make an impact.
During his studies at UGM’s Faculty of Psychology, Isnan was mentored by the late Prof. Dr. Amitya Kumara and focused his undergraduate thesis on adolescent mental health. However, his campus life extended far beyond the classroom. From the early semesters, he was actively involved in student mentoring, community engagement, and development programs. He often “disappeared” from campus because he spent more time working directly in the field.
“Learning psychology, for me, should be shared immediately. I don’t want what I learn to stop with me,” he recalled about his college years.
His experience as a volunteer during the 2010 Merapi disaster response, through the early formation of Repsigama Relawan Psikologi Gadjah Mada (REPSIGAMA), became a pivotal moment in shaping his perspective. From this, Isnan grew increasingly convinced that community service is a real learning space—where theory is tested, enriched, and even questioned. He was also active in Keluarga Muslim Psikologi (KMP) and the Islamic Psychology Learning Forum, particularly in study sessions and training activities.
One of his most memorable experiences was when he was asked to deliver material on child development psychology to a group of early childhood education (PAUD) teachers, even though he had only attended a few class sessions at the time. With his lecturer’s permission, he presented the material as best as he could. The warm response from participants made him realize that even simple knowledge can have a significant impact when shared effectively.
“That’s when I found the reason why I must keep learning—so that what I learn can truly be useful,” he said.
Throughout his academic journey, Isnan acknowledged receiving “sparks of inspiration” from his lecturers. Courses such as Observation and Interview with the late Prof. Amitya Kumara, Social Psychology with Prof. Koentjoro, and Fundamentals of Psychometrics with Prof. Saifuddin Azwar became key foundations in shaping how he thinks and works. A statement from Prof. Koentjoro—“May the A you earn in class become an A in your life”—remains a guiding reflection for him to this day.
Learning directly from senior professors was an important part of his academic experience. Isnan intentionally chose several courses taught by professors—not only out of interest in the subjects, but also to absorb their teaching approaches and ways of thinking. He took nearly ten professor-led classes as opportunities to observe, learn, and internalize the perspectives of seasoned academics. For him, engaging directly with scholars who have authored numerous books, produced scientific works, and taught for decades was both a simple joy and an irreplaceable learning experience.
After graduating, Isnan briefly pursued the Professional Master’s Program in Psychology at UGM, but decided to withdraw as he felt stuck in his thinking and creative process. This decision became a major turning point in his life. He later continued his studies in a Master of Science in Educational Psychology at Universitas Muhammadiyah Surakarta (UMS), while simultaneously starting a new chapter in both his career and family life.
Through this period of reflection, Isnan became more certain about the two fields he is passionate about: psychology and education. He founded petakehidupan.id, a consulting initiative focused on supporting educational institutions. At the same time, he recognized that financial sustainability in the education sector is not always easy. Therefore, he chose to develop expertise in psychometrics and psychological assessment tools.
A significant opportunity came when he joined a Bandung-based consulting firm as a remote psychometrics expert. Since then, Isnan has actively developed psychological measurement tools for various needs, particularly in educational and corporate assessment. This dual role allows him to balance his idealism in education with professional career sustainability.
Today, Isnan is known as a consultant in psychological measurement development, working in a flexible and interdisciplinary environment. In his daily work, he collaborates with professionals from non-psychology fields, ranging from engineering to information technology. His experience as a “psychology minority” has enriched his perspective in explaining and applying psychology in contextual ways.
For younger generations in psychology, Isnan emphasizes the importance of stepping out of one’s comfort zone. According to him, psychology becomes more meaningful when brought into spaces where it is not yet widely understood. He also highlights three key skills to develop: resilience, learning agility, and design thinking.
“Psychology can be taken in an elitist direction, but it can also be very grounded. The choice is ours,” he said.
In his life and career journey, Isnan believes that everyone possesses a “pearl” within themselves. The challenge lies in having the courage to open the shell—whether voluntarily or through difficult processes. For him, collaboration, maintaining relationships with mentors, and finding internal motivation to keep learning are the keys to growth and meaningful contribution.
Report: Ghinaa Durratul Hikmah
Writer: Fadia Hayu Godwina
Editor: Erna Tri Nofiyana
Photo: Personal Documentation