Lidwina Natalia, S.Kep.
Nursing (2021)

Hello, My name is Wina. I’m from Hati Suci Shelter.  I have an interest in studying in the medical or health field, that’s the reason I want to become a surgical nurse. My hobby are listening to the music, reading books and I also love to learn new things. I will study at Sint Carolus University, majoring in Nursing. I am very grateful to be selected to receive this scholarship, I am very happy because I have the opportunity to be trusted to achieve my dream. I will be responsible, and will optimistic in achieving my goals.

I come from a broken family. I was sold by my biological family to a couple who I called father and mother. My adopted mother died in a train accident when I was 4 years old. After that, my adopted father married another woman and the atmosphere in our family changed rapidly. From that marriage, they have two children who love me. When I was young, I was educated hardly and I was required to get good grades. I want to thank my adopted mother, who has built my mental growth stronger than other children. One day, my adopted father died in an accident that happened in 2019, when I was in grade 10. I lived with my adopted mother and her family. When I lived with her, I used to have to get up early in the morning to take the first train so I wouldn’t be late for school. Due to busy activities and insufficient rest hours, my body was susceptible to disease. That’s why I was placed in the Beth Shalom Shelter that wasn’t far from my school.

After finishing 10th grade, I got news from my grandmother that I will be moved to the Hati Suci shelter. After three months living in the Hati Suci shelter, my adopted mother suddenly disappears, she didn’t want to have any relationship with me anymore. I chose to stay here because it was the best for me. In the shelter, I learned many things. I learned about society, I learned about what family is, how to socialize, I learned to appreciate others, and so on. I feel joy and sorrow, jokes and laughter, I am grateful living in the shelter. I also had the opportunity to study. I am not very sociable, I tend to be introverted, I tend to be able to open up to people I really trust. However, I am a good listener, and I am an open-minded person.

I will be responsible for the trust that has been given to me. I will give the best of me so I can achieve my dreams and goals. I will bring the name of the Hati Suci shelter and Heliconia to be better through my attitude. Thank you Heliconia for trusting me.

Sincerely, Wina.

 

Last Message from Wina, May 2025

The seventh semester of my nursing journey was more than just lectures, clinical rotations, and thesis deadlines, there was a season of transformation from theory to practice, from self-doubt to confidence, and from simply being a student to becoming a future nurse with purpose. As a proud recipient of Heliconia Scholarship, I knew I wasn’t walking this path alone. There are kind, generous people who believed in my dreams, even when the road seemed uncertain. The support from heliconia and my family gave me the courage to keep going.

During this semester, I had the opportunity to complete internships in several hospitals. From the fast-paced emergency department in a public hospital to the quieter, more structured wards in a private setting, each experience shaped me in ways no textbook ever could. I learned not just about diseases and treatments, but about human connection, resilience, and compassion. Amidst the long hours of hospital duties, I was also working on my undergraduate thesis. I chose a topic close to my heart: exploring the quality of life among the elderly in social care institutions. The process wasn’t easy countless revisions, interviews, and sleepless nights—but it taught me discipline, empathy, and the value of listening deeply.

The thesis exam was on March 18th, 2025. It was one of the most memorable milestones in my academic journey. I was nervous in the beginning of my presentation, but then I gained confidence when presenting and answering the questions from lecturers. When I was officially announced that I passed the thesis, I was so relief, happy, and felt so much gratitute.

There were days I felt exhausted, overwhelmed, and unsure if I could finish everything. But in those moments, I reminded myself of Heliconia Scholarship. I was wondering about the people behind it, the trust they had placed in me, and the chance they gave me to reach this point. That memory gave me strength. After my thesis was completed and my internships came to an end, I am filled with both relief and gratitude. I’ve grown mentally, emotionally, and professionally.

During the clinical clerkship and graduation, my close friends and Heliconia were present to support me. My graduation day was on March 21st, Salsa came to my graduation as the representative of Heliconia. Their presence made the moment even more meaningful because I knew I was not alone in celebrating this achievement. After graduating Bachelor Degree of Nursing, I was so deeply grateful and honored.This scholarship not only supported my education financially, but also gave me the opportunity to pursue my dreams without burdening my family. Thank you Heliconia for making me one step closer to my dreams. I am proud to be part of Heliconia community.

For Heliconia; Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for walking beside me. Your support was not only about financial, but also hope, security, and believe that my dreams matter. Because of you, I was able continue this journey with purpose and passion. This journey isn’t over yet, but the seventh semester has taught me something powerful: no step is ever too small when it is taken with faith, hard work, and love from people who support me. Thank you Heliconia for helping me and motivating me to reach my better life.

 

Message from Wina, August 2024

Sixth semester was a significant period of practical learning, primarily through my hospital internships at Carolus Hospital. The experiences in the emergency department and operating room provided invaluable real-world application of nursing principles. In the emergency department, I learned to handle diverse and often urgent cases, from basic wound care like suturing, to more complex situations such as caring for a severely dehydrated infant. It trained me the importance of quick thinking, adaptability, and the ability to remain calm under pressure.

The operating room experience, a rare opportunity, exposed me to a wide range of surgical procedures. Observing those procedures provided a deeper understanding of surgical anatomy, sterile techniques, and the collaborative nature of the surgical team. I felt a greater appreciation for the precision and dedication required in this specialized field. The combination of those experiences reinforced the importance of continuous learning and the need to adapt to diverse clinical settings.

My learning goal for the next semester is to increase my practical nursing skills, particularly in areas such as patient assessment, medication administration, and advanced wound care. I also want to improve my leadership and teamwork skills. I hope in the next semester I can be participate in more complex patient cases during my clinical rotations. I’m sure it will develop my critical thinking and decision-making skills in a real-world setting. I also want to deepen my understanding of specific nursing specialties, potentially exploring areas like emergency and critical care. I also attended the International Nursing Day at Vincentius Putri Orphanage in May 12th, 2024.

The highlight of this semester was the Heliconia Summer Fellowship event in Ancol. This event provided a much-needed opportunity to connect with fellow Heliconia members on a personal level. After a semester of hard work and focused study, the fellowship offered a chance to relax, engage in casual conversations, play games, and share experiences. Knowing that I am part of a supportive network like Heliconia reinforces my motivation to continue pursuing my nursing studies and makes me feel good about my journey.  I am deeply grateful to Heliconia for their continued support, especially for organizing the fellowship event. It truly made a positive impact on my semester. Heliconia’s support empowers aspiring nurses like me to not only pursue our education but also build a strong community, fostering both academic and personal growth, ultimately leading to be a good person for those in need.

 

Message from Wina, March 2024

In the 5th semester I learned many things, such as Medical Surgical Nursing, Chronic and Terminal Pediatric Nursing, Mental Health, Reproductive Health, Community Nursing Concepts and Information Systems. Medical Surgical Nursing was my favorite subject, in this course I learn about the musculoskeletal system, endocrine, immunology, and other things. I was very interested on this course because I feel like I am finding my identity. I understood this course well and the theory that was presented by the lecturer was very interesting. So I read many books and journals, then practiced my skills. I also like Pediatric and Psychiatric Nursing courses because I feel challenged to handle children who are difficult to work with. In those courses, I practiced to be good in therapeutic communication.

I learned to communicate well. I learned how to communicate with people with mental disorders when their conditions are quite worrying. I have my personal opinion about giving medicine to people with mental disorders, I think they need different medication to be better. If all of them receive the same treatment, I see there is no progress on them. I was only silent besides speaking up. But I’m happy and proud of myself because I become one of the best students this semester, I got rank 3.

I also made several new acquaintances in the hospital unit and established good cooperation. I also have a good friend named Putri Violintina, we guide each other, support each other and correct each other when there are mistakes. I’m grateful to have a friend like her.

This year I was delegated to attend the Region 3 meeting in Tangerang, this event was organized by ILMIKI (National Students Organization). In that meeting we evaluated the work results of the ILMIKI organization, and we did election for the new organizational structure.

When I experience difficulties and confused about where to tell the story, Heliconia is a place for me to lean on and to share my complaints. Thank you Heliconia for guiding me and giving me another chance to get through this semester. Thank you for giving me the attention when I was sick, thank you for listening to my story, and continuing to follow up on my news and stories. Hopefully Heliconia can continue to be a blessing to the people around. I hope Heliconia gets new donors, so that Heliconia can continue its mission.

The opportunity to study at university has giving a big impact in my life. I am one step closer in achieving my dreams. Heliconia teaches us to get happiness rather than money, because there are so many people who have a lot of money but don’t have happiness. Heliconia wants us to go to college, continue our education at undergraduate level for a better future, and find our happiness.

 

Message from Wina, September 2023

During semester 4, I joined various organizational activities at campus to fill my spare time. I took part in social service activities to visit nursing homes, orphanages, social community, and several schools. Together with the members of the organization, we held two events: International Nursing Day and Nursing Camp. We raised funds by selling, promoting, being paid viewers, and partnering with several parties. In the committee of the International Nursing Day; we prepared the mandatory activities amidst the piled-up tasks. Thank God we were able to carry it out smoothly and successfully, we were very grateful for that. The Nursing Camp activitiy ran smoothly, even with several evaluations.

This semester, I was very interested with these two subjects: Medical Surgery and Internal Medicine courses. I practiced at the hospital in July 2023. I got new experiences and new methods that I didn’t get in class. July was a special month for me because this month I celebrate my birthday. I received lots of love and affection, and my grandmother gave me some food to share with the children in the shelter. In the shelter, I used to take care  children who are injured and sick. I took part in choir activity on August 12, 2023. I was chosen to sing at the concert. The other choir members and I practiced diligently so that the results were satisfactory. I also took part in ballet activity, so we learned some movements and formations.
Sincerely Lidwina.

 

Message from Wina, February 2023

In September 2022, my friend, Ayu and I went to Malang as representatives from our campus to attend the Indonesian Nursing Student Association event for three days. We left in the early morning and traveled for 16 hours. At the event, we discussed the regulations and work program that will be implemented in 2023.

This semester, I was on duty at the hospital, I felt excited and nervous at the same time. I faced many obstacles while working at the hospital, but I learned many lessons and skills. There was a course that I was less interested in, it was about babies and adolescents, despite my lack of interest I tried to learn about it and be active in class.

During Christmas, we practiced choir for Christmas events in various places, many songs that sounded easy to sing but in fact, it were difficult. We decorated the hall to make it interesting, we also did dance performances. This year I spent my Christmas and New Year holidays at the shelter, I used my time to relax and rest. I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to get through 2022 and enter 2023 with a new spirit.

On January 26th, 2023, I finished the 3rd semester, yay! I am thankful to Heliconia Scholarship Foundation and donors for giving me the opportunity until today. At the beginning of semester 3, I started preparing and organizing our work program, called the New Student School Year. Although there were some evaluations and feedback, this work program was succeed. After that, we held a welcoming party for the new students, and the event was also successful. Thanks to Heliconia for giving me this opportunity, thanks also to Hati Suci shelter and my friends for supporting me.

 

Message from Wina, August 2022

First of all, I would like to thank the Heliconia Scholarship foundation for allowing me to pursue higher education. Now I am preparing myself for the 3rd semester. I am excited and nervous at the same time.

The 2nd-semester lectures had lots of practicums. I was happy because I could learn in the laboratory, and met the lecturers and some of my friends. Besides studying at the academy, I learn how to socialize. I participated in several competitions and event committees (International Nursing Day, and Dies Natalis) to gain experience. I also registered myself in the Student Association Organization (HIMA). I learned to manage my time, and although I still often get stuck, I keep learning. Studying on campus was held several times to discuss one or two things, we were asked to raise funds of IDR 15 million and we managed to get it by selling products and other activities. I was stressed in managing my time but I can get through it.

On May 21st, 2022, Mrs. Wenny (Deputy Director of the Hati Suci shelter) celebrated her birthday. She invited all Hati Suci children. I prayed for her to stay healthy and happy. Naomi (Heliconia’s Head of Student Affairs) held a video meeting and I shared my grievances and burdens with her. I realized what I need is to do my best, not do it perfectly. That’s why I was a little more gentle with myself, thank you Naomi for awakening me.

I went to Dufan (an entertainment park) with other Hati Suci children. It was very pleasant to release stress and relax the body and mind. In July 2022, I became an Assistant Lecturer for an English course. July 13th was my birthday, even though it was a simple celebration, I cherished that moment. I received many greetings and gifts from my lecturers, friends, and family. My grandma gave me food to eat together, and I received lots of cakes from the English lecturer, my friends, my sister, and the campus staff.

LDK (Basic Leadership Training) was also carried out. We went camping in Bogor, West Java. We cooked ourselves using a portable stove and played various games. Then, I was officially inaugurated as a member of the SEMA-HIMA organization. I got a position as Deputy Chair of the Nursing Student Association. I hope I can manage my time better, and hopefully, the next semester will be even better. I hope I can advance the name of the campus even better.

Sincerely, Wina.

 

Message from Wina, January 2022

First I will always say thank you to the Heliconia Scholarship Foundation. Without Heliconia, it would be difficult for me to go to college. I am also happy that I have the opportunity to join a university. At St. Carolus University, I have learned a lot about the code of ethics, medical matters, diagnostic methods, and others.

Because of the health protocol, I still study online. However, it didn’t stop me from continuing to study. The final semester exam was from November 2021 to January 2022. In December 2021, I was busy studying, but I was able to spare some time to help the shelter decorate for Christmas and New Year. I also sketched Mr. Joseph’s face (former head of the Hati Suci shelter) for his birthday and the face of my uncle who lives in Belgium.

I was happy because I had one week of Christmas holiday from campus. During the holidays, I couldn’t go home to my grandmother’s house, so I stayed at Pingping’s house. Pingping is my friend who lives in the shelter too.  I spent my holidays studying and playing with the dogs at her house. There are seven dogs, five of them are puppies. They are very cute. I played with them when I got stressed.

In January 2022, I went to Mrs. Francisca’s grave with Mr. Joseph (they are a couple who are the former Head of the Hati Suci shelter). After visiting the grave, we went to Chimory in Bogor, West Java. In the shelter, I carry out duties as a nurse to do swab tests for the children and employees.

On January 3rd, 2022, I went to college to take some lessons and also do the exam. After the end-of-semester exams are over, I got free time that I used to take makeup and flower arrangement classes held by the shelter. May this year be a blessing for me, you (who read this), and also the Heliconia Scholarship Foundation.

Sincerely, Wina

 

Message from Wina, November 2021

Thank you to the Heliconia Scholarship Foundation for making me one step forward to achieving my dream to be a nurse. I am also happy that I’ve been accepted at St. Carolus University. I learn a lot of medical things, how to write a diagnosis, spirituality, and else.

Because Covid-19 is still a threat, I started my lectures online. I find it quite difficult to learn about health online because there are some things that must be practiced directly in the lab. But after Covid subsided a bit, I was vaccinated. I could visit campus to take some references and borrow books, but I must follow the health protocols. I met new friends from various ethnic groups, races, and religions. My friends and I created a small group to learn online, tell jokes, and share stories. There were many assignments given to us by lecturers, assignments to make papers, presentations, and others.

On November 11th,  2021, I had a midterm exam starting with the Biomedical course. I studied every night for a month before the exam. I was excited, scared, and feeling challenged. I cried a little because I was stressed. However, the effort never betrays the results. My grades are good, and even though my target value is not achieved I am still grateful. I got good grades too for the lab exam. Subsequent exams went well and got good grades. I spend a lot of time studying, joining seminars, and spending time in the shelter. I was stressed but I could handle it though. I hope to remain consistent and will always be enthusiastic in my studies. I hope I can go home, so I can meet my family. I miss them very much, it’s been a long time since we’ve met.

Sincerely, Wina.