{"id":3025,"date":"2026-05-26T07:34:20","date_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:34:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=3025"},"modified":"2026-05-26T07:34:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-26T14:34:20","slug":"alya-birzana-devi","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/alya-birzana-devi\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning online with Oregon State was \u2018a bridge between the life I had and the life I dreamed of\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hardships turn into hope and global opportunity thanks to alum\u2019s perseverance, earning an OSU business degree online from Indonesia<\/h2>\n

Growing up, I thought my future was already planned out. My family owned a business, and when I was a child, we lived comfortably. I never imagined that everything could change so quickly. But one day, our business collapsed. The life I knew disappeared almost overnight. After finishing middle school, there was a moment when I genuinely thought I would not be able to continue to high school because we simply could not afford it.<\/p>\n

There were days when survival became more important than dreams. I remember eating instant noodles for an entire week because that was all we had. When I applied for a scholarship to attend an international high school, the selection process was held out of town. I did not have enough money for accommodation, so I slept on a piece of cardboard during the trip. It was exhausting and humiliating at times, but deep inside, I kept holding on to one thing: I always knew I wanted to study in the United States.<\/p>\n

For years, that dream felt impossibly far away. Still, I kept moving forward one step at a time. Eventually, I was given the opportunity to join a double degree program between Sampoerna University and Oregon State University Ecampus. Even though I was not physically studying in America, it was the first time I truly felt close to the future I had imagined for myself. Through the online business administration bachelor’s program<\/a>, I experienced an international academic environment that challenged me to grow academically and personally. I was even named to the OSU Honor Roll three times, something that once felt unimaginable for someone who had slept on cardboard just to stay in school.<\/p>\n

\"Four

Alya Birzana Devi, second from left, was invited to speak at an event for Oregon State University alumni and personnel in Jakarta, Indonesia, in spring 2026. From left to right are Oregon State President Jayathi Murthy, Birzana Devi, OSU Foundation President and CEO Shawn L. Scoville, and Dr. Sanjay Mathur, an aerospace engineer and President Murthy’s husband.<\/p><\/div>\n

More importantly, the experience gave me confidence to dream bigger. I began participating in international writing competitions and youth conferences overseas, where I was fortunate to win several awards and be recognized as Best Speaker multiple times. For the first time in my life, I stopped seeing my background as a limitation and started seeing it as part of my strength.<\/p>\n

The knowledge and exposure I gained also inspired me to start my own business focused on helping students prepare for IELTS<\/a> and pursue overseas education. What began as a small initiative eventually grew into something much bigger than I expected. I have now assisted thousands of students, and many of them have been accepted into top universities around the world, including Ivy League institutions. Being able to help other students reach dreams they once thought were impossible has become one of the most meaningful parts of my journey.<\/p>\n

\"A

Alya Birzana Devi has worked as an interpreter for the U.S. Army for major military exercises. She is shown here with her former boss at Air Base Roesmin Nurjadin Air Force Base in Pekanbaru, Indonesia.<\/p><\/div>\n

Along the way, I also had unique opportunities to work as an interpreter for U.S. Army joint exercises such as Super Garuda Shield, Cope West and ODA 1234 exercises. I got to experience things I never imagined as a kid, from trying military shooting training to seeing fighter jets up close and learning about international defense cooperation. It was both exciting and eye-opening.<\/p>\n

Today, I have been accepted to Georgetown University, another milestone that once felt impossible. Looking back, I realize that earning my degree online from Oregon State was more than just an academic opportunity. It became a bridge between the life I had and the life I dreamed of. And hopefully, it will continue opening doors and helping me unlock even bigger dreams in the future.<\/p>\n

\n

Tell us your story<\/h3>\n

Write your own Oregon State Everywhere story by sharing the triumphs and challenges you experienced while learning online with Oregon State University. Share your story \u00bb<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>When I was a child, my family owned a business and we lived comfortably. I never imagined that everything could change so quickly. But one day, our business collapsed. The life I knew disappeared almost overnight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":97,"featured_media":3026,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,677,8],"tags":[107,544],"class_list":["post-3025","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-students-and-alumni","category-students","tag-college-of-business","tag-osu-everywhere"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Alya-Birzana-Devi-with-Benny-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C449&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-MN","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1221,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/business-administration-student-shares-experience-traveling-while-earning-degree-online\/","url_meta":{"origin":3025,"position":0},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: ‘The mountains are my classroom’","author":"Chris Clarke","date":"July 10, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"\"I never thought I would have the opportunity to learn outside of a classroom. Ecampus learning opens up doors for flexibility,\" says business administration OSU Ecampus student Chris Clarke.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Clarke-business-administration.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Clarke-business-administration.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Clarke-business-administration.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Chris-Clarke-business-administration.jpg?fit=744%2C478&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1469,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/sustainability-online-carlee-sedgwick\/","url_meta":{"origin":3025,"position":1},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: Prone to wanderlust, but at home with Ecampus","author":"Carlee Sedgwick","date":"July 24, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"I think my favorite part about Ecampus, besides the community and approachability of all the faculty, is the overall flexibility allowed through online classes. ... When I graduate, I want to continue my education before pursuing a career that involves conservation, environmental justice or really anything to do with environmental\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Carlee Sedgwick, a sustainability and sociology double major with Oregon State University Ecampus, stands with ocean cliffs behind her. 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There is no better time than now. ... Education is an investment in yourself, and you are worth it. OSU Ecampus was user-friendly, with great support.\" \u2014 Matt Bowling, Oregon State Ecampus graduate","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Matthew-Bowling-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Matthew-Bowling-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Matthew-Bowling-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/Matthew-Bowling-800x450-1.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1558,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/radiation-health-physics-rebecca-jaronski\/","url_meta":{"origin":3025,"position":3},"title":"Oregon State Everywhere: ‘One of the best decisions I ever made’","author":"Rebecca Jaronski","date":"October 12, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"\"My personal experience as an Ecampus student has made me a real believer in online education. I personally found that the online format helped me to make better connections with my professors and peers than I did as an undergraduate. The program's flexibility and quality has made the entire experience\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Oregon State Ecampus radiation health physics master's student Rebecca Jaronski stands next to a horse as part of a Western dressage competition","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/rebecca-jaronski-radiation-health-physics.jpg?fit=744%2C447&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/rebecca-jaronski-radiation-health-physics.jpg?fit=744%2C447&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/rebecca-jaronski-radiation-health-physics.jpg?fit=744%2C447&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/rebecca-jaronski-radiation-health-physics.jpg?fit=744%2C447&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1598,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/fall-enrollment-report\/","url_meta":{"origin":3025,"position":4},"title":"Oregon State enrollment sets another record despite COVID-19 pandemic","author":"Sean Nealon","date":"November 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Oregon State University\u2019s fall 2020 enrollment reached a record level, driven by many factors, including increases in students of color and students enrolled in the university\u2019s online Ecampus program and OSU-Cascades in Bend.","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"A black entrance sign reads Oregon State University in gold lettering surrounded by a brick ledge and blooming flowers and a football stadium in the background.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/sign-entrance-reser-stadium.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1519,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/fisheries-wildlife-scholarship\/","url_meta":{"origin":3025,"position":5},"title":"Ecampus student 1 of 7 at OSU to earn study abroad scholarship","author":"Steve Lundeberg","date":"August 19, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Esmeralda Sanchez, an OSU Ecampus student in fisheries and wildlife sciences, will participate in a forest conservation program in Malaysian Borneo after being awarded a\u00a0Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship\u00a0to study internationally during the 2020-21 academic year. It's part of a congressionally funded program designed to broaden U.S. participation in education\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "All Stories"","block_context":{"text":"All Stories","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/category\/all\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"An aerial photo of a rainforest in Borneo. 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