HUMAS USU – Selvyana Angel Br. Hombing, a student of the English Literature Program at Universitas Sumatera Utara (USU), won the Bronze Medal at the Pekan Essay Nasional (PENA) 2 competition held in collaboration with Universitas Dhyana Pura (UNDHIRA) on May 2–3, 2026, in Bali.

The competition carried the theme “Innovation and Real Action of the Young Generation in Building Golden Indonesia 2045,” featuring several subthemes including Agriculture, Education, Food, Environment, and others. The event was participated in by 1,195 participants grouped into 378 teams from various regions across Indonesia, presenting diverse ideas and creative solutions through essay works.

Selvyana competed in the Education subtheme by introducing an innovation called Jalur Nyata. The program is designed to assist high school graduates in determining their future direction. Through Jalur Nyata, students are offered a solution in the form of a program combining education, mentoring, and direct experience, enabling participants not only to receive information but also structured guidance.

“I chose this topic because I see that many high school graduates still experience confusion after graduation, whether in choosing further education or entering the workforce,” she explained.

The essay discussed the background of the issue, problem formulation, objectives and benefits of the program, as well as the potential impact of the innovation on society and education.

Selvyana described the competition as a valuable experience that allowed her to explore her potential while developing critical thinking skills, expressing ideas through writing, and learning how to present ideas in an engaging and meaningful way.

“I chose essay competitions because they align with the skills we often learn in the English Literature program, especially in writing,” she said.