Becoming a young entrepreneur is a unique source of pride for students. Having a business as a student not only supplements their pocket money but also serves as capital and valuable experience for post-graduation life. By running a business, students can avoid financial worries during college and eliminate the stress of job hunting after graduation.
Entrepreneurship has become the choice of Sondy Adyjaya, a 2020 cohort student of Public Administration, commonly known as Sondy. Hailing from Malang Regency, Sondy owns a cattle fattening business, which he started in 2022. His business is located at Jl. Sunan Ampel, Curah Ampel Hamlet, Ampeldento Village, Pakis District, Malang Regency.
Initially, Sondy had no idea or plans to venture into the cattle business. However, his father’s involvement in cattle farming around 2018, in partnership with a friend using a capital investment system, sparked his interest. The business proved profitable, prompting his father to encourage Sondy to learn from his friend’s cattle farm. “Through this learning experience, I developed a passion for working with cattle. In any job, if there’s no passion, there will be no strong desire to pursue it,” Sondy explained.
Sondy built his cattle shed in mid-2021, completing it by mid-2022. Initially, he started with only eight cows in a shed with a capacity for 27 cows and employed two workers. Over time, and especially with sales during Eid al-Adha, the shed’s capacity has nearly reached its limit. The cost of raising a cow from its arrival to its sixth month is approximately IDR 1 million per month per cow. After six months, the cows are sold to butchers or cattle traders. However, for higher profits, Sondy reserves some of the best-growing cattle to sell during Eid al-Adha, when demand and prices are significantly higher.
Running a business has its challenges and rewards. In the early stages of building his cattle shed, Sondy struggled to manage his time, as he had to be directly involved in caring for the cows due to having only one employee. Initially, he also had difficulty establishing partnerships with butchers or cattle traders. “First, I identified the mistakes I made and worked to correct them. I also sought advice from my parents, shared the challenges I faced, and remained motivated and responsible to grow the business,” Sondy shared.
From his business, Sondy has gained invaluable experience and learning opportunities. Moreover, his entrepreneurial activities align with the Merdeka Belajar Kampus Merdeka (MBKM) program, where entrepreneurship is one of the recognized activities.
