The internship season had arrived. All third-year students were competing for positions at major companies.
Arkan had sent applications to 30 companies. His GPA was 3.2, organizational experience minimal because he had to work, but he wrote his motivation letters wholeheartedly.
Out of 30 applications, only 3 companies called him for interviews. All ended with, "We will get back to you"—which meant rejection.
Rendra applied to 5 companies— all were affiliated with his father's business partners. Every single one accepted him. He could even choose where he wanted to intern.
"It's about connections, not competence," said Dimas, Arkan's roommate who was also looking for an internship.
Dimas came from a slightly better-off family than Arkan—his father was an ojek driver, his mother sold at the market. His GPA was 3.5, organizational achievements complete, but he also struggled to secure an internship.
"What matters isn't how good you are, but who you know," Dimas added bitterly.
The two of them sat in their cramped rental, staring at their laptops filled with dozens of rejection emails. Meanwhile, in the class WhatsApp group, Rendra posted a photo of his ID card from a prestigious multinational company internship.