Amid protests in Indonesia, this Jakartan content creator believes comm skills are more important than ever

Watching President Prabowo Subianto address the recent demonstrations that have rocked Indonesia, Selly Gouw knew that the nationwide protests in her country had as much to do with politics and economics as it did with communications.

“This is what we would’ve learnt in class,” says Gouw. “You know, we used to analyse this prime minister, that president, and how they handled situations.”

Gouw studied at INTI International University and Colleges in Malaysia and obtained her communications degree from Southern New Hampshire University. She’s confident that her often-misjudged degree has been invaluable to her career and understanding of the world. Without undergoing the programme, she says she might not have been able to notice public relations at work, such as when politicians speak at a rally or when celebrities mitigate a scandal.

“I felt like I was exposed to something that is meaningful. It’s subtle but very important because during our day-to-day lives, we use communication. In the workplace, for business, those kinds of things,” the communications major shares.

Yet, many look down upon communications degrees, seeing them as inferior compared to more specialised or “traditional” programmes. Especially in Asia, many families think that mass communication majors are for those who aren’t good at studying.

In reality, every programme just involves a different skillset — and with communications, it’s one that is highly transferable.

Gouw obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Communication at INTI International College Subang in Collaboration with Southern New Hampshire University. Source: Selly Gouw

More communicating, less misunderstanding   

Empowered by her education, Gouw is now a full-time content creator and produces videos about lifestyle, finance, culture, and more.  

She has also ventured into entrepreneurship with an upcoming fragrance business, Caelune, and Selly Gouw Academy, an online platform that offers educational resources and training.  

“That one is for teaching Indonesian students or professionals who want to learn more about Chinese culture, or for Chinese students who want to learn more about Indonesian culture,” the communications major says.  “The mission is to bridge the gap between two countries and lessen misunderstandings.” 

Gouw is further dabbling in entrepreneurship with her own fragrance line. Source: Selly Gouw

This ethos is reflected in her content online, too. Gouw often centres her content around Chinese-Indonesian or Tionghua culture, tapping into her roots. Her most viral content includes videos titled “Cara Makan Xiao Long Bao” (How to Eat Xiao Long Bao) and “Ziarah Kubur Budaya Chinese” (Grave pilgrimages in the Chinese culture).  

During Suharto’s rule in Indonesia, the government passed laws as part of their “Basic Policy for the Solution of Chinese Problem.” Only one Army-controlled Chinese-language publication was allowed to continue, and all Chinese cultural and religious expressions (including display of Chinese characters) were prohibited from public spaces. Gouw’s content is thus a reclamation of her identity, as well as a mission to bring that understanding to the masses.   

This mission of hers would not have been realised if Gouw hadn’t studied in Malaysia. Many Chinese Malaysians closely associate their identities with their ethnic roots, often speaking primarily in Mandarin or other Chinese dialects. It was challenging for her to assimilate at first, especially since the Jakarta native had always lived in the city — wildly different from Nilai, Negeri Sembilan where her first campus was located.  But influenced by the cultural landscape there, she began to cater her content, which used to be about student life in Malaysia, towards Tionghua-related topics. 

 

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A post shared by Selly Gouw 吴仪平 (@sellygouw)

On a practical level, Gouw’s degree has better equipped her with the experience and know-how to approach content creation. Skills like scripting, public speaking, and idea generation have been honed by her classes and assignments. More than that, though, it has shaped how she views the world. 

“I think to be successful in whatever you do, you need to communicate with other people. If not, you can be successful, but less than those who know how to communicate better,” says Gouw. “No matter what, be it a boss, a public figure, or even an intern. If those people can communicate better with their colleagues, their boss, their subordinates, or their clients, they can have bigger impacts.”  

She muses, “If not because of my communications degree, I don’t think until now I would have another perspective.”

Gouw speaking on stage about her experience studying communications in Malaysia. Source: Selly Gouw

It’s not just about the communications degree, but how you use it

Ultimately, Gouw understands why some people think communications don’t matter, probably because “it’s not as cool as STEM subjects where you can directly change the world,” as she put it.  

But don’t be too quick to dismiss the impact that communications can make. Nelson Mandela, Barack Obama, Malala Yousafzai, Martin Luther King Jr., Oprah Winfrey, and other great leaders and changemakers have been touted as great communicators. It is through communication that they have been able to reach people on a deep and meaningful level.  

“So, whether it’s useful or not depends on how you use it,” Gouw says.