tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29675113402982573682024-03-19T03:07:56.373-07:00Parchment of DreamsWith a handful of dreams, I walk in the path that I believe inUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger128125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-9210499280813281742016-02-27T08:04:00.000-08:002016-02-27T08:04:04.390-08:00When You Are Young and Full of Dreams<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i>February 27,
2016</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been a
long while since the last time I wrote a word in this page. I have always been
too moody to write that I could neglect writing for quite some time unless I
have something, some events, that touched my heart and motivated me to finally
get my hands back on the keyboards. Not for Stata coding though. To write a
blog post, I mean. I wouldn’t call this a quality post, not that I have made
one anyway, as this is just a random thought surfaced due to a wonderful
experience I had today.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The story
starts with me and some friends participating in<span style="color: red;"> </span>a
volunteer activity called Mengejar UI (lit. Chasing UI) which provides free
university entrance exam tutoring, specifically to be admitted to University of
Indonesia (UI), for less fortunate high school students in Jakarta. We participate
as voluntary tutors.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This
afternoon, Mengejar UI organizing committee held an event for our students
called Bedah Kampus which lets the students to dig information about
disciplines provided by UI and its prospective careers, so that the students
can decide on whatever disciplines they would aim in the entrance exam. Alumnus
and senior students shared their knowledge and experiences to Mengejar UI
Students about their respective discipline.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I was one of
the alumnus attending the event to share some of my petty wisdom of my
discipline, Economics. And again, rather than I inspired them, I was the one being
inspired by them. Their enthusiasm mesmerized me. Some kids who aim to be
Economics student shared their wonderful dreams and ambitions. I was so happy
at that moment because kids like these, young, hardworking and full of dreams,
are the ones that keeps me being optimistic regarding the future of Indonesia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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They really
remind me of myself when I was their age (it was ten years ago), aiming to
enroll in Economics UI with a handful of dreams that I will keep carrying on
until the end of my life, hoping that I could see them at least sprout before
the end of the journey. Everybody has their dreams. As for me, my tiny little dream
is nothing groundbreaking, something that would make me look like an idealistic
fool. But, hey, I never feel ashamed with my dreams. Just like these kids who
could openly share theirs to me with sparks in their eyes. It is to have a
world where everybody could feel that their dreams, their lifetime goal, is
within their reach regardless of whether they are less fortunate or blessed
people. In short, a world of equal opportunity. This is a world where I could
imagine everybody could reflect their life optimistically with a smile in their
face.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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If I reflect
upon myself, I choose the path of academia or research to realize this dream.
Maybe you would wonder, how can we make that happen by publishing some papers
in journals? This question has become so frequent that it occurred more often
than Liam Neeson’s family members being taken in movies. Well, that’s not so
often. A friend of mine once asked me why I would restrict my path on academia
in achieving that. That there are plenty of ways. That maybe campaigning a
social movement like Anies Baswedan with his Indonesia Mengajar would have a much
better chance on achieving that. I may have to agree. But, I know my capabilities.
I am not as charismatic as that mentor of mine who can move a large mass of
people for a single cause despite not being part of the government.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Everybody
was born with their latent capabilities. There are those with brilliant mind,
those with brimming charisma, those with authentic entrepreneurship, and so on.
I am so proud with my underclassman in UI, M. Alfatih Timur, who has been
bestowed with the honor of “30 Under 30 Asia” by Forbes for his social business
KitaBisa who has helped numerous people fulfilling their dreams. Timmy, Timur’s
nickname, certainly has the same vision as I am, or at least similar. What he
has done is something that youth of my age can accomplish. He is an inspiration
of many youths, including myself. His chance of fulfilling my dream is
significantly higher than mine. But, it looks like I wouldn’t do what Timmy do.
Simply because it is not my forte.<o:p></o:p></div>
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What I have
recognized from myself is that, among other less advantageous talents that I
have, my forte is this mediocre brain of mine which has a few things but an
immense love for mathematics, economics, and all knowledge about human beings.
I don’t have the best mind among other humans, but that is what the best that I
had in me. The path that I choose may not be the path with the highest success
probability among other people’s efforts, but it is the path that I believe has
the highest success probability among all the possibilities that I have with
me. Moreover, ultimately, it is the path that I enjoy the ride, because I love
what I am doing now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Thus, when
you are young and full of dreams, spend your time to figure out what is your
call in achieving your dreams. Spend your time to try and to fail, to taste
defeat, and to be back on your feet, keep the iterations, when you are young
and full of dreams, until you find what you are best at. Not something that you
can do better than other people, but something you can do better than all other
things you can do. When you are young, you have plenty of chances to spend for
failures. When you are full of dreams, you have strong reason to rise from your
fall. This is our once in a lifetime chance, when we are young and full of
dreams.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Well, then
again, I haven’t even been successful with my efforts to realize my dream. So,
maybe you would think that I am not the one to talk. Well, yeah, it is a long
journey, and maybe I couldn’t make it to the end. But seeing these kids, so
young and full of dreams, I believe that even when I lay my legs to rest
someday, there will be those who will keep running their feet towards the end.
Therefore, even when I am not young anymore, as long as I am full of dreams, in
my journey of fulfilling my dreams, I will keep on helping others, especially
the next generations, in their journey.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Smile Eternally,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Wirapati<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>P.S.</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Oh wow, it’s
been forever since I wrote my cheesy catchphrase that I made when I was young
(I am) and full of dreams (will always be), the Smile Eternally. No, I’m not
ashamed with the catchphrase. I respect your opinion, but, I am not ashamed.
Period.<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-21394122182091222402013-07-06T19:08:00.001-07:002013-07-06T19:08:57.516-07:00That Day, 365 Days Ago<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<b>When
the Last Milestone was Placed<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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July 7th, 2013<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s been a while since I posted on this dear blog. Back then, more
than a year ago, I was caught up with lots of things which kept me busy for
quite some time. Just when I though I finally had free time to think of and
write something, fate just kept me from writing. Then, it was all just gone
away. Not a single letter I put on this page after that day when destiny
stroke.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I was never a good story teller but I always wanted to tell this story
about a friend of mine. She was a special friend of mine, an extraordinary one.
Not a friend that you just spend the time with, hanging out and share some
laugh. I personally think calling her a mere best friend is an insult to her. Because
she is an extraordinary best friend. Well, this is going to be long. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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This story started way back then. Let us rewind a bit to August 2006.
I was a freshly admitted freshman, in my orientation to know my new campus
well. I spent my high school time in a special program which allowed me to
finish high school in two years. Thus, I
went to university ahead of my high school friends from the same year, and just
a few of my seniors, whom I don’t really know well back then, enrolled in the
same program as mine. None of my classmates from the same program went into the
same faculty. Therefore, I was practically alone in that new campus.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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That is when she came. When I was just taking a break in campus after
all those tiring orientation tasks, she was the one calling for me out of
nowhere. To my surprise, she did already know my name. I’m pretty sure I didn’t
wear name tag at that time. She was a freshman, just like me. So, yeah, we
introduced ourselves. Her name is <b>Marissa Danastri</b>. She wanted me to call her
<b>Icha</b>. She is my first female friend in University of Indonesia.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, our conversation did not end there. We hanged out quite a lot back
then, while we were still on orientation. As the first semester started, we
hanged out more often. We even took the organizational activities. We went home
together with Uchal’s car (he is our special friend), which we called BBB since
the car’s number is B888V (dude, if only the last V is B). We listened to the
same music, in Uchal’s car by the way. We sang as hard as we can in that 90’s
Honda Accord. The three of us, the BBB regular passengers. That was a pleasant
time, indeed.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In this legendary car is where we started to share dreams. It was only
small dreams back then. Like how we wanted to join the Economics Department
Student Council a.k.a. KANOPI and climb our organizational career there, or how
I wanted to be the president of Economix, an international economic student conference
organized by KANOPI, and I want them to be in my team. It was really a small
and simple dreams, yet felt so distant from us back then. That was when we
really underestimated how fast time can flow.<o:p></o:p></div>
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One-by-one, this simple dream of ours started to crop. July 2007, we
placed our first milestone of our dreams. We were admitted as staffs of KANOPI,
though the three of us was in different departments. So, we indeed climbed our
career in this organization, as in the next period, we were promoted to
department head. Again, we placed our next milestone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In July 2008, I ultimately decided to take on the responsibility of
the president of The 6th Economix conference. Icha was the first person I asked
to become the vice president. Realizing that this was our dream to begin with,
which started as a small talk in BBB. That cheap and small talk was about to be
realized, much to our surprise how fast time has flown, and how dreams can
always be realized. So, with the team we always dreamed of almost two years
prior, we finally won the bid, and thus another milestone of our dreams was
placed and fortified.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is an important milestone, because it shows the two of us that
long term dream can be realized just as we planned. We proved that daydreaming
can become something, and distant dream is always achievable, though we were still
in small scale.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We worked very hard to organize the conference. She was the best vice
president I could ever had. While I was focused more on the external affairs,
she handled the internal very well. She even sometimes organize my schedule,
well, to be honest most of the time. She was always a good partner to take
critical decision. She might be headstrong and stubborn in debates, much to my
trouble to find equilibrium. I was always a bad listener. Well, literally and
not literally. In literally, I often misheard someone saying something,
probably because I get distracted too easily.While not literally, I can be as
headstrong as she is. But in the end we always had the same conclusion. It was
always for the best that we sought on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We totally wrapped the 6th Economix together with the team. That was
when all of us shared the tears of joy and laughter together, knowing that all
of our hard works paid. Again, we remembered how this was all started as a
silly talk. And we wondered just how far we can go after that with our dreams.
Hence, we were on the last predetermined milestone. We had yet to decide what’s
next.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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When I fell in love, Icha was always be the first vanguard to motivate
this love-awkward person named Roy. She always pushed me to take actions no
matter how small or insignificant it may be to show my feelings, all to no
avail as it usually ended up as an acute awkwardness that I experienced. This
has eternally become quite a comedy in my life. When she fell in love, she
always try to find me to get any advice or insight from me, which she clearly
doesn’t need, due to my love-related-weakness and her stubborness. I believed
that she can take care of herself without my advice. I always thought that Icha
probably just want to share her story to me since I am her friend, in which I
should know about her.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Anyway, Icha can also be irritating sometimes. She can sometimes call
you saying that she was in a big trouble, then asked you to come over to help
her. Sometimes it is really a trouble. But, some other times, she was just
exaggerating the problem to gather all of us around. Then, she can hangout with
all of us. Despite all of that, Icha had always been successful to gather us
all, even after a long time of no hanging out. Then, we can share laugh
together again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As our years in university went by, I was appointed as vice president
of KANOPI, while Icha stepped down from her seat in KANOPI. However, Icha didn’t
stop to support me even though she was not in the organization body anymore.
She was always be there when I need advice on the organizational problem.
Though she has stepped down, it was still our dream. So, we need to
accomplished it to the very end.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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As our time in campus was reaching its climax, we started to share an
even distant dreams. We dreamed of studying abroad, stepped our feet outside
the border of our country, and absorbed as many wisdom as we can from developed
countries out there. We dreamed of contributing to our country’s well-being, to
the world as well, and ultimately for humanity with the knowledge and ability
that we acquire in our grand voyage. All of those great dreams, so distant that
you might laugh at us, so silly like joining government cabinet with all of us
friends as a team, so big that we felt so small compared to our dreams. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Our experience in Economix, though its on imcomparable scale, had
strengthen our faith on achieving them. So many milestones we need to placed in
order to achieve them. How long and hard the path that we need to take after
this. But, we kept going on with those dreams, because those are dreams we
shared together.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That was when I fully realized that Icha is not a mere best friend.
She was a friend whom I shared my dreams with, who walks together with me to
achieve it, no matter how hard and long it will be. That what makes Icha special.
That was the very first time I ever had a friend whom I shared my lifetime
dreams. Not just me and Icha, but also many friends of us in the same
friendship shares the same dreams. It was never my dreams. It is our dreams.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, 2010, we graduated. From that point onward, we will walk in
our own path, chasing dreams in our own way, with beliefs that one day our road
may converge, and thus our dreams will be fulfilled. Then Icha joined the
Ministry of Communication and Information of Indonesia, while I spent my
freshly graduateness as a voluntary primary teacher in remote area. Our road
diverged at that time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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We talked to each other less
after that, especially since I was living in remote area, so far away from her.
We did not even met face to face for months. We only talked on telephones or
texts that we hardly did that time. However, when I tell her that I finally got
a scholarship to continue my study to USA, I can hear and feel how overjoyed
she was. I already placed another milestone to our dream. It was her turn next
to put her, and I believed she will in no time.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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After I returned from my service as primary teacher, in 2011, we
talked even less. I got a job as assistant-researcher in Bank Indonesia. Our
workplace was not that far. Yet, we grew even more distant. We were too caught
up with our works that we didn’t really communicate for months. This is the
pinpoint which I mentioned at the very beginning, of the reason why I did not
write for my blog.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then at one point, in 2012, probably a month before my resignation
from my job since I had to prepare for my departure to USA, Icha asks us for an
afterwork meet up. That time, I missed the meet up since I was taking an
overtime to do works that I need to finish before my resignation. It’s not that
I need to finish it by tomorrow. It’s just that I prefer to finish everything
early even just a bit, not that it will give me big trouble if I didn’t finish
it that day.<o:p></o:p></div>
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So, I missed the chance to meet her. Then, it was getting harder to
meet after that since I even had to do my paperworks for my departure
preparation. At the beginning of July 2012, I finally finished the paperworks
and most of my office works, so I finally had free time to post on my blog. I
already planned to do it on my weekend. I just had to find a topic to write.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, Saturday came. I was chilling out by playing games as usual
for my weekend light activity after five days of work, trying to find topic for
my blog. Then, my cellphone rang. It was a call from Uchal. Well, it might be
an invitation to hang out as usual.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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So, I casually picked up the phone, even trying to sound as fun as
usual. But what I only heard a panicking voice from Uchal’s girlfriend and our
special friend, Happy. I could not really understand what she meant. She kept
on convincing me to come over Icha’s house without explaining why. I jokingly
refused because Icha had always been trying to sound mysterious and serious to
invite us, yet in the end we hanged out casually and having fun as usual. But
then, the phone was handed to Uchal. Uchal was trying to sound calm. Then, he
said something that I could not digest at first. He said it over and over
again. The very same sentence. The sentence that I never even imagined in my wildest
dream.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Icha has passed away.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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The moment of pause is like a year long in my mind. I just could not
believe what I heard. I am always bad with listening. I just hoped that my
listening was as bad as ever. But, damn, why it worked so well at that time. I
heard it loud and clear, that Icha has gone forever. That an accident took her
away.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I rushed to Icha’s house after that. I tried to drive as calm as I can
even though I knew my heart and my mind was on skirmish. I did not hope that it
was just a dream, because I know I was wide awake. I just hoped that when I
arrived at Icha’s house, I will find Icha there safe and sound, as healthy as
ever, then naughtily laugh as she succeed on gathering us together, just like
how she would do, just like how she always do.<o:p></o:p></div>
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But then, what I found at Icha’s house was never what I hoped for. I
could not see her victorious smile anymore. I could not hear her laugh anymore.
I could not get pissed on her exaggerating problems just to gather us together.
Because, it was not an exaggeration, no more exaggeration. Because, Icha had really
gone.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>365 days ago, Icha had finally
placed her final milestone.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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I was so broken. I felt like a hole had been bored through my heart. I
practically lost my mind as I sent text messages on Whatsapp messenger that
will never be replied. Yes, I did send messages to Icha’s phone number, though
I was totally concious that she would never reply anymore. When I opened Icha’s
conversation page with me on the messenger, I could only see blank pages. Yes,
I did cleared my messages months ago to save phone memory. This blank page
shows how I didn’t get in touch with her, and I regret it. I sought redemption
by sending her message, though it was clearly too late.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I sent her everything about our story. How we met, how we finally
became friend. I sent her about our dreams, our passion, and our promises that
we have yet to fulfill. I sent her everything I have about her in my mind. I
try to recollect everything about Icha from the deepest domain of my memory. I
was like trying to remind Icha about everything, blindly hoping that she might
return. But, I knew I was wrong. I knew that what I was doing was completely
wrong. That I had to accept it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That was why, at one point, I stopped doing that completely. I finally
cleared my mind. I almost strayed to a wrong path. Icha’s death is my greatest
shock after losing my grandparents. I was never been that down. I was always
bragging on how positive thinking I was, yet I cannot even keep a single
positivity that time. I felt very small and weak at that time. I had to start
over again.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, I decided to make my first post on my blog to be the story of
Icha and me. But, in front of computer screen. I could not find any words to
say. I had wrote papers, articles, even undergraduate thesis successfully. Yet,
I cannot find any words to say about my very best friend. Then, I decided to
leave it be for a whole one year, until I find the words, until I can recollect
all of the puzzles about her. Until that, I will not post anything in my blog.
I swear that it would be my last time doing this.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Days later, we personally talked with Icha’s mother, whom we already
knew very well for a long time. She told us stories about Icha. Some we had
heard from Icha herself and some was new for us. Icha was always a good
daughter, we know that, as she was always a very good friend. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Then, Icha’s mom told us how busy Icha was with works for the last
couple of months. She was always been full of work. She left home early in the
morning and came home very late at night. It was hard for her. But, she can
always maintain her smile. She said that she really wanted to hang out with us,
just like how it was. But, she just couldn’t. That time when she asked us to
hang out after work, she was actually quite stressed and needed moral support.<o:p></o:p></div>
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It was like a lightning struck to my head. Icha was very busy. So busy
that she cannot even hanged out on the weekend due to many circumstances. Then,
when she finally spared some time for us, I passed it because of work. When she
needed support the most, I passed it because of work. I passed it because of
work that I can actually did the day after. Only for that foolish reason, I
failed to present in front of a friend in need. Some friend I am.<o:p></o:p></div>
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That time, I finally completely realized how precious time is, even
every minute, every second. And more importantly is how we must spend that
precious time with those who are precious for us, that is family and friends.
That is how you live with no regret. Because there will be time when you have
to bid farewell with those you love. You will really miss them afterwards. That
is why, spend your time wisely, spare enough time for those you love.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Icha had always been beside me ever since that time, August 2006. Yet,
six years later, I failed her. I did not even sit by her side when she needed
the most. I always talk about frinedship. Like I can talk about friendship, I
failed to fulfill my duty as friend. I really wanted to apologize to Icha. But,
I can no longer do that. So, what I can do is to fix my mistakes. I will spend
more time with my family and friends. I will live a life that I will not
regret.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9IQnhA77XWjRXij-9g_bdRxufPIX_eYgbQ_KAmEga7APeDKM2dDn8d1EB0VK3gNiTGnGi-ewaxCRGtNyNOdaEcPOs99fFfHYCQ1DUZywK0P5ja1BJWl9BFv3gj61ap2XkueqRHt9pns/s1600/With+Icha.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp9IQnhA77XWjRXij-9g_bdRxufPIX_eYgbQ_KAmEga7APeDKM2dDn8d1EB0VK3gNiTGnGi-ewaxCRGtNyNOdaEcPOs99fFfHYCQ1DUZywK0P5ja1BJWl9BFv3gj61ap2XkueqRHt9pns/s320/With+Icha.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The picture above is
the last picture of the two of us. I put this picture on my profile picture on
facebook and twitter in order to reminisce the memories about her. It stayed
there for exactly one year after her death. Yeah, today marks the day I change
the picture.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Then. Icha’s mom told us that Icha actually already got a scholarship
to study abroad from the ministry she worked. It was decided that she would
continue her study in Australia. I felt
relieve hearing that. Icha did not forget our dream. She was always right on
track. She placed her milestone of our dream, like how I believed she would.
Unfortunately, she was never be able to accomplish that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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At that moment I decided, that I will fight for her part, too. I will
live her share of life, since we share the same dreams. I will study for her
part, too. I will accomplish the dreams for her part, too. All of my milestones
ahead of me now, are hers also. As it was never my dreams to begin with. It is
our dreams. I will make sure that even though she is no longer present, but her
spirit carries on. That is the least that I can do, to a friend who shares the
same dream, to a friend that always by my side.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My friend, especially you who get the chance to study abroad, just
like what she dreamed of. There are thousands or many more people like Icha who
dreams the same thing but never get the chance to accomplish it. All we have to
do is to study to the fullest, in order to honor those who cannot. Because, we
are very lucky after all.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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July 7th is a date I will not forget. Because that is the day I lost a
very precious friend, a special one. That is the day I learned a lot about
life, though I never hoped that I would learn it this way. Today is exactly one
year after her death. I finally put some words here, lots of them, about Icha.
I hope that I can finally look forward from now on.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Finally, I will close this by saying something that is a long lost
trademark of Icha. When texting, posting on someone’s wall, or any written
activities that Icha do to anybody, she would put her trademark which consists
of her name and the recipient. A trademark that I always considered silly and “alay”
back then (for those who don’t understand “alay”, google it). It is and expression
of how Icha love everybody, as she put ‘ChaCykRoy’ means that Icha loves Roy.
However, I no longer consider it silly or alay. Because, it was her trademark,
then I believe it is beautiful.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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RoyCykCha,<o:p></o:p></div>
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Bagus Arya Wirapati<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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P.S.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
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Exactly right now when I type this, I open her contact in Whatsapp
messenger after months. All of my messages is still there. The top of the page
shows “MarIcha, last seen 6:35 am, 7/7/2012”. I sent my last message. Then. I
finally deleted the whole messages, I’m moving on. :) <o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-4035434340505280842012-02-25T21:40:00.001-08:002012-02-25T21:40:13.682-08:00Repost: T.G.I.F. huh??<br />
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Here's a little repost from my own post in my joined blog with my friends. Visit: http://philosophiers.blogspot.com</div>
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Hope you enjoy it!</div>
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=============</div>
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<b>T.G.I.F huh??</b></div>
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<b>By: Bagus Arya Wirapati</b></div>
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Well, I guess it's been a very while since the last time we posts something on this precious blog of our dear friendship. Even though, some part of this friendship has turned out to be a loveship actually. Yes! Yes, I am talking about the one that requests a post with the shortest post in this earth right before this post, since both of them are the contributor for this blog. Please, sir, make yourself a real post also... :D</div>
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Now, now, since we have grown a little, and most of us have graduated and trapped inside the cruel, real-life, maybe a little shifting in our genre would be acceptable, wouldn't it? I want to talk about a phrase that we never say it very dearly before like today.</div>
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But, before we proceed to the main course, I would like tell a little story which inspires me so much in the past, about this certain person that had always been a friend of mine in my one year journey to remote area.</div>
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His name is Een, I usually call him Kang Een since he is a Sundanese, probably late twenty at the moment. He is our school caretaker is Muara Basung. This Kang Een is no ordinary caretaker, at least that's what I thought about him. He might be only a face in the crowd for most of us, even for most of our students, since he doesn't stand out too much. He usually have things done without being noticed at all. But, I found this guy to be very incredible when it comes to his job.</div>
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At one time he told me a story about his dream, that he actually does not want to be a caretaker like this, that he has a more promising dream, more fortune in it. However, fate brought him here as our beloved caretaker. Well, he is not that an angel-like person with all of his good traits. You might find him quite a delinquent but let us put that aside since he is bigger than that.</div>
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I heard a story that this Kang Een is the one that revitalize most of our school property that was quite trashed out one year prior to my arrival there. He came to my newly appointed headmaster that also has brought Kang Een there to work. He said that he want to rejuvenate the school. He then explained about the re-painting of the school, providing his plan about the color that would looks good for this place, a match with the color Muara Basung unique soil, also for the roofs. He also plan to clean and fixed the filthy bathroom which seems to be neglected for quite some times before Kang Een arrives. And then, the establishment of library and health unit which happens to be also the dream of our headmaster.</div>
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I learned that that was the beginning story of this school, the reason behind why I am always amazed by the tidiness and cleanliness of this wonderful school. It was because Kang Een's endless hardwork and visionary thinking about the ideal school environment for the student. After all of that hardwork he was still planning for the next development, that is planting grass on our school ground and flowers in front our class corridors. He already has an imagination about how the flower should be arranged and how he wanted to have a group of bush arranged to spell our school's name.</div>
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<br />It is just amazing. He already figured out and imagined everything about the ideal environment of this school, something that is not usually planned by a caretaker. A job that people usually underestimate and Kang Een was doing it to the fullest, or maybe beyond that. He works 24/7 with a number of holiday less than every of us. He is not only do what he is ordered but also think about what he should really do. He makes vision just like the rest of us with a more distinguished and seemingly honorable job description. But, he never said a word related to Thank God It's Friday (T.G.I.F.)</div>
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For us, the people who works five days a week, learning from a kind of person like Kang Een is a must. Why do we keep complaining about our jobs? Going to work every Monday grumbling and spend the rest of the week working while fully hoped for the Friday to come? Keep complaining about how we do not get a raise in salary? Keep on crying T.G.I.F every Friday and simultaneously curse when Monday is about to come, asking for more holidays?</div>
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Those are not sins, maybe those are not wrong at all. But, aren't we ashamed with Kang Een. He is paid lower than most of us yet he is doing his job more than he is expected to be. Kang Een has a bigger dream as he said to me back then, yet he is still doing that considered small job very well. Kang Een never had a specific holiday to say Thank God to, yet he proceed through the day as if it is nothing. I may not know how he feels inside but, at least he did not show any complaining on his situation.</div>
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We might want to say that we have achieved higher education that we are worth for more comfortable life. But, we must not forget that we are lucky enough to have parents or other persons to pay us for a higher education for that comfortable life. If we want to say that we have specialization that he don't have, then try doing those chores he is working on. I have try it and I know that for that kind of job, we also need a specialization, means that people like Kang Een should be paid more. However, the system does not allow us to paid him higher.</div>
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I don't want to be the good guy here, because I am also the one feels ashamed here. I was also the person who keeps complaining about life until I try to enjoy it more than before. My chance encounter with Kang Een has put more elation on my life, that maybe most of us missed the key of enjoying our job.</div>
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It is on "Do what you love, and love what you do" where the key lies.</div>
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In a condition, where we are unable to do what we love, it is loving what we do that surpasses all. Kang Een shows me how he try to love what he do, despite him having a bigger different dream than what he is doing currently. That is why in the end, he never tempted to complain too much about his situation.</div>
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Let us all think that we are lucky enough to have this considered better condition. Then let us try to love this situation, this job more than before until we stop complaining, as Kang Een with relatively less lucky condition was able to. Moreover, if we would say that our situation is worse than him, the try quitting your job and do his job. That is when you will understand the meaning of loving your job, because the possibility is twofold, you might find that being a caretaker is your passion then you can love the job, or that you regret complaining about your previous job and can finally love your previous job which you cannot return to now that it is too late. That is what it means to "do what you love and love what you do".</div>
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Let us learn from this person named Kang Een and forget the T.G.I.F. words, let us just do what we love and love what we do.</div>
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Smile eternally,</div>
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Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-38269565985391084342012-02-25T20:12:00.000-08:002012-02-25T20:12:16.055-08:00At Sky Is Our ReflectionSky-gazing has always been a favorite thing for me. It has always been my childhood hobby to gaze up-high to the widespread of the blue substances or the black-starry carpet above my head. Sky-gazing had always made me imagine, "what lies beyond this seemingly unlimited sky?" It always gave me a sense of an endless adventure, adventure to discover my ability beyond the unlimited sky, that even sky is not a limit for me.<br />
<br />
However, the sky that I really love cannot be seen anymore in my hometown, Jakarta. What lies above my head is not the favorite sapphire-blueish sky at noon, but a soiled sky which has turned to grayish, dirty blue. It has gone. The blue sky has gone.<br />
<br />
It was a story when I was accompanying my student, Sabariah, to the final of Kuark Science Olympiad in Jakarta. In our journey, we met a certain child that my friend brought from Majene to participate on the same competition. His name is Angga. At one time, he asked me why can't he see the stars here in Jakarta, and moreover why does the sky looks like burning, as it has a color of dark red at that time, probably everyd eay in Jakarta.<br />
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Well, there's an explanation to this phenomena. Jakarta, having a tons of fossil-fueled vehicles running through its vein, has showered itself with an immense amount of pollution exhausted by the vehicles. Apparently, the polluting particle is slightly lighter that the air above the ground that it hollows the upper layer of air, trapped below the ozon layer. This polluted air create a substances which people usually called "Smog" (seems like a combination of Smoke and Fog), therefore covered the Jakarta's air with a fog-like substance from the accumulation of smoke. This is also the reason why the blue sky looks as if grayish.<br />
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As for the answer for that kid, at night, the smog block the light emitted by the star, making it invisible from the ground. Even a full moon would look blurry behind the smog wall. It is a little like the Rayleigh Scattering which explains why does the sky looks blue, apparently the light emitted by the stars and moon are scattered, making them looks unclear or in extreme way, unseen. This is also quite similar to how we cannot see them under cloudy weather.<br />
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The burning color comes from the city-light emitted by the sky-scrappers in the city. The lights, having yellow color in nature, showered the smog layer in the sky, painting it with orange color which makes it like burning. This phenomenon is similar to shooting light to a smoke or fog which gives us a view of yellow smoke or fog with addition that the smoke or fog is now can be seen much more clearly than before. These two reasons are behind the unseen stars and burning sky at night.<br />
<br />
Well, now, right after I think of it, something crossed my mind. How this phenomena reflect ourselves in our lives. The pollution is an analogy of the bad things we had done in our lives. This bad things may be forgiven, but it may never be forgotten. In the end, the bad things, no matter how small it is, will cloud our good personality and blurred people's opinion on us. People will find it hard to see the stars inside us since the objectivity is clouded by the smog of our sin in the past.<br />
<br />Moreover, in that condition, people might talk bad on your good actions or your wealthiness. Nobody in this earth love the burning sky in Jakarta. People miss the starry pitch-black sky that accompany us in the night. You may have a wonderful city-lights inside you that you actually want people to feel enlightened even in the darkest night. You may have the most sincere motivation in doing so, probably to redeem yourself for the sin that you have done in the past. However, the smog is still there. What's left for your good doings is that burning sky that everybody hates, like a sinner wearing angel mask, and your cause is just not that sincere, as if you're a hypocrite.<br />
<br />
I guess this is the point of no returning. You cannot turn-back time and undo your sin. But, really, I believe there is a reset button in this life like the one that we have in video games, a button called starting all over again. Once you stop polluting yourself, even though your crusade are being rejected like the burning sky, just believe that even the earth could regulate itself and little by little, it banishing the smoke out of the sky so that people could the starry sky they always missed. The same goes for us, one day the smog might disappear even though it leaves some traces, but people will start accepting you again, that you have redeemed yourself for all of your faulty life in the past.<br />
<br />
Looking at the burning sky of Jakarta everyday, reminds me of my faults in the past and how I may have hurt people with that. But, I always know that every human has a place to be forgiven as long as they live their live for the good and leave the faulty behind. I must press this reset button and start things all over again, never repeating the same mistakes again, and returning the blue and starry skies that I always love. This is what life is meant to be, to learn from our every mistake to create a better tomorrow.<br />
<br />
At sky is our reflection,<br />
WirapatiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-20787585483729782762012-02-13T05:15:00.000-08:002012-02-13T05:15:07.117-08:00Siapakah "Negara" Itu?<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Sudah lama juga tidak menulis dalam Bahasa
Indonesia untuk blog ini. Aku memang mencoba banyak menggunakan bahasa Inggris
untuk berlatih menggunakan bahasa internasional tersebut mengingat kemampuan
bahasa Inggrisku yang masih kurang. Tapi, khusus kali ini, karena aku ingin
berbicara sesuatu yang sangat erat kaitannya dengan bangsaku, bangsa Indonesia,
maka kutuliskan ini dalam bahasa persatuan kami, bahasa Indonesia.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Aku ingat pernah menemukan pertanyaan yang
dilontarkan oleh seorang teman di kampus tentang “negara”, Temanku ini bertanya
dalam status Facebook-nya, sebuah pertanyaan yang menyangkut UUD 1945 Pasal 34.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">“Fakir miskin dan anak terlantar dipelihara
oleh negara. Siapakah 'Negara' itu?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Ini adalah pertanyaan yang cukup menarik dan
kurasa setiap orang bisa saja memberikan jawaban yang berbeda dengan perspektif
masing-masing yang berbeda pula. Apakah definisi dari entitas yang disebut
negara ini? Tentunya bukan pemerintah saja bukan? Karena pemerintah adalah
salah satu bagian dari entitas negara. Pertanyaan dapat berlanjut menjadi bagaimana
negara “memelihara” fakir miskin dan anak terlantar ini?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Aku memiliki perspektifku sendiri untuk
menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan ini. Entah apakah ada orang lain yang memiliki
perspektif yang sama denganku atau tidak, tapi aku mendapatkan jawaban
sederhana ini dari kontemplasi yang kuperoleh saat mengajar PPKn sewaktu aku
masih menjadi guru sekolah dasar sebagai salah satu Pengajar Muda Gerakan
Indonesia Mengajar. Betapa menariknya bagiku, bahwa jawaban ini bisa dijawab dengan
ilmu yang diajarkan kepada murid sekolah dasar, setidaknya menurut
perspektifku.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Semua definisi ini berawal dari pertanyaan
mendasar, “apakah syarat sebuah negara?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Syarat sebuah negara adalah memiliki wilayah,
memiliki penduduk, dan memiliki pemerintahan yang berdaulat. Tanpa salah
satunya, maka sebuah entitas tidak dapat dikatakan sebagai sebuah negara (tentu
saja, bayangkan ada negara tanpa salah satu dari ketiganya), Sehingga, melalui
syarat-syarat tersebut yang membentuk keberadaan negara, dapatlah kita
simpulkan bahwa ketiganyalah yang harus memelihara fakir miskin dan anak
terlantar di negara ini berdasarkan konstitusi.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kita mulai dari pemerintah. Sangat jelas bahwa
di negara manapun, pemerintah berkewajiban untuk menjaga kelangsungan hidup
fakir miskin (tidak membiarkan mereka mati kelaparan atau sakit) dan melakukan
usaha pengentasan kemiskinan. Aku rasa hal ini sangat jelas dan tidak ada
perdebatan apakah perlu pemerintah memberikan dukungan kepada para fakir
miskin. Sebab, negara seliberal Amerika Serikat sekalipun, ternyata tidak kalah
sosialis dengan negara sosialis kebanyakan dalam hal penyantunan orang miskin.
Tidak perlu dijelaskan dengan lebih jauh.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kemudian, penduduk Indonesia harus memelihara fakir
miskin dan anak terlantar. Dengan kata lain, kita semua, walaupun kita bukan
bagian dari pemerintahan, harus memelihara mereka. Banyak cara yang bisa
dilakukan. Contoh paling sederhananya adalah menyantuni mereka. Mungkin banyak
orang yang memiliki perspektif bahwa menyantuni dengan memberi uang atau barang
tidak efektif, karena hanya berjangka pendek sehingga tidak menyelesaikan masalah. Kalau begitu bisa dilakukan dengan memberikan mereka pekerjaan,
atau pendidikan yang layak agar mereka dapat mandiri di kemudian hari. Namun, kita tidak boleh lupa, d</span>efinisi penduduk dalam syarat tersebut tidak memiliki batasan tertentu.
Artinya, fakir miskin dan anak terlantar juga termasuk dalam kategori penduduk
tersebut. Dengan kata lain, mereka juga harus memelihara dirinya sendiri.
Mereka juga harus punya semangat untuk mandiri dan melepaskan diri dari
kemiskinan dengan kemampuannya sendiri. Sehingga, mereka tidak boleh hanya
berpangku tangan dan menunggu disuapi oleh orang yang lebih beruntung. Kata penduduk
berlaku bagi semua penduduk Indonesia, tidak terkecuali kaya atau miskin.</div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Terakhir, wilayah NKRI harus memelihara fakir
miskin dan anak terlantar. Apa artinya? Artinya, seluruh wilayah Indonesia
beserta sumber daya yang berada di dalamnya harus dapat digunakan
sebaik-baiknya untuk kepentingan rakyatnya, termasuk fakir miskin dan anak
terlantar. Sehingga, seharusnya sumber daya alam, mineral, energi dan lainnya harusnya
dapat diakses dengan mudah termasuk oleh para fakir miskin dan anak terlantar.
Inilah yang seringkali dilupakan oleh pemerintah. Banyak kendala kemiskinan di
negara ini sebenarnya berasal dari masalah yang disebut “akses”. Banyak orang
miskin yang tidak memliki akses yang mudah terhadap bahan makanan bernutrisi.
Banyak orang miskin yang tidak memiliki akses yang mudah kepada lapangan kerja
atau untuk membuka usaha. Banyak pedesaan yang belum terakses terhadap listrik
atau telekomunikasi. Justru syarat pertama dari sebuah negara adalah pemegang
kunci dasar pengentasan kemiskinan yang banyak terlupakan oleh banyak orang. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Akses tidak harus berupa penyediaan secara
gratis. BIsa dilakukan dengan penyediaan dalam harga yang murah, diimbangi
dengan akses terhadap mata pencaharian yang memadai atau pendidikan yang memadai untuk mengolahnya. Untuk dapat mengoperasikan
“wilayah” agar dapat memelihara fakir miskin, diperlukan usaha dan kerja sama
dari dua syarat lainnya, yaitu adalah pemerintah dan penduduk. Oleh karena itu,
penting bagi pemerintah dan penduduk, tidak terkecuali fakir miskin itu
sendiri, untuk menyediakan atau minimal mempermudah akses bagi fakir miskin dan
anak terlantar untuk mengakses sumber daya yang ada dalam NKRI. Sehingga, "wilayah" tidak seakan hanya dimiliki oleh segelintir orang saja.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kesimpulannya</i>, mengatasi masalah kemiskinan, serta memelihara para
fakir miskin dan anak terlantar di Indonesia adalah tugas bagi seluruh isi dari
negara Indonesia, terutama seluruh warga negara Indonesia, tanpa terkecuali.
Percuma jika pemerintah dan penduduk lainnya berusaha mengentaskan kemiskinan,
tetapi orang-orang miskin tidak memiliki keinginan dan turut berusaha
mengeluarkan dirinya sendiri dari kemiskinan. Juga sebaliknya, percuma jika
orang miskin membanting tulang memperbaiki kualitas hidupnya tetapi tidak
didukung atau lebih parahnya lagi jika dihambat oleh pemerintah dan penduduk
lainnya, karena ingin menguasai sumber daya yang ada di wilayah Indonesia bagi
dirinya sendiri. Semua harus memiliki kesadaran untuk turut berpartisipasi
tanpa terkecuali. Itulah makna sebenarnya dari berbangsa dan bernegara.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
Salam,<br />
Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-63266620677470649542012-01-11T04:02:00.000-08:002012-01-11T04:02:00.776-08:00Finally, I Understand...<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was a piece of story from my experience from my one year experience as a voluntary primary teacher in Rupat island. This story may appear insignificant, but it shows me a big lesson in life. It shows me how to empathize others, especially those who less fortunate than me.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was the advisory teacher for our school science olympics team. It was quite difficult back then, since this is the first time for these children to participate in any competition and I myself do not have any educational background in natural sciences. Fortunately, I have a big interest on sciences that I read quite a lot scientific references back when I was younger so that I could share some of my limited knowledge to these children.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Our school is not yet a year-old. It had just been formally established as national school. So, our sources are so much limited. There are not many tools that can be utilized for our trainings and exercises. Therefore, we need to provide the tools ourselves.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
We were trying to train with tools that we can collect from our surroundings, such as plastic bags, plastic glass and bottles, tree branches, everything. However, there are times that I did not expect that I must use my own money to buy necessary tools that I cannot find from our environment. This is how I deplete my cash back then.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
In our island, there is no bank tellers nor ATMs. If we want to draw cash from our savings, we have to go to Dumai, the nearest city from our island. However, going to Dumai is not an easy thing. Taking speed boat to Dumai is quite expensive so that I can only travel there once in a month in order to waste less money. If I want to spend less money, I have to travel by land through a hellish mudland which spend a couple hours to get to Dumai. Therefore, I need to prepare petty cash enough for a whole month, including the travel cost to Dumai for the end of month. I usually prepare about a million IDR for my livings there.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Since I am the advisor for the olympics squad, that time I spend quite a lot of money for our training to buy tools and books in Dumai. Therefore, I leave not much money for in my deposits and could only prepare myself the usual amount of petty cash for that month, even though I know I must prepare more just in case I need to buy anything else for our activities that month. I was just taking it lightly that I only need to oppress my consumptions for this month. I never thought that I would be broke before the end of month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
One day, a week before the competition, I need to copy some exercises for our training. Copying in our island is very expensive. If in Jakarta we spend a hundred IDR or less for one copy, here, we spend about threefold the cost. This is how I came to be broke. I invite all of my students in our olympics squad, means that I have to provide every single of them with the copies. I never thought that it would be that expensive to copy all of this exercises.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was quite shocked that I have to pay almost three hundred thousand IDR for those exercises. While I spend my five hundred thousand IDR for my hostfamily, and another one hundred thousand for my personal and training expenses, this leaves me with one hundred thousand IDR until the rest of the month. And it is still about ten days before the end of month.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Well, surviving ten days with that amount of money is easy, actually. But, don't forget, I must pay for my travel cost to Dumai by the end of month and that cost me ninety thousand IDR. That leaves me with ten thousand. It was crazy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
That was the time when I feel so powerless. Not to mention to hangout in the village coffee stall, I cannot even buy a bread that cost one thousand IDR that I usually buy. I can only see those piles of bread on my way home from school, imagining their taste in my mouth, filling my hungry stomach. Well, it's not that I cannot eat, I can eat with my host family since they always provide me with foods everyday. But, I must sacrifice all of that amenities until the end of month. I must withstand my imagination of consuming all those foods and beverages, only be able to see others enjoying it. I feel suffered that time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Then I come to contemplation, "this is how those who are less fortunate than me thinks when they see me enjoying amenities in front of them." Those less fortunate people could only see me, withstanding their own desire to have the same thing. But, they can't. They must be feeling powerless that time. They can do nothing but to imagine how is the taste of the foods I ate, the drinks I drank. I am now understand that after all this time, despite of me saying that I want to eradicate poverty, I lack of empathy.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
So, this is how it feels to have nothing at all. So, this is how it feels to want something that seems very simple, not that luxurious, but you cannot have it. So, this is why my ancestors instruct us not to show our dinner in front of other people if we don't want to share it with them. This is why, I need to have more empathy, something I just realized that I am lacking of.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
But then, something comes up in my mind. Is it too much for me to spend my cash for the sake of my student until I broke like this. I contemplate more, and come up with a conclusion that this is not too much. I have resources for these kids to learn more, while they might not have the resources. It is not too much, no, it is never too much to share what we have for those in needs. It is not like that I will die starving after this. I just have to hold my desires more. Then, I will not stop here. If it is for these kids to go to their dreams, to see Jakarta with science olympics, then I willingly sacrifice more than this. </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
All of this journey have told me how I have to learn a lot, how I lack a lot life values. This one told me how to empathize. How I am very grateful to be in this journey. I am a teacher, but it seems I am the who learn more than anyone. I will never forget this experience, the one that taught me how I lack of empathy after all this time.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Smile eternally,</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Rupat, Indonesia1.8708364 101.61577731.6169139 101.29992030000001 2.1247589 101.9316343tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-68975656840537675972011-10-20T04:41:00.001-07:002011-10-20T04:41:53.290-07:00For Every Realization of My Dream<div xmlns='http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml'>It has been almost 23 years since the day I was born to this world. In this 22 years of growing up, things has changed in almost every aspect of me. Except for one thing for sure that has always been here with me. This is for as long as I remember is the first thing I remember about myself, something that keeps on growing along with me, my very best friend that born together with me, at the same time, same place.<br/>
<br/>
_It is my endless appetite to dream..._<br/>
<br/>
I was born a dreamer, that's one thing for sure. I cannot stop dreaming, imagining for even a second in my life. It was merely a fantasy of a boy in the beginning, something like being a superhero, gaining special power, save the world, or something else like that.<br/>
<br/>
But, in the end, the more I fantasize, the more I realize how normal I am, how ordinary. I look around and realize that even if such a fantasy exist, it won't be me. There are a lot of people around me that are worth more to become one. While me? I will remain a dreamer among these special borns around me.<br/>
<br/>
But, that is no problem for me. I may be ordinary, but I believe I have the same right to dream, and I have the same right to make it real. Thus, while youth still remains inside me, I dream for more. But, this time I dream differently.<br/>
<br/>
I begin my dream with the end. What would I accomplish at the end of my life? Then I dream about the path, the long and hard path to reach for the end. And yes, the imagination is flowing through my mind and it just won't stop. I even dream about several seconds to go to the future, even though most of them are not realized.<br/>
<br/>
Then, during my childhood, I have put milestones to reach for the end pf my dream. A dream for another dream. These milestone are my childhood dreams, the product of my imagination for the end.<br/>
<br/>
_I dream of a world without poverty_<br/>
<br/>
That is the end, eradicating poverty. And in order to progress, I need to fulfill a dream for another and go on, dreams like going to university of indonesia, studying abroad at USA, enrolling in Princeton University, and so many other milestone, a dream for another.<br/>
<br/>
And back when I was younher than this, I have vow to myself, that if any of my childhood dreams are accomplished, I would cut all of my hair on my head, becoming completely bald.<br/>
<br/>
_Why is that?_<br/>
<br/>
Because hair will always grow no matter how many times you cut it. It falls, but befor you notice it, it will rise again and again. That is a philosophy that I would put in my heart, the I would grow up no matter what, I will strive for the end of my dream.<br/>
<br/>
Cutting my hair means that it is time to start all over again. One of my dream is accomplished and now is time to start again from zeri and strive for another dream, a dream for another dream. I must not be mesmerized by the accomplished dream and strive more. The hair keeps on growing rven if I cut it all, so why should I stop on just this one dream.<br/>
<br/>
This is my second time in my life for cutting all of my hair. This is just my second childhood dream, my second milestone. The road to the end is still very long. I hope more of my hair would be cut, more of my dream would be realized. Even though I am just an ordinary person, just like my hair, I won't stop dreaming, growing and progressing. This bald head will always be the witness.<br/>
<br/>
With this fistful dream in my hand, I walk in the path I believe in...<br/>
<br/>
_Never stop dreaming_<br/>
Wirapati<br/>
</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-45233586265331262832011-10-01T01:00:00.000-07:002011-10-01T01:01:54.846-07:00My True Meaning of Victory<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">It was Ied Fitr, the victorious day for Moslem all over the world after one month of fasting, when I finally got my mind on this thing: What is victory?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">This is a special Ied Fitr for me. Because, for the first time, I celebrate this special day separated from my family. As I may have told you before, I joined Teaching Indonesia (Indonesia Mengajar) to becoma a primary teacher in remote area. I am currently a primary teacher in Pangkalan Nyirih village of Rupat Island in Bengkalis, Riau. But, I am not alone in this once a year day, I have a new family in this island, Mr. Gopar and his warm family, swept away my bitterness of having this day without my main family.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">In this special day, people in various social media ask each other the same question as mine, about the meaning of victory. People came up with various answers. Some told about their experiences, and some told about their phylosophies. I came up with quite different answer with theirs, at least with the ones that I have seen directly with my very own eyes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">For me, there are two meaning of victory. First, victory <span> </span>First is about ourselves, victory is about defeating yourself. A little contradiction, isn’t it? To achieve victory, you need to be defeated instead, and by your very own self. Actually, it was not ourselves in physical term. Ourselves is what beyond our flesh, that run through every vein and every cycle inside us. The weaknesses, the pride, the greed, the envy and any other things that consume our mind and blind our heart. It is the one that hinder ourselves to feel, hinder ourselves to see others, and bring us to our own self-fulfilling without any compassion about everything around us. It is very human to have these things in ourselves, but it is more human to put ourselves to defeat these parts of our own. It is a battle between ourselves. Can we defeat ourselves? Because, once we are defeated, we are victorious in reality.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Second is about the other around us, victory is when everybody never aim for victory, yet they do their best for themselves, and for the others. What is the importance of victory? Does it all that matter for you? Why are we always aiming for victories? Those who only aim for victory will eventually do anything to achieve it, even though in the process they have to hurt others. If that is what happen, then what is the meaning of having victories if we<span> </span>cannot celebrate it with others? True victory is when you do your best for yourself and the others without any ambition of actually winning it, and celebrate whatever the result you are having, because a solitary victory is no fun. We are social creature. Therefore, whether you win or lose, you are still celebrating your victories with those that you love, because you do what’s best for their part, too.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">That is my dimensions of victory. Please keep in mind that victory is not a one straight line, it is a multidimensional system. Can you achieve victory for yourselves, and for others?</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify">Smile Eternally...</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-66162140930332643172011-03-24T00:51:00.000-07:002011-03-24T01:14:50.910-07:00What it means by "DREAM BIG"It's been months since I became Pengajar Muda in Gerakan Indonesia Mengajar. I have seen a lot and learn no less than that. Being a teacher, I always tell my students to Dream Big, and to put their dream as high as the sky or even higher. I always tell them to fill the empty blue sky with their rainbow of dreams which in the future will elevate the prosperity of the nation. But, in the end, they always come up with a big question mark.<div><br /></div><div><i>What is the meaning of DREAM BIG?</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>You may come up with a very cliche answer, like dream big is to dream something very big, like becoming a president or any cool job you can ever imagine. Yeah, most of us might answer that. But, I ask them back when they answer like that, "What would you do when you already reach your dream?" They might end up in silent, not knowing what to answer. We can dream of becoming a president, then what would we do when we already become a president? We can dream of becoming a minister or professor, then what? That's the end of it? Then, we're not dreaming big.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Dreaming big is not about how big the job/profession that you dream of, it is about how big the thing that you do as that profession.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>You might think that being a farmer is a very small dream. Yeah, everybody could dream that. But, it's the same as being a president, easy to dream. Then how about being a farmer that has thousand hectares of land and employs thousands of workers, participating in eradicating unemployment. Small? Not at all. It is a big dream rather than a small nothing dream like becoming a president. If you want to become a president, then explain what would you do once you reach that place. And the things that you will do must big and influencing to other people. Never dream of something which could only beneficial to yourself. That is what I mean by "Dream Big".</div><div><br /></div><div>I let them write all of their big dreams and surprisingly I saw some extraordinarily big dreams.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>I want to become a president who bring this country to prosperity. I want to become a teacher who makes my students go into college. I want to become a minister who combat poverty. I want to become a mechanics who invent the fastest car in the world. And many more.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>These are the big dreams of the small kids. So, why can't we dream more than them. We, adults, shouldn't be stopped on what profession we would like to have after this. Start thinking what are we gonna do and dream big! This world is the manifestation of the dreams of the people from the past. Let us shape this world with our big dreams which create a better world for every one.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dream Big,</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-41666674223534511452010-10-01T23:09:00.000-07:002010-10-02T00:35:13.101-07:00What is inside Rapid GrowthI was disconnected to the outside world for a while due to my training camp of Indonesia Mengajar. About this movement called Indonesia Mengajar, I will spare some other time since I currently have limited time, and it needs a more extensive and intensive writing for that issue. Now, I am come up with an economic issue which I barely touched during this training camp.<div><br /></div><div>I heard that our growth are expanding in a stable manner as targeted of around 6%. I would like to say that it was quite a good performance considering that we hardly reach that point and maintain it in a stable manner. However, another news that passed on me said that Singapore which suffered quite a major crisis recently has overshoot its growth into 13%. It is sure quite amazing if we look back on 2008/2009 where Singapore has minus growth (approximately -13%, if I'm not mistaken since I have limited access to information right now to confirm this number) due to Global Financial Crisis. With this fact, it might be looked like that Indonesia is performing relatively slow compared to Singapore's great performance.</div><div><br /></div><div>But, let me correct it a little. It is true that our performance is slower than Singapore but you should view it in a different manner. If we reflect on the previous crisis which occurred in the past, we could see the pattern where economic growth (proxied by the growth of Real GDP) overshoots at two moments. First is during the completion of recovery process, a regime shifting from bust to boom condition) and sccond is during the last minutes into the crisis. </div><div><br /></div><div>How do this matter in this issue?</div><div><br /></div><div>If we look on the positive side, we will acquire two point of view. Both are appropriate for Indonesia's stability so that we are not that encouraged to strive for a more rapid growth with aim to exceed Singapore's rapid growth.</div><div><br /></div><div>First, there is no surprise that Singapore has that rapid growth. They were under recession for some time ago which is indicated by its relatively slow growth. The economy was unstable and performing slower than Indonesia. However, that was merely because it was under recession, not because Indonesia is performing better than Singapore. Like I have said before, the loop happens when an economy reach a turning point of regime switching. It is natural for Singapore to has that high growth.</div><div><br /></div><div>Second, an excessive growth bears the potential of causing an overheating economy which will end up in crisis like during 1980's Oil Boom, 1997/1998's Asian Financial Crisis and 2008 Global Financial Crisis. The more excessive the overheating process occurred, the deeper the economic crisis might happen in the end. It is explained as a pro-cyclical behavior which has been studied by countries recently. If we aim to achieve growth which higher than Singapore's, we might reach the overheating condition. It will lead us to another economic crisis if we do not march carefully in this point.</div><div><br /></div><div>Therefore, it is necessary for us to maintain the growth in this stable manner rather than to boost it excessively. We must not make Singapore's growth as our criteria of good performance. We should be thankful that our economy has reach this point and maintain it well. Let us just maintain the stability and grow our economy gradually. It is to avoid more detrimental crises in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-91745264358347722062010-08-24T22:54:00.000-07:002010-10-01T23:08:12.135-07:00A False Paradigm of Monetary PolicyThis is the result of my discussion with my boss, Mr. Gandjar Mustika, and a quick-reading of Stiglitz's book entitled "A New Paradigm of Monetary Policy".<div><br /></div><div>We have acknowledged very well that there are three goals of Central Banks, especially our Bank Indonesia (BI), as monetary authority: Price Stability, Exchange Rate Stability and Banking Surveillance. These are our so-called classic paradigm for monetary policy. It exists merely for currency stabilization, neither less nor more. Therefore, monetary authorities often forget about the whole economic system since they focused more on the currency. They are too preoccupied by a single leaf and forget to see the whole forest.</div><div><br /></div><div>In fact, monetary policy plays big role in economies. They can create major changes on the system just by imposing any single monetary policy. A monetary policy can affect economic growth, deciding the whether government's goal can be achieved or not. However, it seems that monetary authorities often take monetary policy easy since the existence of the false paradigm discussed above.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you remember Phillips Curve? It is a curve which explains about the relationship between unemployment and inflation, and in the expansion, explains about the relationship between economic growth and inflation. It should be a somewhat useful tools on deciding what kind of monetary policy should be implemented. However, classic paradigm considers that reducing unemployment is not the task for central banks, another false paradigm of monetary policy.</div><div><br /></div><div>In addition, we always thought that monetary authority should not think about the poverty eradication, let it be government's mind. It was during my undergrad thesis that I realize that people are too rigid on the classic paradigm. When I was writing about the "Pro-poor Monetary Policy", I always heard people commenting about my work said that there is no way monetary policy can be directed to alleviate poverty or that the relationship is way too far to be implemented.</div><div><br /></div><div>I guess that is wrong.</div><div><br /></div><div>The truth is the poor is affected by the monetary policy. The easiest examples is how the poor would suffer if the inflation jumps more than their increase in income. However, this price stabilization is still the classic paradigm. But, it is true, isn't it, that monetary policy do affect the poor? How can we said that monetary policy cannot reduce poverty. It can! In fact, it is a powerful tools that can combat poverty and unemployment in quick re-active and pro-active manner, because contrary to the rigid fiscal policy, monetary policy is way more flexible to change in different times.</div><div><br /></div><div>I am not going to talk about pro-poor monetary policy here. It is only just a little example. Why do I say little? Because, all of it is just a small fragment of the whole economy. The new paradigm of monetary policy is the paradigm that the monetary policy should consider the whole economy on its decision. Price, currency and banking is only just leaves in the forest. Why are we reducing central banks' role to a very small task when they have great potentials of affecting the whole economy?</div><div><br /></div><div>Central bankers should not be pre-occupied by the false pillars of central banks task. There are more than that which we should explore more. Monetary policy does have a multi-dimensional features. Moreover, it is a modern, flexible mechanism which bears the potential of controlling and creating an environment conducive for economic targets, i.e. poverty eradication.</div><div><br /></div><div>More research on monetary policy dimensional impact should be researched even more. We must not consider it as an easy and closed tool. We must expand it and use it to improve our economy even more. </div><div><br /></div><div>Economists! Think outside the box!!</div><div><br /></div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-40222034846523686292010-08-16T20:40:00.000-07:002010-08-16T21:09:23.861-07:00August RushThis is Ramadhan, the month where people can put their mind at ease, since this is a blessed month. This month people put their mind on how they can celebrate Idl Fitr, what outfits they should buy for the D-Day, arranging fasting break together with friends and any other wonderful things they plan for the glorious month.<div><br /></div><div>Yet, I am here now with my obligation. The research I'm working on "should be" finished on the last of September. And now what? Due to some circumstances, this deadline has been advanced to this Friday, August 20, 2010. Yes, it has been advanced for 1,5 month. Significant, eh?</div><div><br /></div><div>Due to this *<i>I don't know whether it's a</i>* good news or bad news, I have to forget the rest of wonderful things in Ramadhan and put the most of my mind on it. How great my life can be? All of this happiness I can enjoy in Ramadhan should be postpone for some time. I cannot put my mind at ease at all.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>THAT'S WHAT I THINK AT FIRST.</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>But, now that I think of it. This is my obligation. I may be just a merely research assistant. I may not receive that great appreciation due to this *<i>I don't know actually</i>*. But, responsibility is a responsibility. It is easier to just run from it and finally I can put my body to rest, but no! I don't want it. Though small the responsibility is, but running from it can't put my mind at ease. If I keep on complaining on it, keep on avoiding it, it will become bad habit in the future, where *<i>hopefully</i>* I hold a greater responsibility, may be the fate of this nation lies on my obligation someday. Therefore, I choose not to run, but to put my best on this obligation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Moreover, it is okay with not enjoying the happiness of Ramadhan, very okay. I remember about millions people out there, who live in extreme poverty, that cannot enjoy buying new outfits for Idl Fitr, fasting break with their companions and family, celebrating the day of glory with delicious food and the warmth of family, and so on. My condition is better than them, way way waaaaay better. They can't choose their condition, while I can still decide what I want to do. They can just accept their fate, while I may have slight chance to decide mine. Therefore, I must not complain, not at all. Most of them are not complaining,</div><div><br /></div><div><b><i>SO, WHY MUST I?</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div>I must be thankful because of my condition. And that makes me my obligation to fulfill my task, gain some fortune from it, and help them to enjoy this glorious month like we use to. But, first, I must finish this research by the end of this week. No complaining. Imagine how happy I can be when all of this burden is finished.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Thus, I hereby announce this month as:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b>AUGUST RUSH</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dream On!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Bagus Arya Wirapati</span></b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-258251436082975192010-06-29T05:44:00.000-07:002010-08-08T07:01:43.071-07:00Be A Possible Man<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:eFa7NdniYC97rM:http://rezi-soripada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/gambar-Anything_Is_Possible211.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 133px; height: 83px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:eFa7NdniYC97rM:http://rezi-soripada.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/gambar-Anything_Is_Possible211.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><i>"Anything is Possible..."</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>That is what this picture I got from Google's Search Engine tells us. Yeah, I agree. I always believe that everything is possible in this universe. Impossible is the most impossible word, because there are always possibility in everything, even the slightest one.</div><div><br /></div><div>This time, I want to invite you to become A POSSIBLE MAN, or WOMAN of course, in case some of you urge it to be diversified. But, no, I'm not going to entice you to become a extra-optimistic person, nor the reverse. No, It is not about optimism, nor pessimism. It is all about reversing all impossibility into possibility, simply because everything is possible.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Everything is possible</b>, either good things or bad things are possible. Everybody has dreams or goals. Why do they have those dreams? Because they think that those dreams are possible. Therefore they are eager to achieve that. However, sometimes people missed one thing. The risk are also possible at the same time. You cannot just take the chances into account, you must also consider the risk as possible even though the possibility is very small.</div><div><br /></div><div>For example, a new technology has been invented for the safest airplane ever invented. All of the risk has been mitigated so that the chance of an accident to occur has been reduced to 0.01% or even smaller. Then, one day, the plane had an accident, a fatal one that no one survived the calamity. Can you completely blame only the technology?</div><div><br /></div><div>Everything is possible in this universe. And you cannot blame the chance. Only considering the positive side means that you are still an impossible man, in terms of the negative impact or risk and vice versa if you only consider the negative side.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is why, I said that I am not talking about optimism here. I am talking about considering every possibilities that we may face. It is good to always think that everything good is possible, like dreams and goals, but never forget the risk. By being a possible man, I hope that you can be a risk taker when it comes to your dreams and goals, but without being lulled by the optimism and forget to mitigate the risk and plan for the alternatives.</div><div><br /></div><div>Be a possible man! Therefore, you can always reach your dreams,</div><div><br /></div><div>Dream On!</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-75864109293387533442010-06-07T06:41:00.000-07:002010-06-08T05:40:09.823-07:00Walking in My WirepathWirepath? What is that? You might come up with that question at the first moment you read this posting. Yeah, you will not find the meaning of this word in every dictionary you find, because this word, probably, is my self-made word. I say probably because I don't know whether there are others who already come up with this idea before me, but you can believe in me that I come up with this idea myself two or three years before this posting.<div><br /></div><div>This word is a name which I usually use for my avatar name in internet forums. Why do I come up with this name? Just change 'a' (fourth letter) and 'i' (last letter) from my last name, Wirapati, into 'e' and 'h', and VOILA you'll have WIREPATH.</div><div><br /></div><div>However, this posting is not to explain about that. Because, inside the name of Wirepath, I put some of my imagination and philosophy so that I choose this name as mu alias. There is a meaning behind this name and that is what I'm about to explain.</div><div><br /></div><div>Wirepath came from two words, Wire and Path, which the first word describes a long and thin object which usually used to transmit electrical message, while the second word describes an object which we can tread on to reach a certain place from our current position. Therefore, I should say that this Wirepath means a thin path which connects me to a certain goal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Yes, it is a thin, precisely very thin path that I can tread on. I have risk of falling down from this path which means that I failed. However, no matter how thin it is, a wire transmit electrical wave. Therefore, my Wirepath can transmit me to my dream. This path connect me to my goal, my dream, and I am currently walking on this path with beliefs that I could reach that dream. I have no doubt even though it is very thin, because I acknowledge it very well, if I don't even try to cross this thin bridge to my dream, I would never arrive to my dream.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is the philosophy behind my name. Once again I would like to say, that I am not a person which can achieve anything easily. My path would be very hard ahead, and I won't even once underestimate it. That is why I overestimate the risk in my path, to impose prudential and tenacious behavior during my struggle, so that I am not going to fall from my thin path. Imbalance, it is, but I am not going to leave this path. I am gonna march to my greatest goal in my life, the place that I dreamed of.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is why I will keep on walking on my Wirepath,</div><div>Wirapati a.k.a Wirepath</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-85118687441216345932010-05-30T04:32:00.000-07:002010-05-30T05:06:38.588-07:00An Albatross<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:BqK7dCJXbhrwmM:http://www.noelkingsley.com/blog/AlbatrossRoyal_20Wingtip.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 98px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:BqK7dCJXbhrwmM:http://www.noelkingsley.com/blog/AlbatrossRoyal_20Wingtip.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Among all of the birds in the world, what is your favorite bird?<div><br /></div><div>Lots of people will answer eagle or any other mighty birds. But, I come up with a different answer and it might be such a rare answer since this bird might don't have what it takes to become such a favorite bird.</div><div><br /></div><div>My favorite bird is an Albatross. Though they are not in the same class with an eagle, they are often addressed as Sea Eagle, because they live near the sea. They have the widest wings among all of the birds ever exist and fly awkwardly by going upside down as if they are unstable during the flight.</div><div><br /></div><div>Well, not as mighty as an eagle, are they? Then how come I favor this bird very much? It is simply because they have a very deep philosophy inside them, and they reflect myself so much in many ways.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you know that unlike any other birds, Albatross cannot fly simply just stomping their claws on the ground? Albatrosses have a unique way of taking off. Instead of a hard stomping on the surface below them, they run (not really running, it's like small jumps as if they are running) over the surface to find the perfect stance for taking off and then put all of their efforts to fly. Yes, they are not able to fly easily like any other birds. They need more efforts to fly, and they even have to jump from a cliff, falling in the open air for sometimes and hover while flapping their wings to capture the wind and then fly to the open sky.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is just like me. If the other birds represent the other people, I am just an albatross. I cannot easily fly simply by doing my best on something. Just like an albatross, to fly, I need to run until I am able to take off, that is because I am not that extraordinary. I am just a regular person, which has to put my efforts more than anybody else to reach approximately the same with them. It might be not enough to put my best on something, I must exceed my best efforts to surpass everybody else, to become number one.</div><div><br /></div><div>That is why I adore this bird so much. They are trying their best to fly, so why don't I? Just like I said, they have the widest wings over all birds, but they will never acknowledge that if they did not even try flying. That is why, I always try my best to fly, to see how broad my wings, to see how far I can reach, and how limitless I must surpass.</div><div><br /></div><div>Albatross will be my favorite bird forever. I never adore someone who is genius from the beginning, simply because they were born genius. I adore those who achieve genius, through hard works and passions. They try to surpass their disadvantages and limitations to achieve the unlimited because they overcome every hardness they face in the process. That is more inspiring, isn't it. It shows you how you must not give up on fate and condition, fight it and achieve your goal regardless of your inability. We should learn from an albatross in this case.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everything in this world is not that simple. You cannot fly easily by stomping your feet on the ground and flap your arms. Never give up on it, if you really want to fly. Be an Albatross and show the world how strong you are to reach the top.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dream On!</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-62522875493086531212010-05-30T03:43:00.000-07:002010-05-30T04:21:24.481-07:00Responsibility over PriorityToday's a great day. Been a while I haven't met my "Little Fellas" from my High School life and probably it's the first reunion for over a year. Glad they does not change at all. They are still my beloved Little Fellas from the past. <div><br /></div><div>However, that is not what I'm about to tell now. I'll save the story for them later. There is one interesting thing that I remember today in my reunion today. In our reunion today at my friend's house, there was a man who wanted to study about acceleration program student came for interviewing us. There is a very interesting question he gave which reminds me of my important value of life.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>What value did your parents mainly build inside yourselves? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>This is an easy, yet deep question. Right after he threw that question, spontaneously I remember one thing that has always been my principle, right from the beginning. It is <b>Responsibility.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>Yes, my father keeps on telling me up until today, that I must always be responsible on what I do and to whoever whom I responsible to. I have a different point of view about being responsible and that was what determines my every action up until now and will always be in the future.</div><div><br /></div><div>You might remember that in every organization or institution recruitment interview, you are going to be asked: What is your priorities in life? While people might answer their priorities from the highest to the lowest, I emerge with different answer.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>I believe in responsibility over than priority. I do have any priorities for my responsibilities. I am responsible for every responsibility regardless on how important they are.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>That has always been my answer even for my recent job recruitment interview. In simple, developed from Stephen Covey's, I do not prioritize responsibility, I put my responsibility on my priorities.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is what always keep me standing in my every hard time during my acceleration program back in high school. It kept me strong and provided me with endless motivations, to be responsible to my parents who provide me with every facilities so that I can go to school and study.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, this is what kept me strong when I was on deadline during my undergrad thesis back in my college life. I am doing my research seriously, putting all of my efforts to finish my undergrad thesis and graduates in seven semesters, just like what my parents' expectations. Even though I was very busy with my organization, I did not just leave this responsibility with my parents, nor to my organization. That is why, whenever I found two importances intersect in the process, I was doing my best to fulfill both of them without even considering about the priorities, merely because I am responsible for both of them.</div><div><br /></div><div>If we do it wrong, we might overheat ourselves. That is why we must measure our capacity on how much responsibility we can take. But, once you hold the responsibility, never turn down it for other responsibility. Because, responsibility is something that we must accomplish, regardless on how important they are.</div><div><br /></div><div>Never forget on your responsibility, because that reflects your honor as a human.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dream on!</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-45257127047077787202010-05-03T06:48:00.000-07:002010-05-03T07:06:40.487-07:00Loser, again...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:CTZg3NiQVlTmLM:http://sheerchaos.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/1-bp-blogspot-com.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 124px; height: 124px;" src="http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:CTZg3NiQVlTmLM:http://sheerchaos.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/1-bp-blogspot-com.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Telah banyak sekali kucoba taklukkan. Untuk menjadi yang terbaik, untuk menjadi yang terhebat. Tetapi, belum sekalipun aku berhasil mencapai puncak. Belum pernah aku mengecap nikmatnya kemenangan, memperoleh posisi teratas dan melambungkan tanganku tinggi-tinggi untuk menunjukkan kebahagiaanku.<div><br /></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Ya, lagi-lagi aku kalah...</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Dengan penuh kepercayaan diri, aku mengirimkan paperku, yang kukerjakan dengan segala kreativitas yang aku miliki, dengan segala usaha yang bisa kuberikan. Aku merasa percaya diri, bahwa ini adalah <i>masterpiece-</i>ku. Aku berusaha menyajikan sesuatu yang baru, sesuatu yang orisinil. Tetapi, apa daya, aku tidak bisa menembus dinding tebal World Bank Essay Competition. Aku tidak berhasil memperoleh hak untuk bersaing memperebutkan posisi puncak dalam lomba itu bersama para Delapan Besar dunia.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Aku tidak kecewa sama sekali. Karena ternyata walau tidak menjadi finalis, tetapi aku tetap berhasil mencapai posisi 20 besar dunia. Aku berhasil menjadi 1% dalam pertandingan ini, menjadi 20 besar dari 2009 peserta dari 150 negara. Bukan sesuatu yang paling dibanggakan, tetapi aku bangga karena satu hal.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Aku bangga karena aku bisa memaparkan <i>original idea</i>-ku. Sebuah konsep yang kubangun secara susah payah, dengan bantuan Ayahku. Aku bahagia karena ide yang berasal dari diriku sendiri ini, diakui sebagai 20 besar dunia. Baru beberapa hari ini aku menulis posting tentang idolaku, John Nash, yang bersikukuh mencari <i>original idea, </i>dan tiba-tiba aku memperoleh kabar bahagia ini.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Aku selangkah lebih dekat dengan pahlawanku</i>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Aku akan berusaha lebih banyak lagi. Tahun depan aku akan mengikutinya lagi, dan akan kuraih kemenangan tahun depan. Aku akan terus mengembangkan <i>original idea</i>-ku, sampai suatu hari nanti, aku berhasil membuat ideku mengenai pengentasan kemiskinan diakui oleh dunia. Mimpiku sangat sederhana, tetapi sulit dicapai. Aku masih seorang pecundang, dan akan tetap menjadi pecundang sampai aku berhasil membuktikan diriku. Terkadang tidak terlalu buruk menjadi pecundang, karena kita bisa bebas mengekspresikan ide kita tanpa beban sebuah gelar, dan dapat terus belajar dari kekalahan kita. Tentunya, aku juga ingin menjadi pemenang, tetapi mungkin belum saatnya.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><i>Maybe, Someday I'll win..</i></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Wirapati</span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-78519539033294273452010-05-01T06:09:00.000-07:002010-05-01T06:55:52.241-07:00John F. Nash: Our Own Original Idea<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YvjfvO9-cUYifM:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/John_f_nash_20061102_2.jpg/751px-John_f_nash_20061102_2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 141px; height: 112px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:YvjfvO9-cUYifM:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b4/John_f_nash_20061102_2.jpg/751px-John_f_nash_20061102_2.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><i>Find a truly original idea. It is the only way I will ever distinguish myself. It is the only way I will ever matter. -John Forbes Nash, A Beautiful Mind-</i></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Kali ini aku ingin berbicara mengenai orang-orang selain ayahku yang menjadi inspirasi utama dalam hidupku. Orang-orang inilah yang kujadikan pandangan hidup, kuambil bagian dari mereka yang baik dan kuevaluasi yang buruk.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Waktu sudah berjalan sekitar 10 tahun semenjak aku mengenal seorang jenius yang merupakan pemenang Nobel untuk bidang ekonomi yang bernama <b>John Nash</b>. Kisah tentang hidupnya telah dibukukan dan difilmkan dengan judul yang sama, yaitu <b>A Beautiful Mind</b>. Keduanya mengisahkan tentang Nash yang berusaha untuk mengalahkan ilusi dalam dirinya sendiri akibat penyakit kejiawaan yang bernama <i>Schyzophrenic, </i>yang membuat dirinya berhalusinasi dan tidak dapat membedakan mana kenyataan dan mana ilusi. Film ini ditutup dengan mengharukan dengan sebuah pidato inspirasional Nash saat dirinya memenangkan Nobel bidang ekonomi.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Terlepas dari semua itu, sebenarnya ada hal lain yang membuatku menjadikannya inspirasi.Bukan sekedar karena keteguhannya dalam menghadapi <i>schyzophrenic</i>, atau pencapaiannya dalam penghargaan Nobel. Aku menjadikannya inspirasiku karena kegigihannya untuk menemukan ide orisinilnya sendiri. Aku tidak pernah tahu seperti apa perjuangannya sesungguhnya karena hanya mengetahuinya dari buku dan film. Tetapi, setidaknya aku percaya bahwa kenyataannya tidak sejauh itu.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Pada masa mudahnya, Nash sempat dilecehkan oleh teman-temannya karena perkembangannya yang lambat dalam menyelesaikan disertasi. Sementara teman-temannya sudah menyelesaikan tugasnya masing-masing, Nash masih belum membuatnya sama sekali. Jika ditanya oleh teman-teman maupun profesornya, Nash selalu menjawab bahwa dia sedang mencari ide orisinilnya sendiri. Dia tidak mau seperti teman-temannya yang hanya mengembangkan atau mereplikasi penelitian-penelitian terdahulu. Memang sangat sulit dan penuh perjuangan, tetapi akhirnya Nash berhasil membuktikan bahwa penelitiannya mengenai <i>Cooperative Game Theory, </i>yang merupakan sanggahan terhadap teori individualis Adam Smith. Teorinya inilah yang pada akhirnya membuatnya berbagi penghargaan Nobel bidang ekonomi dengan John Harsanyi dan Reinhard Selten.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Aku sangat menyukai pribadinya yang terus mengejar ide orisinilnya. Aku selalu percaya bahwa dalam menyampaikan sebuah ide, aku harus berpegang teguh kepada dua buah prinsip dasar: Minat dan Orisinalitas. Aku adalah tipe orang yang tidak begitu menyukai replikasi terhadap model-model terdahulu, dan lebih memilih untuk membuat modelku sendiri dalam setiap penelitianku. Hal ini disebabkan karena aku ingin menguak lebih banyak misteri dibandingkan para pendahuluku. Aku ingin mendapatkan sesuatu yang belum pernah dipikirkan orang lain, tetapi aku pernah memikirkannya. Aku ingin menjadi yang pertama, karena orang akan mengingat para <i>first mover</i>. Tetapi lebih dari itu, aku selalu merasa puas saat bisa menyampaikan gagasanku yang orisinil dan diakui orang lain, sebab itu menunjukkan seberapa jauh pola pikirku telah berkembang, dan aku percaya bahwa tidak ada batas pada pikiran manusia untuk berimajinasi dan bermimpi.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Nash telah menunjukkanku hal ini, betapa mengembangkan sebuah pemikiran dan gagasan yang orisinil adalah sesuatu yang sangat penting dalam hidup, sesuatu yang membuat kita diakui, dan sesuatu yang memberikan makna dalam hidup kita. Karena itulah, pada saat aku menulis skripsi, aku tetap teguh untuk memajukan topik skripsiku yang dianggap <i>absurd</i> bahkan oleh Prof. Ali Wardhana yang merupakan rekan kerja dari orang yang menjadi inspirasiku yang lain, yaitu Prof. Widjojo Nitisastro (mungkin akan kuceritakan pada bahasan berikutnya). Tidak hanya beliau, banyak orang yang mentertawakan gagasanku ini. Tetapi, aku tetap menulis skripsiku ini dengan bermodalkan keyakinan saja. Pada akhirnya, aku berhasil lulus dengan menggunakan skripsiku yang dianggap<i> absurd </i>ini. Memang aku belum menjadi John Nash yang disertasinya sangat diakui bahkan memberikan penghargaan Nobel padanya, tetapi aku akan mengembangkannya lagi di masa depan saat aku sudah menguasai lebih banyak ilmu lagi.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Nash juga telah membuatku ingin mengejar Princeton University sebagai tujuan universitasku di masa depan. Aku ingin bersekolah di universitas yang pernah menelurkan pahlawanku ini. Aku ingin mendapatkan ilmu yang sama, belajar dari lingkungan yang sama, serta mengejar tujuan yang sama dengannya. Dengan segala persamaan itu, aku akan membuktikan bahwa aku bisa melampauinya suatu hari nanti, dengan gagasan orisinilku sendiri. Salah satu impian besarku dalam hidup ini adalah mengembangkan teori untuk mengentaskan kemiskinan yang diakui oleh masyarakat dunia, teori orisinilku sendiri.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i>Perhaps it is good to have a beautiful mind, but an even greater gift is to discover a beautiful heart.</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;"><i>Quoted from John F. Nash</i></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:100%;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px;">Wirapati</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-8674603835734281032010-04-30T07:25:00.000-07:002010-04-30T08:24:14.415-07:00The Glass, The Content and The PhilosophyHari ini aku mendapatkan sebuah pelajaran yang berharga dari Workshop Training mengenai System Dynamic dari Bank Indonesia. Pelajaran tersebut mencakup pengetahuan dan kemampuan mengaplikasikan System Dynamic, serta sebuah filosofi besar dalam mempelajari sesuatu.<div><br /></div><div>Sebelumnya mari aku berikan sedikit gambaran umum mengenai pengetahuan yang aku peroleh hari ini. System Dynamic merupakan salah satu dari metode estimasi forecasting untuk data statistika yang sejenis dengan ekonometri. Tetapi, patut diperhatikan bahwa System Dynamic bukanlah bagian dari Ekonometrika, melainkan sebuah disiplin ilmu yang berbeda dalam statistika. Bahkan, hingga saat ini, para ahli Ekonometrika yang mengunggulkan bukti empiris secara matematis masih sering berdebat hebat dengan para ahli System Dynamic yang mengunggulkan bukti autentik kualitatif. Perdebatan ini tidak kalah hebatnya dengan perdebatan antara mazhab Liberalisme dan mazhab Sosialisme, sehingga menjadikan keduanya sebagai instrumen yang terpisah secara metodologi.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dalam pelatihan hari ini, aku memperhatikan bahwa banyak di antara para peserta di Bank Indonesia, tepatnya di PPSK, yang sangat terbiasa menggunakan ekonometrika, seringkali bertanya pada fasilitator mengenai modelling, sistem persamaan, dan hal-hal yang biasa ditemukan pada ekonometrika. Hal ini cukup menghambat workshop karena para peserta lebih terbiasa dengan ekonometrika yang penuh kuantifikasi dan estimasi, sementara System Dynamic lebih menekankan pada Actual Condition Mimicry. Karena itulah workshop kali ini selesai lebih lama karena pertanyaan-pertanyaan yang bertubi-tubi dari para peserta.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dari sini, aku mendapatkan sebuah filosofi yang sangat penting, terutama dalam belajar. Yaitu adalah untuk memperhatikan isi kepala kita saat mempelajari sesuatu. Pertama-tama aku akan memberikan sebuah ilustrasi. Seorang pendekar kungfu umumnya menjadi terkenal karena mempelajari beberapa aliran kungfu dan memodifikasinya menjadi alirannya sendiri yang dirasa unggul karena menyerap keunggulan-keunggulan ilmu beladiri lainnya dan membuang kelemahannya, sehingga teramu menjadi sebuah ilmu yang dianggap sempurna. Tetapi, tahukah kalian bahwa untuk mempelajari sebuah kungfu baru, seorang pendekar kungfu harus menghancurkan semua ilmu kungfu lamanya, serta kebiasaan-kebiasaan dalam ilmu kungfu lamanya?</div><div><br /></div><div>Misal, seorang ahli kungfu ingin menggabungkan aliran keras pada Baji Quan ato Shaolin dengan aliran lembut pada Hakkesho atau Taichi. Baji Quan dan Shaolin yang mengutamakan pada serangan mematikan pada satu serangan pertama memiliki ciri khas yaitu hentakan kaki yang keras untuk menyalurkan berat badan menjadi kekuatan serangan. Sementara Hakkesho dan Taichi yang mengutamakan pada serangan dan pertahanan yang mengalir seperti air memiliki ciri khas hentakan-hentakan lembut berirama. Jika seorang ahli Baji Quan mencoba menguasai ilmu Taichi atau Hakkesho, tanpa melupakan kebiasaannya menghentakkan kaki, maka tidak satu pun ilmu lembut tersebut dapat diserapnya. Bahkan, malah bisa merusak keseimbangan kungfu lamanya.</div><div><br /></div><div>Untuk itu, sang ahli Baji Quan harus meninggalkan kungfu lamanya dan mulai mempelajari ilmu barunya. Meninggalkan tidak berarti melupakannya sama sekali. Saat seseorang sudah mahir dalam melakukan sesuatu, dalam kondisi lupa sekalipun, tubuh atau ingatan mereka masih mengingat segala kemampuan yang dapat mereka lakukan sebelumnya. Bahkan, dapat disempurnakan oleh ilmu barunya yang telah diserapnya dan terasimilasi dengan baik. </div><div><br /></div><div>Itulah kunci mempelajari sebuah ilmu baru: <i>Seraplah ilmu baru tersebut tanpa mencampuradukkannya dengan ilmu lama.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>Ibarat sebuah gelas yang berisi cairan, kita bisa memasukkan gelas tersebut dengan cairan apapun. Tetapi, saat kita ingin memasukkan cairan baru ke dalam gelas tersebut, perhatikanlah karakteristik dari cairan tersebut. Jika kita ingin memasukkan kopi ke dalam sebuah gelas, jangan kalian campurkan dengan fanta yang mungkin akan merusak rasa kopi tersebut. Jika kita ingin memasukkan fanta ke dalam kopi tersebut, maka kita sebaiknya membuang kopi tersebut dulu baru memasukkan fanta ke dalamnya. Sehingga rasa dari fanta tidak akan terlalu bercampur dengan kopi. Semakin kental sebuah cairan, semakin menempel dia dengan dinding gelas. Sehingga, tidak akan lekang begitu saja saat dibuang. Lain halnya jika kita ingin memasukkan susu ke dalamnya, maka akan tercipta kopi susu yang nikmat. Sehingga, kita tak perlu membuang kopi tersebut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hal ini sama dengan perilaku kita dalam belajar. Saat seseorang sudah piawai dalam mempelajari sesuatu dan mencoba mempelajari sesuatu yang berseberangan dengan disiplin ilmunya saat ini, maka dia harus meninggalkan ilmu lamanya terlebih dahulu untuk menyerap ilmu barunya. Jika kita tidak berusaha meninggalkannya, kita akan terus-menerus melontarkan pertanyaan seperti para peserta tersebut, di mana pasti akan menghalangi kita untuk belajar karena perasaan konservatif yang berkecamuk dalam pikiran kita akibat disiplin ilmu lama kita. Akan tetapi, saat sebuah ilmu baru akan melengkapi ilmu lamanya, tak perlu kita lupakan, justru ilmu lama kita tersebut harus diaplikasinya dalam mempelajari hal baru tersebut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sebuah ilmu tak bisa dipelajari jika kita tidak membuka pikiran dan diri kita sebesar-besarnya. Jika kita selalu merasa konservatif terhadap disiplin ilmu lama kita. Gelas yang penuh dengan berbagai macam cairan tersebut akan menimbulkan rasa yang aneh, sehingga tidak dapat diminum. Pikiran yang dicampuradukkan dalam mempelajari sesuatu hanya akan merusak disiplin ilmu lama, tanpa menyerap ilmu baru tersebut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ilmu itu luas kawan. Tak setiap ilmu mendukung ilmu lainnya. Tetapi, ilmu yang berlawanan sekalipun, jika kita ambil baiknya dan buang buruknya, bisa jadi sebuah disiplin ilmu yang lebih baik. Jangan takut untuk mempelajari hal baru yang berlawanan dengan ilmu lama kita, dan jangan takut untuk meninggalkan ilmu lama kita sejenak, karena mereka takkan hilang begitu saja jika kita memang telah menguasainya. Ini juga sebuah pelajaran bahwa jangan menyebrang disiplin ilmu dulu jika kita belum benar-benar menguasai disiplin ilmu lama kita tersebut. Dengan demikian, kita bisa terus mengembangkan diri kita secara tak terbatas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Fear not!</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-69315866635464883122010-04-01T05:51:00.000-07:002010-04-01T20:55:54.836-07:00How I Like A Job Like This!!!Memang ini adalah keputusan yang menurut orang lain bodoh, atau percuma. Aku adalah lulusan Ilmu Ekonomi FEUI, dan teman-temanku yang lulus bersamaku sudah berkerja semua di bank-bank swasta terkenal seperti Mandiri dan Standard Chartered sebagai Management Trainee (MT). Sedangkan aku? Aku memilih untuk mengambil magang di Bank Indonesia. Sebuah aktivitas yang sangat melelahkan tanpa bayaran, hanya dapat uang saku yang cukup untuk pulang-pergi dan makan siang. Orang akan berpikir mengapa aku yang bisa mendaftar pekerjaan yang mungkin sama well-paid nya dengan teman-temanku, malah memilih magang yang sedikitpun tidak menambah tebal dompetku.<div><br /></div><div>Ini adalah keputusanku. Aku telah berpikir masak-masak bahwa aku tidak cocok untuk bekerja di bank-bank swasta, perusahaan swasta atau menjadi MT di perusahaan maupun bank mana pun. Aku merasa bahwa aku belajar Ilmu Ekonomi bukan untuk bekerja demi menambah keuntungan sebuah perusahaan. Aku berpikir bahwa aku ingin mendedikasikan Ilmu Ekonomi untuk negara ini. Bayangkan bahwa dari 100 orang lulusan Ilmu Ekonomi FEUI, tidak sampai 20% yang menjadi akademisi dan peneliti. Padahal Ilmu Ekonomi adalah ilmu untuk penelitian dan masyarakat. Tetapi, memang minat setiap orang berbeda dan aku tidak sedikitpun membenarkan keputusan orang yang menjadi peneliti atau menyalahkan yang tidak menjadi peneliti. Hanya saja, aku ingin menjadi peneliti, karena itulah aku mengambil magang di Bank Indonesia yang tidak membutuhkan syarat-syarat pengalaman bekerja sebagai peneliti seperti lembaga-lembaga lainnya.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hari pertama aku magang di BI, aku benar-benar merasakan senang bekerja di dalamnya. Bukan hanya para peneliti dan direksinya yang menyenangkan dan bersahabat, tetapi juga jenis pekerjaan yang dilakukan selama sehari aku magang. Aku harus menenggelamkan diriku kepada tumpukan jurnal untuk mendapatkan satu kesimpulan hipotesis dasar, menelusuri data-data perbankan untuk menentukan variabel-variabel dalam penelitian, dan menyusun sebuah kerangka dasar pemikiran dalam bentuk proposal untuk diajukan sebagai penelitian. Benar-benar hal yang sangat aku sukai. Aku menjadi sangat bersemangat untuk melakukan penelitian.</div><div><br /></div><div>Bagiku ada dua hal yang membuat penelitian menjadi menyenangkan. Pertama, kita berusaha untuk menguak hal-hal baru yang mungkin tidak kita ketahui. Berbeda dengan bekerja di bank atau perusahaan swasta yang memiliki rutinitas yang begitu-begitu saja, penelitian memberikan tantangan bagi kita untuk terus mengembangkan diri dan dinamis terhadap kondisi sekitar. Research is full of wonders. Kita tidak tahu outcomes yang akan keluar dari penelitian kita yang selalu membakar rasa ingin tahu. Kita harus terus berusaha mencari tahu hal-hal yang baru karena ilmu pengetahuan selalu berkembang, dan kita menjadi bagian dari perkembangan ilmu pengetahuan itu.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kedua, hasil penelitian tersebut bukan hanya bermanfaat bagi kita sendiri, atau institusi di mana kita berada, tetapi juga kepada masyarakat luas yang mendapatkan value added dari penelitian tersebut, baik secara material maupun immaterial. Pada saat hal tersebu terjadi, perasaan puas karena ilmu yang kita dalami sampai saat ini bermanfaat bagi masyarakat akan muncul. Betapa menyenangkannya karena selama bertahun-tahun kita belajar, kita bisa bermanfaat bagi masyarakat luas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Magangku selama sehari ini membuatku semakin ingin menjadi peneliti. Timeline pekerjaanku selama seminggu ke depan sudah diberikan, seperti melakukan simulasi terhadap variabel-variabel dan menyusun model estimasi. Setidaknya selama seminggu ke depan aku masih bersemangat dengan pekerjaan ini.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm wondering what will I do in the next three months? Well, I hope I can keep up my spirits until the end!</div><div><br /></div><div>Regards, </div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-28625920342182718772010-03-27T05:42:00.000-07:002010-03-27T09:30:50.514-07:00Hidup yang KuinginkanApa yang kuinginkan dalam hidup ini? Apakah hanya sekedar belajar, memperoleh pendidikan tertinggi, berkeluarga, mencari nafkah, hidup berkecukupan, bahagia dengan keluarga, dan kemudian meninggal dengan tenang? Part of it, yes. Tapi aku tidak mau hanya hidup seperti itu.<div><br /></div><div>Aku hanya ingin hidup di dunia yang sedikit kurang biasa, jika tidak bisa luar biasa. Aku ingin bisa memanfaatkan hidupku yang hanya sebentar di dunia ini, untuk menjadi manfaat bagi sekelilingku, bagi dunia ini. Aku belajar, berkarya dan berpikir hanya demi satu impian dan visi ini. Aku ingin, suatu hari nanti, aku bisa melakukan sesuatu yang besar demi dunia ini, sesuatu yang bermanfaat bagi semua orang. Sehingga aku bisa meninggalkan bukti kehidupanku, bukti keberadaanku. Sehingga aku bisa terus hidup di dunia ini, dalam buku sejarah, dalam biografi, dalam buku teks kuliah, dan dalam ingatan semua orang. Sehingga, aku bisa mencapai sesuatu yang disebut keabadian. Keabadian yang menurut diriku sendiri. adalah tetap hidup di hati seluruh umat manusia.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tapi, bagaimana jika aku ditakdirkan untuk hidup normal?</div><div><br /></div><div>Maka aku tidak terima. Aku akan memberontak dari nasib, menggeliat dari takdir, dan melepaskan diri dari belenggu waktu. Waktu boleh berhenti bagiku, tetapi hidup harus tetap berjalan bagiku. Memang ini adalah impian yang sangat kekanakan dan egois serta terdengar tidak masuk akal. Tapi inilah The Boy That Lives Inside Me. Inilah hal yang selalu kuimpikan semenjak aku dapat berpikir. Dan aku akan terus memimpikan ini, sebagai anak lelaki yang tak pernah melepaskan harapannya, dengan optimisme yang lebih besar dari semua orang di dunia ini, dengan semangat hidup yang tak terbendung. Berapa tahun pun aku ditakdirkan hidup, akan kuciptakan legenda diriku, in my Quest of Legacy.</div><div><br /></div><div>Dream On!</div><div>Wirapati</div><div><br /></div><div><b>P.S. Sudah lama tidak menulis seperti ini. Lega rasanya. :D</b></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-28367469280574233302010-03-21T20:00:00.001-07:002010-03-21T20:22:51.609-07:00The Point of Happiness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:tbLn41LmMFkx7M:http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/aj6293/happiness_of_katakuris.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 127px; height: 90px;" src="http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:tbLn41LmMFkx7M:http://www.lovehkfilm.com/panasia/aj6293/happiness_of_katakuris.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />I'm just wondering so hard, do we have to snatch happiness from other people to get happy? Do we really to be selfish so that we can become happy? Is it individualistic that fuels our happiness? I'm wondering about it since there are people in this world who try to grab happiness for their own.<div><br /></div><div>I believe that there's no point of being happy alone. Why? Because happiness were meant to be shared with other people. Because you can only feel really happy when there are people who share smiles and laughs together with you for your happiness.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do you feel happy when fortunately you got your own great marks on your exams. while unfortunately your best friends just have red marks on theirs? I would feel like all of my happiness from my successful exam just ceased away. Because, I cannot share this to my friends. I am only keeping it to myself. And it is no fun at all. Because you have to hold back the happiness for yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div>When you snatch happiness from others to grab your own happiness, you will also lose the fun part of being happy. That is to have people to share with, also. Since you were just taking someone's happiness away, no one would appreciate it. That is why, you just cannot tell anyone about your happiness, unless you got no shame at all.</div><div><br /></div><div>I always imagine a world with myself living on my own alone. Where there lives no human but me, and I own everything that remains in this flourished world. Indeed, having all of those blessed beings fow my own is a very great fulfillment. But, don't you think it is sad. You live there alone, and got no one to communicate with. All of those that you own cannot be shared to anyone. You can only enjoy it yourself and try to smile and laugh on your own, with no one tells you that you've been doing great or anything.</div><div><br /></div><div>It is human basic instinct to desire of owning everything they could in this world. But, once you have everything, you left nothing for the others. You are all alone, the only one enjoying happiness. Imagine how lonely that is, even though you are flourished with wealth and everything, but friends to share with.</div><div><br /></div><div>No matter how happy you are, having no one to share your happiness with is nothing but sadness. We must not be selfish. We have to make everyone happy, so that we can always share our happiness together. That is the point of happiness, to have it shared with all of the other people. That way, you can always be happy, in the true meaning.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Friends will double your joy, and divide your sorrow,</i></div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-38298449781776832212010-02-15T01:40:00.000-08:002010-03-15T00:27:35.649-07:00Membuka Kembali Luka LamaLama tidak berjumpa, kawan. Akhir-akhir ini aku cukup sibuk dengan berbagai macam hal seperti melamar pekerjaan, membuat paper, membantu pekerjaan dosenku, dan lain-lain, jadi postinganku sempat berhenti sesaat. Kali ini aku kembali posting mengenai sebuah analogi yang kudapat saat iseng-iseng berdiskusi dengan ayahku.<div><br /></div><div>Kalian pasti mengenal sebuah ungkapan "membuka kembali luka lama". Luka dalam hal ini tidak berarti luka fisik seperti memar, berdarah atau lainnya. Luka ini merupakan luka dalam batin kita yang memberikan tekanan terhadap perasaan dan hati kita. Pengalaman buruk dapat menimbulkan luka dalam hati kita, yang membuat kita menjadi takut, atau sedih, atau marah saat mengingatnya kembali. Inilah luka yang kumaksud.</div><div><br /></div><div>Kebanyakan orang berusaha untuk tidak lagi mengingat luka ini, karena mereka takut untuk "membuka kembali luka lama". Mereka takut karena saat mereka mengingatnya kembali, mereka akan kembali sedih, marah atau takut akan ingatan yang tersimpan jauh di dalam hati mereka itu. Mereka melupakannya, terkadang tanpa berusaha mengetahui jawaban dari luka dalam hati mereka tersebut.</div><div><br /></div><div>Sebenarnya, terkadang kita salah jika kita berusaha untuk menguburnya dalam ingatan kita, agar kita tidak mengingatnya kembali. Terkadang, kita harus membuka kembali luka tersebut untuk dapat menyembuhkannya. Dalam medis sekali pun, terkadang para tim medis berusaha untuk membuka luka tersebut kembali untuk mengetahui penyebab atau untuk menyembuhkan luka tersebut agar dapat sembuh tanpa bekas.</div><div><br /></div><div>Hal yang sama sebaiknya kita lakukan. Mengapa kita harus takut terhadap masa lalu? Kita harus membukan kembali luka tersebut dan mencari jawaban atas segala kegundahan kita terhadap masa lalu kita tersebut. Kita harus merenungi apa yang telah terjadi di masa lalu, walaupun hal tersebut dapat mengingatkan kita terhadap sebuah kenangan buruk. Kita harus berani. Tanpa melakukan itu, kita akan terus dibayangi oleh kenangan masa lampau tersebut dan kita mungkin akan semakin menderita saat kita berusaha melupakannya.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jangan pernah takut pada masa lalu, kawan. Hadapilah masa lalu dengan berani dan pandanglah masa depan. Kita takkan pernah maju jika kita hanya berusaha untuk menutupi luka lama tersebut tanpa berusaha menyembuhkannya. <i>You can never move on, if you cannot even heal your wound in the past.</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Smile eternally,</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-70876752738002079842010-02-13T04:13:00.000-08:002010-02-21T20:04:44.261-08:00The Choice Called DestinyPeople tends to blame destiny. I acknowledge that. When we finally falls to poverty, we blame destiny. When someone we love gone, we blame destiny. When we failed on something, we blame destiny. Destiny is all at fault. We never try to see it clearly, that we're not destined to be, not until we destined ourselves.<div><br /></div><div>Does someone being destined to be poor? Does someone being destined to fail? Does someone being destined to be nothing at all in this world? Do I destined to be those way?</div><div><br /></div><div><i>If yes, then I don't accept it!</i></div><div><br /></div><div>I want to break through al of this crap we call destiny. It's not destiny at all, not a single piece of it. Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a choice. It is not a thing we have to wait for. Destiny is to achieve. If human are helpless with their destiny, then there is no point God creates us as an able creature. Then. we are not more than just a doll, living only for dying, with the role that has been decided long ago before our birth.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's not like that.</div><div><br /></div><div>I believe that life is a big, long, branched river. The river has a lot of branches, with their own stream, river rocks and shape. There are branches which stream is calm, and there with swift, dangerous stream able to sink anything across it. There are branches with challenges as river rocks. And there are branches which just straight and there are curvaceous type.</div><div><br /></div><div>Just like life, there times when you live peacefully, and there are times when it become harsh. There are time where challenges are ahead, and there are times when you can't even jusr go straight to what you want. It is your choice that made you your life. Which branches do you pick? Which do you want to go? If you choose to follow your dream, there might challenges ahead of you. But, you choose yourself whether you want to overcome it or not. </div><div><br /></div><div>But, in the end, the stream will end to the same goal, the sea. I think it is something that God has decided for human being: The Sea, or what we call as Death. This is a destiny that you cannot shape. You cannot cheat death, nor you can runaway from it. That's why while trasversing all of those stream, you must make choices so that when you arrive at the sea, there are no regrets on your life, therefore you can set sail peacefully.</div><div><br /></div><div>Do not blame destiny, friends. Your choice shape your own destiny. When you failed on something, it is something you have chosen. Maybe you're struggle is not enough, or maybe you're not even trying. You can choose to break through poverty. You can choose everything. And that is your destiny. It is not one static thing, it is something really dynamic that you can even shape it yourself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, achieve your destiny, mate!</div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2967511340298257368.post-13189613164416387432010-02-13T01:12:00.000-08:002010-02-13T02:21:48.314-08:00A Life for EconomistSetiap disiplin ilmu pasti memiliki profesinya masing. Tapi sejak dahulu kala, ada sebuah profesi yang menarik perhatianku selain profesi dokter (aku sempat ingin menjadi internist spesialis diabetes karena sekeluargaku mengidap diabetes). Profesi itu adalah profesi yang kuanggap sebagai profesi paling berani di dunia.<div><br /></div><div>Mereka tidak mengangkat senapan dan bayonet. Mereka tidak menumpahkan darah manusia lain. Mereka tidak mati demi negara. Tetapi, mereka hidup demi negara ini. Mereka adalah <b>PARA EKONOM</b>.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Apakah yang mendasari pemikiranku ini?</i></div><div><br /></div><div>Ekonom tidak berbeda dengan para ilmuwan. Mereka sama-sama melakukan penelitian. Mereka sama-sama berkutat dengan persamaan matematika yang rumit, dengan segala rumus kalkulus dan mekanika kuantum yang sulit dimengerti. Mereka sama-sama memeras otak demi kemajuan umat manusia.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tetapi, ada satu yang membedakan ekonom dengan para ilmuwan: <b>Mereka hidup dalam kondisi yang disebut KETIDAKPASTIAN</b>. Tidak ada sesuatu yang pasti dalam ilmu ekonomi. Setiap penelitiannya selalu menggantungkan diri pada asumsi, asumsi-asumsi yang juga tidak pasti. Hasil penelitiannya pun tidak pasti bekerja 100% seperti yang diperhitungkan.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tidak hanya itu. Kondisi perekonomian pun selalu pada kondisi yang tidak pasti. Semua dipengaruhi oleh ekspektasi. Hari ini perekonomian baik, besok bisa saja terjadi krisis. Hari ini harga barang turun, besok bisa saja terjadi hyperinflation. Tidak ada yang pasti dalam ekonomi. Semua berada dalam ketidakpastian.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tetapi, para ekonom adalah sekelompok cendekiawan yang memutuskan untuk hidup dalam ketidakpastian itu, hidup dalam sesuatu yang tidak bisa dijelaskan murni secara verbal, maupun matematis. Profesi mereka pun tidak berlimpah ruah dengan uang, tidak bergaji besar, dan juga tidak memiliki banyak kesempatan untuk melakukan korupsi. Itulah mengapa jurusan Ilmu Ekonomi tidak sepopuler jurusan Manajemen dan Akuntansi, sebab keduanya memberikan pengembalian gaji yang lebih besar dibandingkan lulusan Ilmu Ekonomi yang menjadi ekonom. Tidak banyak juga lulusan Ilmu Ekonomi yang tidak menjadi ekonom sebab masih banyak pekerjaan lain yang berpenghasilan lebih tinggi. Memang ekonom tidaklah sepopuler manajer sebuah perusahaan Big 5.</div><div><br /></div><div>Tetapi, mereka adalah sekumpulan orang-orang yang visioner, yang berpikir semata-mata demi negara ini, walau tak sedikit pula di antara mereka yang menyeleweng menjadi perompak bagi negaranya. Mereka adalah golongan yang selalu melihat ke depan, memprediksikan sebuah rangkaian kejadian, hanya dengan bermodalkan teori dan napak tilas masa lampau, berpikir 2-3 langkah lebih jauh dari penduduk negara lainnya, bahkan terkadang lebih jauh selangkah dari pemimpin tertinggi sebuah negara.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mereka adalah orang-orang yang dipersalahkan, saat terjadi krisis di sebuah negara, saat perbankan dilanda kepanikan, saat uang simpanan masyarakat di perbankan tak dapat dikembalikan, saat harga-harga naik, dan saat kehidupan masyarakat dilanda kemiskinan. Merekalah yang dipersalahkan, walau bukan sepenuhnya kesalahan mereka, walau mereka sudah berusaha dengan baik, tetapi memang malapetaka tak dapat diprediksi.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mereka yang meletakkan batu pertama fondasi perekonomian bangsa, dan mereka pula yang disalahkan karena dua puluh tahun kemudian perekonomian memburuk. Padahal, semasa mereka menjabat, perekonomian tumbuh dengan baik. Banyak yang menyalahkan mereka, karena tidak mampu melanjutkan visi yang mereka bangun karena terpojok oleh kepentingan politik pihak tertentu.</div><div><br />Mereka yang disalahkan, selalu mereka yang disalahkan. Tetapi, mereka adalah sekelompok para pemberani. Mereka rela menjadi pihak yang dipersalahkan, semata-mata karena mereka ingin mengabdi bagi negara ini, tidak peduli apakah mereka dicaci. Mereka rela dicoreng namanya, selama Tuhan tidak mencoreng amal dan ibadah mereka. Tetapi, hanya sedikit dari para ekonom yang secara sejati menjadi ekonom sepenuhnya, yang memiliki visi jangka panjang demi negeri ini. Banyak di antara mereka yang mencoreng hidupnya dengan korupsi dan kepentingan politis yang menyengsarakan rakyatnya.</div><div><br /></div><div>Aku bukanlah seorang ekonom, atau mungkin belum menjadi seorang ekonom. Aku ingin menjadi ekonom, karena aku mengagumi keberanian dan kerelaan mereka untuk hidup dalam ketidakpastian dan kambing hitam. Merekalah para pemberani, yang jasanya sering kali dilupakan.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Merekalah PARA EKONOM.</b></div><div><br /></div><div>Wirapati</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2