Grew up in such devastated nation - pardon my harshness but that is how I project Indonesia in mind - I have always believed that education is the answer for all troubles we are having here. I have always thought, when people are clever enough, they will find what it takes to seek prudential.
Unexpectedly, Iwan Setyawan confirmed it through 9 Summers 10 Autumns, where he spilled his journey from being the son of tram driver to become the director of one prominent division in the biggest research company worldwide, in New York, USA. Chapter to chapter, he admitted the flow of changes in his life due to his luck in education.
Indeed, his parents were never lucky enough to enjoy schools, like what he and his 4 sisters had. They were trapped in a situation where the means to look for money should wave their dreams goodbye. Life was tough on their parents, even worse, for their family after 5 kids were delivered.
The mesmerizing fact was that the kids did not give up to the poor condition. Instead, they found the warmth and strength in the small house where they all gathered in laughs and tears for years. The strength to fight for betterment.
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There is one thing I admire from education. It does not care which door you came from, or even window. It’ll just help you to direct you to the door you want, your dreams. Regardless of who your father is, it will open your eyes to see the world. And I believe Iwan experienced it in life.
Education does not see your parents. The real education only sees your potential.
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Reading through his novel only triggers me to dedicate my life in education. I want to help people see a bigger world out there, a wider sea to sail, a broader horizon to stare at, and bigger waves to face. Education is the only way they can see through the suffering.
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We have heard many stories from unlucky mates who found ways to success. In fact, there are plenty of people who worked their ways from bottom to the top. Iwan Setyawan was not alone. Merry Riana and her husband, Alfa weren’t lucky either. Yet, all of them wrestled the bad luck to its bone and finally found their happiness.
The question that came to my mind was, why not the lucky ones? Why the stories came most from those who weren’t as lucky as the rich or clever-born people? It somehow proves the idea of how we have taken many things for granted, not excluded the privilege we have. We seem to be pampered with our fine life: nice house, loving parents, fulfilled needs, with nothing to worry about.
We did not have to sacrifice much to enjoy life, yet we hardly work hard like those who could not afford a single room and a servant to tidy it up. And we should surely be ashamed of that. The fact that we are financially and morally supported, we should just have worked better. We should have learned better. We shall succeed, even better. We should see life as precious as how they see it. We should work our way to the top, just like what they did.
Never let the joy thwart us from the real war, to fight our own comfort zone.
Education will help us realize our dreams, yet it must be met with hard work to proceed.
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