Indonesia National Education Day

These photos are taken during my Teaching Practice Program at SMP Negeri 2 Yogyakarta (2014)

IT IS MAY 2 !!!

If yesterday was a labour day, today is Indonesia National Education Day, yet today is not a public holiday in Indonesia. This celebration was initiated in remembrance the founder of Taman Siswa education system who was Ki Hajar Dewantara. His well-known philosopy is Tut Wuri Handayani which means we can help others learn by coaching and mentoring. Yet, I'm not going to talk much about it anyway, I'm going to share my story why I become a teacher.

Well, my story was started when I was in my high school.
I can't say that I was the worst student, but unfortunately I was not the smartest that all teachers loved, all friends adored and myself was proud of. In the last year of my high school I was so confused what major I would take after I graduate. I took Science program and I knew, I know actually, I was (and am)  not good at science, I would not take science majors, I was really sure. 

My mom, like always, let her daughters choose the majors by themselves. She did, she gave suggestions, but she let me and my sister as the last decision makers. What we needed to do was doing research about major we were going to take, comparing one major to another and so on.

One day, there was a university exhibition held by a private school. I remembered really well that I was sooooooo lazy and I was not interested to come because the more I know about university the more I get confused, but on the last day of the exhibition my mom begged me to attend, so my mom, my sister and I went to that school. My mom asked me to visit Sanata Dharma University stand to get some information, because it seemed that I was interested in English program and she suggested to attend that university.

I worried so much that I could not attend that university because it is a Catholic-based university, but you know what, that university has a mandatory course that all new students must take, it's called a religion class. I did not only study about Catholic but five religions that legally exist in Indonesia. I was so glad to know that information so I was so sure to sign me up.

Then, it came to the time I had to decide what study program I was going to take, whether the English language education study program, or English literature. Aaaannndddddd, my decision went to English language education study program. Why education? Do I like teaching? Do I like education?

Well, fortunately, at that time I chose that program not because I like teaching, it was about career opportunities. In simple words, I had no idea about working field in the future, but I thought, if I took education, later I could choose any job in both education and literature field, while if I took literature I might not be able to take education career field. As simple as that, but see now, I am soooo into teaching.

I cannot say I am good already at teaching, I know I am not, but it is always fascinating to teach in classrooms and to deal with the students.

So, for everyone who decides to be a teacher, educator, lecturer or whatever you name it, I really appreciate you. May you be always blessed !