You Might Not Have Tomorrow To Do It

"If you ever plan on changing someone's life someday, do it today, because you might not have tomorrow to do it."

That's what I learnt that day in chapel. It really hit me that life is like a reality show. One day you could be playing the game and the next you're eliminated. We really don't know when time will be up.

It's not just death. It's about leaving an institution or environment or leaving a period of time where something is or is happening.

Then, one day, you decided that there's something you want to tell someone, something that will change their lives for the better forever. Something that could ultimately make the world a better place in the long run. But then, you decide to wait for whatever reason you might have. But you didn't have another day to do it. You're gone, just like that, and what great potential your "plan" had vanished into thin air.

You might not have tomorrow to do it, so don't wait for tomorrow...

Last Move

Who knew I'd end up in IPEKA International Christian School? Guess what? I myself am still baffled.

There is a burning thought/story in my mind right now that I'm actually dying to share with the whole world right now. However, I best not for now.

But I must say, within 23 school days, I have been overwhelmed. Outright, I will say that I have never "worked" in an institution with people this friendly in my life. Honestly, "IPEKAns" are extremely friendly; every single soul without exception. It's just unbelievable. The level of affability and conviviality is just so amazing that I'm running out of words to describe just how high the level of congeniality I've experienced is (and I'm beating about the bush with synonyms of friendly).

When I walked through the school gates in uniform for the first time, the only word that was going through my mind was "daunting". The building was really big to begin with. It's is the biggest campus I've ever studied in before but there are a million and one other aspects that are just "daunting".

I waited in the admission office just as instructed the day before. I waited to hear of my assigned class. At that time, I didn't even know if the classes went by A, B, C and D or 1, 2, 3 and 4. To my 'horror', I was assigned to class 11.4. It's not the people I have a problem with. Heck, I didn't even know the name of a single soul yet. What bothered me was the fact that it the curse seemed to live on. 8D, 9D, Sec 4 J doesn't count because class J was the only class, and now 11.4. I seem to be cursed with the number 4 or being in the fourth class. Lucky number four.

Reaching the seventh floor of the Junior and Senior High building, my feet were to an extent sore. I then proceeded to a Multi Function Room which till today I don't know what it's officially called. Us new students were told that everyone would have proceeded there immediately. To my belwilderment, the room was empty, making me think twice to wether I wasn't following instructions or I had been given the wrong instructions or the rest of the student body wasn't following instructions. Then, a lady in teacher's uniform walked into the room and that was when I knew that I wasn't in trouble.

The teacher was Ibu Ami, IBS (Indonesian Background Speakers) teacher, Year 11 coordinator and my form teacher. I was immidiately greeted with warmth and hospitality. As we started to engage in conversation, I was still feeling intense trepidation. I had no idea what was in store for me, for that morning, that day, and for the two years to come for that matter. Yet, Ibu Ami seemed to give me the impression new students generally survive. What she did to suggest that I don't quite remember, but something did. That day, the seventh floor played with and mixed around my emotions. It wasn't like I had never moved school before. It was what I enjoyed doing. Still, this was "daunting".

23 school days later, I still heard the word "daunting" being whispered into my ears every time I walk through the school gates. I've been through a lot of ups and downs but the benevolence to people makes up for all the downs.

I've been a PSB. I've been a Laurensian, and many other things. I'm still a PSB. I'm still Laurensian, and many other things. But now, I'm Ipekan (I made that term up, ok) and I don't think I will be anything else on top of what I am now. This will be my last move...

Prime Year, Prime Time

2011 is a Prime Number and 2011 has been a Prime Year for me. At the last New Year's Eve, I felt like God was trying to tell me that 2011 would be a good year. When I learnt that 2011 is a Prime Number in the middle of the year, I realised why.

Now that we are only minutes away from next year, I feel like I have achieved more this year than in all my other years combined.

The scholarship, which I ended up never taking, was the start of a winning streak. Imagine beating out thousands of people to make it into the top 21. That in itself was an extraordinary achievement.

A huge portion of it goes to I-SWEEEP. It was the first real serious International Competition that I had finally made. On top of that, it was what lead me to fulfilling my life-long dream, to travel half way across the world. Not to mention the after trip to Eastern USA, Canada and UAE. It was an adventure that truly broadened my horizons that I will never forget, including some of the most amazing experiences of my life, from climbing up the tallest building in the world to sliding down the "Leap of Faith". From the huge yet cheap Texas BBQ to the most expensive meal of my life in the Burj Al Arab Hotel. It was an education in itself.

Then there was the day where I graduated in a Toga for the first time. It was the day I left Santa Laurensia Junior High School. It was the day I learnt the single best word that describes myself: Proactive.

Not long after, we had our "Official Falling Apart" of our ASEAN Youth Club at Stevan Meat Shop (which I just went to two hours ago). That was a night truly touching.

A few weeks later, we had our first "Productive Hang-out" with the new generation: GYF 2011. It was that day when we labelled that little seating area in front of Pendopo at Living World as "The Corner From Where We Change The World. Then, just two weeks later, on a Saturday, it was our second "Productive Hang-out" which turned into my birthday event. It was a huge turning point for me. It was one of those few moments where I was genuinely able to view Laurensians in a brighter light.

A letter from Brazil came telling me that I had qualified for the finals of MOSTRATEC in Brazil. Unfortunately, the Brazil trip I had long anticipated didn't quite materialise. But that's alright, because the invitation letter was an achievement in itself.

After a few months of self study, fate brought me back to my roots: PSB. The day I joined them was the day I worked on the final major project of the year: The Production. It was an experience truly ending my journey in the most elegant manner.

However, with all the Prime Achievements, this year came the worst hardships. I've lost count of how many failures I've faced this year, including ICYS, ISPO, OPSI, and really a whole lot of other things I don't really want to think about now. Despite that, it was all worth it.

Now that 2011 is about to end, I feel like I'm walking away from success. I'm about to enter a new phase of my life. 2012 has a lot in store for me and I'm waiting to see if I will make it out of 2012 alive.

It's been a Prime Year. It's been a Prime Time.

The Best Of Role Models

My English teacher has this blog called 'Express Your Opinions!" where, well, the name says it all (see for yourself here). One of the questions thrown at us was "Who are your role models?" When I read the comments that came before me, Parents and Teachers seemed to be the most common answers. Yes it is undeniable that they are role models. However, for me, the biggest role models in my life don't fall under any of those two categories. The people on this earth who are my biggest role models have changed my life indirectly but in a very adversely positive way.


A role model to me is someone who I know inside-out, or at least know quite well. Thus, people like Oprah Winfrey and Bruno Mars, famous people, though are great people, don't qualify as a role model of mine. There is a simple reason behind that. Who knows what they are really like? I've experienced this first hand. I looked up to someone for such a long time just because of the reputation that he had and just because everyone talked good about him all the time, even though I didn't really know him well. Then, one day, when I did get to know him, and knew more and more about him, only to realised that I had been fooled by "The Cover". I'm not saying that a role model needs to be like a best friend who does everything with me and tells me literally every detail there is to know about him. What I'm saying is that a role model must be someone who has been able to convince me that they are admirable inside and out. The whole point of this is so that I truly learn the process behind what we see. There is no hidden conspiracy behind a person. Imagine admiring a great athlete who claims that he trains for 8 hours a day but what you didn't know was that really he's just taking steroids or whatever other drugs and just so happens to be really good at getting away with it. To see someone go from zero to hero with your very own eyes is just most ideal and convincing. This can only mean one thing, my role models are people who I know personally.

I truly do look up to my parents but the thing is, I just can't really compare them to myself well enough. I did not live to see them being my age. Circumstances were and still are different for us. Even though they do inspire me, the inspiration is not the strongest. In order for inspiration to really hit me at its strongest, it needs to be so applicable to me that I am genuinely fully inspired. In my opinion, the best role models I can have are those who are younger than me or at least the same age.

Every one looks up at all the "tall" adults around but does anyone ever "look down"? I'm sure that we are no stranger to the line of poetry "If you can do it, so can I!" Well, to better illustrate the point I'm about to make with a very extreme example, if my 40-year-old father can earn a million dollars an hour in the year 2011, can I, a teenager, with school and everything, earn a million dollars and hour in the year 2011? Most probably not. Impossible I guess, unless my father gives me his company or something. Maybe yes in the future, but who knows what the circumstances of our world will be like in 2050 when I'm 45 or even in 2012. However, if my classmate can get full marks on last week's Biology chapter test, can I get full marks on next week's Biology chapter test? If my younger brother is able cook dinner for the whole family one night, might I be able to cook dinner for the whole family the next?

I used to think that there was absolutely no way a Junior High student could win science fairs. In Indonesia, this was one industry conquered by the Senior Highs. Then, I had just terminated my science project and deemed it hopeless when two classmates, Becky and Owen, called to tell me that they won the national science fair and have been chosen to represent Indonesia in the international competition in Brazil! If Becky and Owen had never earned that ticket to Brazil (even though they didn't place in competition in Brazil), I wouldn't have even won the science fair the following year, let alone earn my ticket to Houston. They really have become role models in my life. Furthermore, they had the heart to help me with my project. They shared with me what they had learnt from their experience, allowing me to learn from their mistakes and repeat their right-doings. They were able to make me better than themselves. They lead me to a Bronze medal. In turn, they have really become my heroes.

I find much inspiration from my peers and from my Juniors. It amazes me sometimes to see a kid years younger than me obtain such amazing achievements. Whenever I do, I begin to ask myself "What was I doing when I was his age?"

I take the effort to tell all my role models how they affect me. I feel that they deserve to and need to know for their better. You don't have to look far and wide or up and high to find your role models. They may not even be the best ones. Heroes are all round us, and sometimes, you just have to look, well, down!

Rooted Roots

Within the year, I have left 2 different schools, both in good terms. As you leave an institution, you think of all the people that have been a part of the journey. You know you will miss them. Then you tell them that you'll try to keep in touch with them and you'll try to meet up often. Then they say that they are going to miss you and that your welcomed to visit any time. Both parties assure each other that they will be remembered and missed.

However, do all these hopes truly materialise? Will you really remember them and will you be remembered?

For the first week apart, usually a holiday, Facebook is filled with tagged photos of your time in the institution and Twitter is buzzing with farewell tweets saying that you will be, or already are, missed. You're still Skype calling people and chatting with them over MSN or YM. In the most hyperbolic cases, they tell you that it's only been one day and yet they already miss you so terribly (then how ever did you survive being apart over the weekend?). They randomly call you up and when you ask them why the random call and why not just a text, they say things like "I miss your voice" or "you get across more details orally" or other excuses they can think of.

Then, you decide to meet up. You spend quite an amount of phone credit arranging for a movie or just a nice chat over coffee at the mall. You feel like you're meeting you father who came back from the war in Iraq. You have a great time and tell each other that you should meet up again some other time. At this point in time, you still genuinely miss each other and feel their presence in your life. They still play an important role and therefore you still think about them every day.

But time goes on and you move on. You join another institution, or get caught up in your own stuff, and you relationship with them slowly fades away. They ask you stuff, especially about your new institution, from time to time. However, you get more and more preoccupied with the new people in your lives and slowly that relationship fades away to the point, though you haven't forgotten them, you just don't remember them. They no longer become a part of you daily life.

Since I've left Laurensia and PSB, it's funny how I still remember my peers and teachers. I still think about them almost every single day. I just randomly think about them. Every time I come across the word 'New York', a name and face crosses in my mind. Every time I go to Living World (the mall near Laurensia), a memory of my former peers is triggered.

But then, the question remains. As time progresses, will I still remember you and will you still be remembered? Will I still think of you every day of my life? Does it mean that I don't appreciate you anymore or is it simply part and parcel of life and human nature to forget? For how long will I remain rooted to my roots?

Just yesterday, when I woke up in the morning, I came across my English Portfolio from 8th grade. Then, I start to think of Ms Pia, my first English teacher in Santa Laurensia. I think of how she understood me and still took the effort to take care of me in class. Then, that afternoon, it just so happened that I coincidentally bumped into her at Living World and when I greeted her, the first thing I told her was that I just so happened to had been thinking about her.

Then, about 2 weeks ago, I was studying in my room doing some Maths exercises. The character in the word problem happens to be named Kenny. Then, I think of my old pal Kenny from back in Laurensia who played a huge role in my Laurensian journey. I stop working for a while, just to think about him. Then, thoughts run through my mind. "I wonder how he's doing now. Did he get accepted at the school he applied to? He's an awesome guy. Good character. I've always believed in him. He'll lead a successful life. He'll be find. God Bless Him." I suddenly invested a few moments of my day just thinking about him, thinking about out past together, wondering how he is now, and wishing him a brighter future. Then, the most creepy part, at that very moment, a random text came into my phone at the most random time. It was from Kenny. "How did the production go?" And so he was also thinking about me, at least for a few seconds.

Life... Will I think about my past life just every single day?

The Students' Adventure - Re-routing The Race

Today I had two guests come to Jakarta. One from Singapore and the other from Canada. So this morning I went over to the airport to pick them up and we headed straight off together with my mom. Where you may ask? We thought that we would show them two places close to heart. These two places really reflect what Indonesia is all about and are well preserved. But really, it's because these places happen to be the two tourist attractions in the area that are closest to my heart. It's Taman Mini Indonesia Indah and Kebun Raya Bogor.

Why are they so close to the heart? It's because I've been to Taman Mini like 9 times and I've been to Kebon Raya Bogor probably 16 times to date. Why so many times? Because these were the two places where lead my team of PSB students to organize The Students's Adventure (TSA) Season 1 at Kebun Raya Bogor and The Students' Adventure Season 2 at Taman Mini. So with all the survey trips to organize the event, I think I now know these places all too well.

***

TSA, later renamed as SCOPE (Student Corporation Organizing Productive Events) is, or was, an annual event that we held in PSB School. It's sort of like a Junior Amazing Race but with a totally different concept. Each year, or season as we like to call it, we choose one place which is the scope of the race. The students are put into groups and run a two leg race with a Check Point at the end of each leg. Each leg consists of a number of stations each with a task that the teams must complete to move on in the race.

The most amazing thing about TSA is that it is FULLY STUDENT INITIATED. The idea came from the students' own will with no adults asking us to do it at all and the teacher mentor which we recruited (not that recruited us) was only to resolve legal matters and to show his or her face when we needed someone aged above 18.

***

Let's just keep the description simple: today was just nostalgic. Like really nostalgic. We had 6 stations in Taman Mini. Today, I got to re-visit 3 of them. In Kebon Raya, I got to revisit all the stations including the Check Points. Somehow, though there were not much people there, somehow I was seeing people, students of PSB School, running around, reading clues, fighting, carrying each other's bag (or carrying each other), completing tasks, and the scene I've seen the most which is checking into the Check Point at Lady Raffles Memorial in Season 1 and at Istana Anak-anak in Season 2. It's amazing how we did something so amazing in such an amazing place. I don't think I can describe what we went through during the days of TSA and you really have to be one of us on the Organizing committee to understand all the pain and gain. Working 6 months to prepare for Season 1 which effectively was only a 4 hour race and a preparation time of 9 months for a 5 hour race is a lot of time spent on a short time "pay" of satisfaction. But really, we've all learned so much from the experience and I'm sure it has changed all of our lives.

This post is dedicated to all the organizers of the First and Second Season of The Students' Adventure Series and SCOPE! All the best to us all in the future!

To end this tribute post, I'll publish that TSA Theme Song song we wrote before the second TSA which was never officially published (and only 4 people have heard of) followed by some photos of our TSA times. (Due to my horrible Internet speed, more photos will be uploaded on a later date)

The Students' Adventure Theme Song

The time is coming, the time is near

And it's becoming all so clear

The chance of a lifetime starts today

Let's learn, run and have fun

In the sun, all for one

Everybody come and join us here

It's The Students' Adventure where we're gonna have some fun

It's The Students' Adventure where we'll work with everyone

It's The Students' Adventure where we're gonna run and scream

All we've got to do right now is learn, run, have fun!

We're gonna learn something new today

But we don't know what anyway

The chance of a lifetime starts today

Let's learn, run and have fun

In the sun, all for one

Everybody come and join us here

It's The Students' Adventure where we're gonna have some fun

It's The Students' Adventure where we'll work with everyone

It's The Students' Adventure where we're gonna run and scream

All we've got to do right now is learn, run, have fun!

It is a TSA tradition that we take a picture of our feet on the first location survey trip



GW 1.0 (In English)

This is another blog post where I copied the idea from the blog of the coolest dude around Mario Averdi at http://www.shootingaces.blogspot.com/ . So here it goes, in English...

I was born in that hospital labour room in Jakarta Barat that one August morning. I was in my mom's tummy for that extra month. I was expected to be born on Indonesia's Independence day but that didn't happen. I was taken home to an amazing home with an amazing pair of parents. I grew up. I was too skinny to be true. I never had problems eating vegetables. I moved to Perth. I lived in Perth with my dad. I attended 4 different Kindergartens. I was put in foundation English class in my last kindergarten. I continued to live in Perth. I sat my first year of Primary School in Ursula Frayne in Perth. I was still in Foundation English class. I was a jerk in first grade. I listened to Westlife, ABBA and Pet Shop Boys in the car to and from school everyday. I grew up listening to Westlife. I came to love Westlife. I watched The Sound of Music every day. I watched it so much that the last time I watched The Sound of Music was the day the CD cracked. I moved on to second grade. I went home to Jakarta. I went to SIS. I got bullied in grade 2. I was the bully the next year. I've been both a bully and the bullied before so I know what it feels like on both sides. I moved to PSB. I moved to a school in a damn freaking ruko. I moved to PSB on the first day it opened. I went to a school with 40 students from 1st to 9th grade. I was in a class of like what, 6 people? I thought my parents were insane to send me to PSB. I was proven wrong in 4 months. I won the APSMO maths competition. I won the Westpac Olympiad. I am the first person in PSB School history to have an achievement in a competition outside school. I went through this journey with my good pal Pris. I was ruthless. I was hated. I was bullied, again. I then became the bully, again. I resolved it all before the end of 4th grade. I was the vice of the Valentines Day organizing committee. I was part of the first ever fully student organized event in PSB School history. I was so proud of myself. I felt Youth Empowerment for the first time even though I didn't know what Youth Empowerment was at that time. I was crazy. I organized our so called "The Adventure Race" in Kebon Raya Bogor for the school. I was so devastated that it got canceled due to natural disaster. I put all the documents in a box and hid it away. I found the box and made the race really happen two years later. I started TSA. I saw TSA crash and burn. I was loved by my PSB mates. I was loved by my PSB teachers. I was scared taking the iPSLE. I made it through the iPSLE. I got results outstanding that words cannot describe how good they are. I cried because of my results. I made my maths teacher cry because of my results. I cried and cried and cried. I was too happy to stop crying. I sat Secondary School. I left PSB on such short notice. I left PSB not because PSB is a bad school. I left to make PSB proud in the world out there. I left the shoebox school. I worked hard for my last Honours Day event. I worked hard to make my final service to PSB a memorable one. I cried on Honours Day on stage. I made everyone else cry. I left the most productive 4 years of my life...

I'm bored. I wanna blog. I'm going to Kebon Raya Bogor tomorrow. I'm going to be nostalgic.

I'm going to continue the chapters of my life which were in Bahasa Indonesia in GW 2.0!

I'm Aaron Colin and signing out!