The Role of Education in Saving the World

The recent Israeli attack on Gaza has caught my attention to learn more about the issue of terrorism. With the Hamas trying to overthrow Israel no matter what, while Israel will stand still, no matter what, the only conclusion I am able to draw is that it is an extremely complicated issue.

Then again, there's the issue of climate change. The simple notion that mankind is contributing to its only home's destruction is apparently not enough to arouse an epiphany in all sides; if we do not take this problem seriously, we will suffer. The excuses range from economic reasons to practical issues, making it, too, a not so simple issue.

Now there's this global financial crisis, an issue so complicated that I still have a less than mediocre understanding on the issue itself. But I understand one thing, numerous jobs have been lost and it's not doing the prices any good.

Now how on earth are we going to survive this era, one might ask. While it is perhaps a grave misfortune for us to be living in this era, this also means that we are living in an era of opportunity. However, it is a long shot from turning the former set of mind into the latter. It is difficult because our culture teaches us not to care; it teaches us that our lives are separated from other people's lives.

The core problem of my generation, the well-educated, middle to upper class Indonesian youth who are coming of age in the dawn of the 21st century, is that as we are not directly affected by the major issues of our time, we are also not exposed enough to these issues. Our culture, and our education system for that matter, does not encourage us to help take care of the world; it only encourages us to take care of ourselves.

When we sit down at elementary school, we learn math. We study English. Throughout high school, biology and history added further complications to our heads. After we graduate from high school, we enter university passionately as we are finally able to study only in the fields that really caught our attention. We don't have to study physics if we don't want to.

While choosing a major in fashion design, music, or business management is in no way faulty, but just how many of those who do made the decision to became masters in the specified fields have in their minds the commitment to solve the climate change? The commitment to help relieve poverty in impoverished areas? The commitment to help eradicate corruption in the government? When have we ever been directly exposed to the real problems in the world around us and be encouraged to do something about it?

As a result, our goals and definition of success have been limited only to ourselves. However, one should only look to two examples to learn the importance of education: Laskar Pelangi (Rainbow Troops) and US President Barack Obama.

The true story of Laskar Pelangi reflects just how education can shape one's character. It portrays the ever-wise Pak Harfan with his committed effort to teach his students the values of boldness to do the right thing; and the ever-determined Bu Mus to be the window of the world for her students. Unshaken by the poor nature of Belitong’s state of living, they insisted that every child has a right to education. The result? Despite all odds, one of their students has become a man who inspires millions of people through his literary works.

Meanwhile, the story of Barack Hussein Obama continues to dazzle the world. The Hawaii born son of a Kenyan father and an American mother, a guy whose 4 years of his childhood was spent in Indonesia, has become the 44th President of the United States. The man who received his education from Columbia University and Harvard Law School was directly exposed to the problems of the world when he was a community organizer in Chicago. It aroused him to help make change in a bigger scale, and, indeed, he inspired millions to follow his footsteps.

One of his principles, he once declared: "Because it's only when you hit your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential and discover the role that you'll play in writing the next great chapter in the American history."

A wise teacher of mine once said, "The greatest success stories are made by people who turn problems into opportunities."

If we are to fix this world that is troubled by issues as grave as terrorism, climate change, economic meltdown, we need to prepare future generations with proper insights that will equip them not only the mind needed to solve those problems, but more importantly, the heart. As we carry the burden of the issues facing the 21st century, it is in our hands to write mankind's greatest success stories.

Reflection: I'm Back

My dear blog, I apologize for abandoning you for the last 5-6 months or so. Things have changed so much since then. Now, I'm going to summarize my life in the past few months. So, listen up.

Let's see. I notice that I haven't written anything during college, while it's pretty much everything that's been going on lately. So now I am actually and finally enrolled in Monash College Diploma of Arts (Communications, Journalism, Psychology). If I look back at my past writings, a lot of them were about getting here. Now, I'm here.

College life suits me so far, at least college life in here. It remains to be seen whether I will enjoy Melbourne life or not. My guess is, I'll love it. We'll see.

What are the significant events in the last few months? Globally, Obama's won the election and we are in the middle of a global financial crisis which I'm having a hard time to understand what it's all about. Personally, I've had a few significant changes as well. Let's see. Five months ago, I wasn't interested in journalism at all, and wouldn't have considered politics as a university major. I was also set to take a degree in business. Now, I am all but those stuff.

Watching the US election closely has a big impact on me. Of course, it wouldn't be the case if it weren't for a guy named Barack Hussein Obama. I am just one out of millions of people who are deeply inspired by him. Obama taught me a lot of things; he made me think about a lot of things. The lessons that I learned by following his movement has laid the foundation of what I want to do with my life.

What do I want to do with my life? Well, let's just say when I die, I want to be remembered as a person who always puts others first, who devoted his life to helping make positive, significant changes in people's lives. I want to be remembered as a source of inspiration for millions of people. I want to be able to carry out good deeds and while doing so, inspiring others to do just the same.

So, where do I start? Again, I noticed that my ambition was to work in the media business, which is still a passion for me. But, now I learn that having a job in an advertising agency or work in the public relations sector will not help me grow as a person to achieve my dreams. Sure, it could be fun, but that's it.

Like I said, I've been following the US elections closely and, consequently, learn about the American politics and politicians. In the American political spectrum at least, I consider myself to be liberal as I relate more to the Democrats than the Republicans. I admire figures such as Obama, Al Gore, and Edward Kennedy. I noticed that all of them have the qualities that I would like to possess: ambitious, intelligent, compassionate, selfless to name a few. They develop those qualities through public service.

And then it all became crystal clear for me: public service is the perfect area to bring about positive change with great magnitude.

Now, what is the first thing that I can do to make sure that I would develop the qualities needed for public service? Through education, a major in politics. It has always been a subject of interest for me, alongside with the environment. I still deeply believe in the cause of climate change and that we need to take care of our planet. Why? It's our home. It's our only home. I see the challenge of climate change as an opportunity to bring people together and do something extraordinary. Because we have to. It's our only chance, to stand together. As I have already learned, that's the only way to do it. Combine those two, politics with environment, and what do you get? Unsurprisingly, Al Gore. In terms of career path, he is my main role model. And guess what, he started out as a journalist.

I also happen to have a grandfather's brother who is a former Minister of Environment and both sides of my family are heavily involved in international relations (my opa was an Ambassador for our country in Brunei, Egypt if I'm not mistaken, etc and my eyang was a councillor general in Canada). So, it can be said that politics and environment run in my family. And a double degree in arts (majoring in politics) and science (majoring in environmental science), instead of business, would also make sense.

Another thing worth mentioning is my newly developed passion for journalism. Entering college, it is the least subject I am passionate about, as I'm more interested in psychology and communications at the time. Now, it's my favorite one. This has got a lot to do with Patrick, my journalism lecturer. He showed me the very best qualities that journalism can teach: the values of honesty, fairness, responsibility, accountability. These features are crucial if you want to be a decent, genuine public servant. Moreover, as you'd probably have noticed, I love writing. What more can you ask?

So, bit by bit, the pieces of jigsaw puzzle of my life have been put together.