Dear Ibu,
It’s been a long and winding journey since I first join YCAB in 2003.
It has been a life changing experience, especially when you entrusted me to lead Rumah Belajar YCAB. At first I was afraid knowing that I’m not really a good student back when I was still in junior high and high school, I kinda have a feeling that karma will hit me back with these students.
When I first entered RB-YCAB, I was 6 months old pregnant, therefore every time I climb the stairs at Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa, the students will walk approximately 5 stairs behind me… they would said that: “I’m scared that Bu Rilan will fall and fell on top of me..”. I always smile when I remember that 🙂
With all those pregnancy hormones… I received a “killer teacher” nickname…every students afraid of me, if they finished a subject and had to walk back to their classroom (passing me of course), they will adjust their attitude and greet me as they walk by. Back then Neneng and Mela are still a students, they have another friend named Armi to complete the Macan Trio (the nickname of the gang which lead almost everything in RB-YCAB)… Every time I entered Rumah Belajar, Neneng, Mela and Armi would kiss my hand and update me with the latest gossip 🙂 They also would tell me that I look beautiful (which always makes me wanna cry thinking that I must be doing something good in the past to receive such blessing from these children).
As I gave birth to my first daughter Kayla, I started to implement a strict rule towards Rumah Belajar. We have a higher standard which requires me to recruit new teacher. I have a well rehearsed interview lines that I normally use when recruiting new teacher. After the basic session of education background and experience, I would ask them the reason they want to join Rumah Belajar. Mostly they would say the cliché reason such as better salary, etc… I would normally held my breath and took a silent moment before saying these particular sentences: “Dear Sir/Miss, to be honest I can not promise you anything, no bonus, not even annual salary increase, but I can promise you this : every day you would have the chance to change a student life, you will have the chance to build a better person, that’s all I have to offer. If you’re willing to accept that, it would be an honor for me to have you on my team, but if you declined my request, I would like to thank you for your time and I wish you all the best.” …. it always worked, I always get the best teacher with minimum wages and managed to have a strong person on my team.
As I loose my baby weight, I started to implement a sport and art activities in RB-YCAB. Bu Devi would arrange the students for a warm up session before heading to a nearby basketball court where we would have our game. Bu Devi would also inform me about Akbar, a student who’s according to Bu Devi is known to be called as my favorite. I feel that I never put extra attention to Akbar, though he was once caught bringing 1kg of nails to the classroom. After such interview, the nails was use to “enhance the fixing tire business” where Akbar normally spend his spare time. Until now, Akbar would still send me a message in facebook saying hi and asking about my children condition, at the end of the message he would ask me when I would visit Rumah Belajar… he misses me.
After Kayla first birthday, we would have all these outbound activities (to Mekarsari, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Mall Puri Indah, Plaza Semanggi,etc) where I feel more connection with them. During such activities, the students would sometimes ask me for my phone number. I reluctantly gave them (for professional reason of course) except for this particular student. Her name is Suhar.. she was 10 years old and has a very loud voice (pretty much like myself)… every time I spend my time in Rumah Belajar for a meeting or a simple drop by check, she would come near me…look me with admiration and ask every details of my activities. She even said to me: “Bu Rilan… if you want to have another children… Suhar wants to be your child bu 🙂 … she would say the words several times. Bu Vonny (the English teacher) would say to me that Suhar would be at her best behavior when I was around, it shock me at first knowing that I have become such role model for these children…
Now… I glaze on my facebook pages… scrolling down their status… some of them already married and have children of their own….. some of them juggling to their employment….. I can stop thinking how my life has changed because of these children…how I am the teacher but I ended up learning more from them than what they have learned from me….simply quote Melee song (title Build to Last)… I proudly said to you my dear students of Rumah Belajar (… I have built a Rumah Belajar to last….):
I’ve looked for love in stranger places
But never found someone like you
Someone whose smile
Makes me feel I’ve been holding back
And now there’s nothing I can do
‘Cause this is real and this is good
It warms the inside just like it should
Most of all, most of all
It’s built to last, it’s built to last
All of our friends saw from the start
So why didn’t we believe it too?
Oh yeah, now look where we are
You’re in my heart now
And there’s no escaping it for you
‘Cause this is real and this is good
It warms the inside just like it should
Most of all, most of all
It’s built to last
Walking on the hills at night
With those fireworks and candlelight
You and I were made to get love right
‘Cause you are the sun in my universe
Consider the best when we felt the worst
And most of all, most of all, most of all
It’s built to last
Sincerely,
Rilan
Rumah Belajar Manager (2003-2007)