For Desak Putu Rilantiny, YCAB 2003-2007 Rumah Belajar Manager, her journey in YCAB has been eventful. She can’t stop thinking how her life has changed because of the children, and how she, as a teacher, ended up learning more from them. Read her reflections below.
Dear Ibu,
It’s been a long and winding journey since I first joined 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 was not really a good student back when I was still in Junior and Senior High school. I have a feeling that karma will hit me back with these students.
When I first entered RB-YCAB, I was six-month-old pregnant. Therefore, every time I climbed the stairs at Rumah Belajar Duri Kepa, the students would walk approximately five stairs behind me. They would say, “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 student was afraid of me. If they finished a subject and had to walk back to their classroom (while walking passed me of course), they would adjust their attitude and greet me as they walked by. Back then, Neneng and Mela were still my students. They have another friend named Armi to complete the Macan Trio (the nickname of the gang which led 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 want to cry, thinking that I must have been 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 had a higher standard in recruiting new teachers. I had a well-rehearsed interview lines that I normally used when recruiting new teachers. After the basic session of education background and experience, I would ask them the reason why they want to join Rumah Belajar. Mostly they would say the cliché reasons, such as better salary. I would normally hold my breath and take 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’s 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 decline my request, I would like to thank you for your time and I wish you all the best.” It worked. I got the best teacher with minimum wages and managed to have a strong person on my team.
As I began to loose my baby weight, I started to implement 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 according to Bu Devi was 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 were used 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’s condition. At the end of the message he would ask me when I would visit Rumah Belajar. He misses me.
After Kayla’s first birthday, we would have all these outbound activities (to Mekarsari, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, Mall Puri Indah, Plaza Semanggi,etc) where I felt 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 spent my time in Rumah Belajar for a meeting or a simple drop-by check, she would come near me, look at me with admiration, and ask every detail of my activities. She even said to me, “Bu Rilan, if you want to have another child, 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 shocked me at first knowing that I have become such role model for these children.
Now, I glazed on my Facebook pages, scrolling down their status. Some of them are already married and have children of their own. Some of them are juggling to their employment. I can’t stop thinking how my life has changed because of these children; how I am the teacher but I end up learning more from them than what they learn from me. There is this song written by Melee that I would like to share with you, titled ‘Build to Last’. I can proudly say to you my dear students of Rumah Belajar:
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)