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I Believe Scholarship Recipients 2018

There are five scholarship recipients this year and all the students are currently attending college in Indonesia. The scholarship was used to continue their university education such as payment for tuition, room and board, books, and food. I am incredibly proud of each applicant for sharing their personal story and aspirations while writing in English. It is exciting to see each student’s progress in English since I started teaching them in 2015.

From each student’s story, I hope the readers learn something novel and recognize the commonalities we all share and desire, no matter where we are on this planet. I want to thank the friends and family members who contributed to the scholarship. The scholarship essays are below - enjoy!

By Melia Fitrianingsih

Many of my own experiences and personal stories impact the society I live in and contain the value of life. I have been independent since childhood. Since I was nine years old, I have been going to the market by bicycle to shop for my mom’s necessities and selling [items] at the canteen. My independence can be seen by the way I took care of my four younger sisters before I was ten years old. I believe from my independent personality, I can be a good worker and quickly understand the direction at my workplace in the future. I was also taught to apologize and say thank you to others. How important those sentences are because when we do something wrong and we are brave enough to admit it and apologize, we can have a brave soul. Furthermore, when someone gives or helps us, we must be thankful to them. We should aim to appreciate their giving and their kindness.

Respect and independence are important aspects in building a good person, but for some people adaptation is also important. I have been joining different organizations since I was in junior high school until college. It shows that I am an adaptable person with new environments and people. I also believe that with this attitude, I can adapt easier with my [colleagues] at the workplace in the future.

With all those good manners above, I believe the best manner is working under pressure. It is always a consideration for most companies. Working under pressure for some people is different. I have always been getting up at 3:30am since I was a child and helped my mom prepare all of the things that will be selling at the school canteen to the students. The drowsiness demanded me to sleep again but I realized that it was for my good future. It is disciplinary for me because I believe that independence, respect, adaptability, and discipline from my past experiences will be good influences on the future.

When we continue our study in college, we will be faced with so many considerations, one of them is the major itself. The consideration can be seen by many aspects, and each aspect definitely have a risk inside it. However, aside from that there are so many benefits and good things we will get from the major we choose even though we cannot feel it at that time. In this opportunity to study in the college, I chose English Language Teaching as my major. Some reasons strengthen my intentions when I chose that major. The first reason is the English influence of the world. It has been a certainty that English is the international language. How important it is to study English no matter what the reason. By studying in English Language Teaching, I have at least a capital on how to introduce English to other people around me who do not know the importance of English yet.

The second reason is Majalengka is my hometown and it has an international airport this year. It means that Majalengka will get so many attentions from other countries, and furthermore, the world is faced up to free trade that allow people to be going abroad or vice versa. To be able to interact and transact at the international trade, our language ability cannot be forgotten because an interaction will not be running well if there is no good communication with each other. As we know that in this world there are so many countries and languages. Each country has a national language, but if people in that country meet with people in other country, the biggest problem among them is the language to communicate. The problem solving is establishing English as an universal language.

I want to share my knowledge about English to the people, so they can communicate with the other from another country and they will get the benefit from that relationship. The last reason I chose English Language Teaching as my major is because it gives me a chance to know how to teach English to the children. They are the best target because they are the young generation that will become the people of the future. And the important reason I chose my major is because there are so many important international activities that cannot run well without English as its language.

After I finish college, I plan to get a job to work. But there are pro and con to getting a job. Believe it or not, I will find [both] painful words and support from people about getting a job. I live among the people that have a mindset about education. They think that higher education (studying at the senior high school or at college) is not really important because we live in the agricultural area, where elementary education is enough. We will be successful enough as a farmer with an elementary education. It makes me really sad because their mindset has not evolved yet. They say that we do not need higher education especially for the women that will be a housewife in the future. It is really old views because nowadays all people must become productive people. Technology has given us so many [platforms] and we are evolving everyday. Because of that, I want to make them realize that education is very important for everyone no matter how hard it is to get it.

In addition, the government has made [primary and middle school available] for us. It is free for us. It is really a big and good chance for all of society. It will give us so many lessons from math to other languages, giving so many benefits for life. Furthermore, there are so many essences from education that they do not know. How education can be a good bridge from the dark life to the bright life. How education can give so much happiness, benefits, and good influences to our life. So, from that problem I really want to make them realize that education is really important. I hope there will be an opportunity for me to make a change in that society. It will be a good honor if I could make a change and they would be the good society with the high education.

By Dwi Widjaya Sukma

I chose the English Major in university because I’m crazy about English. I started to like English when I was in senior high school. I didn’t like English at first for a long time, probably since junior high school. I didn't like the teacher’s way of teaching me so every time the English lesson started I felt like that. But when I met Ms. Lisa Wright when I was in tenth grade in senior high school, my opinion started to change. She became our volunteer teacher in our high school.

When I first met her, I felt unfamiliar with a stranger and of course I was embarrassed to ask or even talk to her. But, fortunately Ms. Lisa is very kind and friendly. But not just those points that made her a beautiful person, she has other teaching methods in school. In the 11th grade, Ms. Lisa became my teacher for English class. Her teaching methods were new and very interesting for the students. When she taught us in class, there were games that made English more fun and interesting. She was always very excited to teach us, and she transferred the energy to us, unlike other teachers. That’s why the class became exciting and I started to like English bit by bit.

In the 11th grade, she invited me to join a leadership event called iBro (Indonesian Boys Respecting Others). [iBro is a camp planned and led by Peace Corps Volunteers.] I’m still confused at the time why she asked me to join it, I actually thought I had no ability in English or leadership. But she made sure I felt worthy of joining the event and I believed her and joined the event. Experience after experience I have been through that made me enjoy speaking English. I used to want to be a sports teacher but now I’m studying English Education and I’m so crazy about it.

The importance of my major in society is that everyone knows English is the international language in this world, so I want to teach somebody to able to speak English. But I don’t want to teach like some of the teachers I have seen before, where they just gave us the lesson material without giving support, a great atmosphere, and teaching methods that are liked by students. Just giving the lesson material doesn’t make students interested to learn. If we continue to let this happen, our people will be left behind while this world is advancing every day. I want to help by teaching English.

I hope my story and experience will help the future. I have some teaching experience when I was in seventh grade at a Koran/Al-Qur'an school at the mosque where I taught a younger class for a year. After I entered the university, I found a part-time job at the end of the first semester as an English teacher at a tutoring center for elementary and early childhood children. I am still tutoring there, but I intend to stop because I love to focus on my lectures so I can study harder to get satisfying grades to support my future.

Thirdly, I also taught tenth grade high school students as a university assignment with my classmates. We could have chosen to teach younger children but I was curious to know about my English teaching ability so we chose high school students.

I'm glad I got that experience because indirectly I learned how to speak in front a lot of people, how to control my emotions when I'm facing children that are a bit harder to teach. I'm very grateful because I'm so happy when I teach them. Because in my opinion happiness is when we can share something that really matters for somebody. I am aware that everything I got is not strong enough to change the country, but I will continue to seek experience, students, and an understanding of how to participate in helping to advance the country.

If I had that opportunity to change my community in a positive way, I'm going to try to make my community more useful for other people. But before that I'll try to burn [ignite, inspire] enthusiasm into each member, because when our enthusiasm is so big it is easier to work. Specific ways to help:

  • If related to education, I will try to offer special classes for after school.
  • Start an event that will help the society like gotong royong, which means working together to make something not good to be better. For example, if we exist in a small village, we can schedule two or three times a month to clean up the small village together.

  • Raise funds from each member of the community, or anyone else who want to participate, and help people in need.

By Milah Siti Kamilatul Badriyah

My name is Milah Siti Kamilatul Badriyah. I was born in Majalengka on February 22, and I was the first child of five siblings and all four of my siblings went to school. My father is a trader and my mother is a housewife. My parents' income is ± IDR 2,000,000 per month (about $136 USD). They work hard with uncertain income and thanks to their hard work I can go to college. I come from Ranji Kulon Village, Kasokandel District, Majalengka Regency, West Java Province.

My education history started from elementary school in SDN Ranji Wetan 1 from 2004 to 2010. During elementary school, I had won the first place in the Calistung Competition in the districts and third place in the regency. In addition, I was appointed to participate in a religious competition, Murotal. However, I was not a winner.

Then I continued my secondary school at the Kadipaten 3 Middle School from 2010 to 2013. Because of the distance between school and home was very far, my father told me to go to school while he was a Santri at the Mansyaul-Huda Islamic Boarding School. During junior high school, I was active in Student Council and served on the religious side. In addition, I am also an active member of the Palang Merah Remaja (Indonesian Red Cross Society). I rarely take part in competitions while at school. However, I often get championship at Mansyaul-Huda Islamic Boarding School during the Imtihan event or the competition among students.

After I graduated, I intended to continue high school to MAN Model Ciwaringin. However, there was a problem that made me unable to attend school there, so I decided to stay at Mansyaul-Huda Islamic Boarding School and served as a board administrator for three years. Then I attended the Duchy 1 Senior High School.

This year is my second year as a student majoring in English Education at IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon. Precisely I just entered on semester three. The reason why I chose the English Department, apart from the lecture material that suits my interest, is the prospect of a very broad Bachelor’s Degree in English. Not every student will graduate and work in [their field of study). Not many students work out of their way with their educational history. Graduates in English do not have to work only as subject teachers. There are many business opportunities that we can get with English, for example:

First is to be a translator. Why is the translator so needed at this time? We know that today is an age of sophistication and [immediacy] that makes people become lazy. It is rare now that people translate language through a manual dictionary, especially now that there is an electronic dictionary that one can copy and the results immediately appear. However, sometimes the use of an electronic dictionary is not entirely correct in its arrangement and grammar.

Second is as a guide. In this modern era, Indonesia is currently developing. With natural beauty in Indonesia, foreigners come to Indonesia to know and enjoy the beauty of nature in Indonesia. In order not to get lost, surely, they will need a guide who is good at English to be able to communicate with them.

Third is to become a tutor or open a course. We know that English is an international language so English is very important for our lives. However, there are still many people who think that English is very boring. Maybe it's because they study at school with a very short time with that material. Learning English is a very necessary practice. Opening a course is a good opportunity because the courses has unique methods that will not bore participants. We can also open courses online through our phone gadgets. At least we can share knowledge by using gadgets as a platform.

When I enter the workforce, of course I will always obey the rules of the company. I will carry out my duties as well as possible with discipline and not arrive late. I am willing to accept any work appointed by my supervisor. I can also become an Indonesian translator for English. In addition, I can also become a language teacher in a company that has needs in the field of English.

If I am permitted to give a change in a community for the better, first, I will change the language of their speech. This doesn’t mean that our mother tongue is forgotten, but this is to show that they are experts in foreign languages while our mother tongue is still cultivated. I will train patiently until they can.

The second is holding religious events such as regular recitations or those related to religion. This aims to increase our confidence in God. In Islam, we believe that there will be a new life in the future. We need to prepare provisions to be able to improve happiness in our new life. Life is a choice, whether we become good people or not. If in a community there are non-Muslims, we also must respect each other by respecting their religions and traditions.

The third is I plan to build a language program or clinic free for all ages in the community and create English Villages like those found in East Java. It’s my dream to be a useful person for all the people around me, especially my family. I come from simple family and my parents didn’t go to high school. Sometimes I feel sad if there are people who insult or cheat them. I want to raise the level of my parents by being a great and dedicated person. So that no one else dares to do whatever they want to my parents.

By Sri Dewi Miladiyah

Tak kenal maka tak sayang, what you don't know then not dear. That is what Indonesian people usually say. My name is Sri Dewi Miladiyah, born in Majalengka in June 29. I completed my study at MAN Jatiwangi [High School], now I am currently on the third semester at IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon majoring in Islamic Banking. I am the youngest child and the only girl in my family. In my family, I am the only girl who majored in economics. I also spend my free time on the only hobby I love - writing. Over the past four to five years, I have been exploring my hobby as a writer and writing stories. I still have both parents. After retiring from his job as a Religious Teacher, my father now works as a farmer. Whereas my mother did the most important task of the household, which is to be a mother who takes care of each of her children.

As one of the millennials who want to become the nation's successor, I always try to do academic activities while studying well

from starting elementary school to the present.The biggest achievement for me was when I was able to take part in the

Economic Olympics or Madrasah Science Competition (KSM) and won first place in the Regency Level as a representative of Majalengka Regency to compete at the Provincial level. There are so many lessons that I can take from experience while preparing for the competition. Studying earnestly is certainly not the only one key to success, prayers that are continually offered every time and the will of Allah SWT are also the main factors of success achieved.Seriousness in studying and accompanied by sincerity when living it becomes a supportingfactor for me to feel confident in the results, and that whatever results I have achieved, they basically return to the will of the almighty. There is also a sense of confidence in the potential that has made me firm in the position that I believe in.

While still in my high school at MAN Jatiwangi, I often participated in various competitions held by the Regency, Province, and International Organizations. In promoting language skills, I have participated in several English language competitions held directly by the American volunteer organization, Peace Corps. For two consecutive years I took part in the same event with different competition categories. As often heard, the saying says that experience is the best teacher. For me, participating in a competition is not about winning or losing, but the competition that I participated in, can teach me about how to appreciate the process, teach me how results need hard work, teach me to what extent my abilities are in something, and Alhamdulillah, I can boast of school and family with two trophies that I got in English language competitions as winner of Most Enthusiastic and English poem as Most Motivational. An achievement that I will never get without the support of all my teachers and my parents.

My passion for language has begun since I was in elementary school. When I was in second grade in elementary school, I attended English lessons with a playmate for several months. Then when I stepped on MTs or junior high school, I still learned English actively in class. Then when I entered the Madrasah Aliyah (high school), aside from being active in class, I also took part in the extracurricular activities held by one of the American volunteers at the school, namely the English Club for two consecutive years. It started from attending English Club, I was able to further develop my English skills by being allowed to take part in an English competition held by Peace Corps in Bandung.

Making school proud and making the parents proud are motivation to do my best. With the capital of intention, perseverance, enthusiasm and sincerity, I go through every activity that I love. It is not easy for me to get all the results I have achieved now, hard work and support and prayers from family, teachers, and the people I love are also great strengths for me. Being a superior generation of the pride of the Indonesian people is my goal and as the nation's next generation who still have to learn and continue to learn. The key is not easily satisfied with what has been achieved. The point is that every result that I have achieved is the beginning of the results that I will achieve. Finding what you love and making it a tool to achieve what you want is something you can do, even though it won't be as easy as imagined.The process is like that, nothing is easy.

Facing the fact that I have become a student majoring in Islamic Banking is not an easy matter. Many things I want to do, but the world of lectures is not as easy as imagined. I don't just want to go to college, sit to listen to the lecturer, then just go home. Islamic Banking is a banking system that complies with Islamic or Sharia rules based on the Holy Qur'an and the Prophet's Hadith. This new banking system is a banking system that introduces economic activities without usury. In Social Sciences, especially in the field of Economics, Islamic Banking is a new term that began to exist in the world of Economics. If now the world is experiencing a downturn due to the failure of a leader to build prosperity, then the economic system that might be problematic.

In the diversity of economic theories that emerge every year, all of that leads to ways to find the best things to improve the economy. But along with the emergence of these new theories or ideas, it cannot be denied that the theory emerged in response to the economic problems that existed at the time. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world. Even so, Indonesia is still less fast than Malaysia to become a country that has a good economy with an Islamic economic system.

Islamic banking in Indonesia often experiences ups and downs. But until now, Islamic Banking continues to be able to stand upright with the establishment of new institutions by the government following the Law governing Islamic Banking. Responding to this, I as a generation of millennials of this country want to be agent of change that can help the country in overcoming economic problems. With the new banking system called Sharia Banking, I want to be involved in economic history by becoming one of the agents of change.

At IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon, the university has never had time off for students, especially early semester students like me. There are no free weekends, all days are filled with class schedules. For me, exploring the field of economics, especially Islamic Banking is not only a lecture activity, but also a manifestation of my efforts to become a qualified and competent citizen in the future. It is not a lie if someone goes to college to get a decent job in the future, the fact is that life requires material. But life should not continue to revolve around money, instead money should revolve around us. The key is not [to be] greedy.

Prioritizing social life as a basis for helping each other is one way for me to be able to control my mind so as not to keep turning on money. Failure to build prosperity is not a limitation for someone to stop doing something, but failure to build welfare is the beginning of someone to be able to improve themselves. A good system is a system that prioritizes common interests. The same goal will help achieve common goals. Economy is like a race arena. Many twists and turns, sharp turns and gravel that can make you fall if not addressed with caution. In the same way as managing the economy, in my opinion, an economic system will run well if accompanied by caution and teamwork. A country will not achieve its goals if it is not supported by its people and qualified citizens. Quality human resources are a necessity for the country to be able to build a strong economic fortress so that it can become a prosperous country and can prosper the people.

Personal role in one’s surrounding is also important in regulating the macro economy of the country. Changing the economic life around the environment is a duty for anyone who can change the environment for the better. If someone has received higher education, the most basic task is to change their own environment. This initial assignment was given to people who were considered capable of renewing their economic life for the better. This is what I later refer to as someone's social function.

The social function that a person has is impossible if someone does not have a good quality of self. Knowledge of the relevant field can be mastered from lectures, but strong responsibility and commitment can only grow by self-will. For me, mental strength can only be obtained if we instill it in ourselves. Other good attitudes will follow if someone can do that.

The desire to be qualified human resources to be able to perform social functions in the environment was my first goal after graduating from college. Being a woman is not an obstacle for me to do that. To be proud of both parents by taking an active role in changing the lives of the surrounding community. No need to work in neat uniforms in offices, economics, especially Islamic Banking, which I learned now is my provision to be an agent of change. My love since junior high school in social sciences became more specific when I found interest in one of its fields, economics, when I started studying at MAN Jatiwangi. Followed by the guidance of an economic teacher at the school, I was finally able to establish myself to go to a college, IAIN Syekh Nurjati Cirebon.

As I grew older, I realized a lot of the tasks that the millennium generation had to do for the nation. Do not have to start with the difficult, I have thought to start from my own environment. Forming a community in a village is one thing I think about. Making a space for rural people to be able to save their money and then channel it back to the community in need is an effort to [balance] the surrounding economic life. Simply put, the money saved by someone will be channeled back to others who need it more.

It is undeniable, the dream of being an agent of change for the surrounding community will surely find difficulties in living it. I hope that my desire to become one of the millenials who can change the economy even if only on a small scale can be realized with the prayers I offer and business with study hard during college.

Education is the most important thing. For me, studying is something that must be done as long as someone is still able and breathing. To be a qualified human resource, it must be accompanied by quality education as well. As long as I still feel able to study, my hopes of being able to go to school as high as possible also continue to be spoken in prayer.

By Nurhayati

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