He looked back at the summons inviting him to join as a top student at a favorite state university. In fact, it wasn't surprising that he had the opportunity. Because if you look at all his school achievements, it will be considered reasonable or should be. However, the gift still became a surprise that immediately stifled his chest.
The sheet of paper in his hand now feels like a golden key that he can use to open the door to a different future. Even with joy and optimism, the teachers have just greeted him to congratulate him and best wishes for all his goals that he will achieve.
He remembered that even his beautiful homeroom teacher did not miss to encourage him.
"You are worthy, Indra. Because all your intelligence and talent are qualified to make you an engineering scholar." His speech was lovely to the ear but too heart-wrenching in the depths of his deepest feelings.
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The young man's name is Indra Perkasa, and he is excellent and suitable for suburban residents like himself. Or rather, for a boy who grew up in a poor family. Because such a noble name prays for the owner, it seems beautiful and majestic in the ears of anyone who hears it.
It said the name was given by the wife of a high-ranking official who was waiting for her child's birth at the same clinic. Falling in love with the bright-eyed baby boy who cried so loudly when he first saw the world, that person immediately begged to be allowed to give him an heirloom in the form of a name that would stick with the boy's life.
However, a name with such a deep meaning doesn't seem powerful enough to change the lives of the child's parents. Because when the couple had also given him a daughter as a sister, it turned out that the family's fate had changed so quickly. Even until finally, the eldest child graduated from high school, the situation was still the same.
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Indra Perkasa's father was just a man who tried his luck by migrating to Jakarta. At one time, all of his possessions and status were lost without a trace.
That is the story of his family. Because when the father left this world, the man also left his wife and two children in it. That's not all he left behind because many problems and mountain debts he had to pay off had also been passed on to his family.
As a good wife, her mother didn't mind paying off all debts by selling everything she owned. And after all the husband's problems could been resolved, the mother named Widuri finally returned to the village. Where a beautiful woman who used to live well now can only try hard to support her family from day to day.
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Diligently and with complete submission, Indra's mother made cakes to be deposited in small stalls and schools. Even with that struggle, she must be willing to live by boosting an old bicycle that takes her around.
Not only that, but the mother also received orders for sewing clothes or small jobs such as patching torn pants. Including other professions that may be considered despised, they are also carried out without hesitation when someone asks for their energy as a washing and ironing worker.
However, no matter how hard the energy spent trying to make a living, it turns out that it will never be enough to provide the best for their children. Say if you can just feed yourself with fullness, that's already very worthy of gratitude.
Indra's family lived in such a situation honestly, without needing to complain to anyone. In fact, even the teachers at his school didn't even understand exactly what the condition of a student named Indra Perkasa was. Because no one knows that the supplies he brings to school result from his sweat. And all the little money he uses daily is a substitute for his labor when looking for grass for the neighbor's fodder. Or from the small salary he received when he worked as a half-day laborer in a small workshop outside school hours.
Everyone at school wouldn't believe it if, in fact, he was really lacking in everyday life. Because when viewed from the problem of paying money for the textbooks owned, people will never think about what he has done to be able to pay for all of it.
The rough hands caused by breaking the skin from always touching rocks or sand when he helped mine was one thing he never told any of his friends. Then about how strong his body odor was when he had to spend the whole afternoon cleaning his neighbor's cowshed just for a meager wage, not even the slightest bit was revealed to anyone. Because it was another secret that he didn't need to tell his schoolmates.
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What is done with all these things is the only way he can survive sitting in school without anyone who will think of him as different. In this regard, of course, it isn't meant to prevent Indra Perkasa from being insulted or demeaning his fellow students.
No, that's not what it means!
All of this was done because he understood well that all his school friends were good children and had a conscience. Because of that, too, Indra deliberately hides his shortcomings so that no one can see through the eyes of compassion.
It's not out of pride that such a young child has such principles. And it's also not a lie to himself if he doesn't want his friends to understand how the young man's living conditions really are. Because all he wants is for everyone, he knows to consider himself equal in every way.
That's what he calls self-esteem. Because, to be honest, the young man had never expected mercy from others. Moreover, if he even has to beg for the relief of any costs incurred while at school.
Such is Indra Perkasa, a young man who can truly appreciate his own dignity and worth. Because even though he was never able to raise money for personal pleasure, it turned out that his youthful energy was enough to be used to pay for anything to save his self-respect, which had become a principle in his life.
And everything he did in earnest, in fact, has yielded satisfactory results during the three years he studied in high school. Evidently, no one, both teachers and students, knew the actual situation of Indra Perkasa's family.
They all asked him if he had been doing well in financial matters. Because of that, none of the bad feelings would suspect. That, an Indra Perkasa would be too difficult to decide to accept the call for college. Meanwhile, judging from the actual situation, he can't become a student. Because he still has to think a thousand times more about managing the scholarship that isn't that much so that it can be used as living expenses and for his college needs.
Of course, he doesn't have to worry about paying tuition fees. On a note, of course, all values must always be good. It has become the primary requirement so he can still receive educational assistance while in college.
But how will he cover the cost of lodging and meals, and college equipment? And for him, it still needs to be messed around before he can decide.
Not to mention if he counted the transportation money. If this burden is added, there will undoubtedly be countless shortages that must be covered if we rely solely on scholarship assistance. Because of that amount of financial support, paying for a student's life in a big city is very minimal.
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In the end, all that remains is doubt. Namely, when Indra recalled some of the wise advice and messages he received from the teachers,
"Don't disappoint your classmates, Ndra. Their chance to follow in your footsteps is to prove; if one of our school students has been able to successfully study in the university," Thus the advice and encouragement said by the Deputy Principal.
"That's right ... show and prove that our school has students full of achievements," said another.
"If you don't take this opportunity, or even fail to study there, it will definitely make our school records look less good," one of the young teachers added input.
"Believe me, only higher education and good will be able to change your destiny. If you complete your studies well and get satisfactory grades, it may bring other scholarships to pursue higher education. Because whether it's a company or a government agency, it will surely look at your brilliant achievements…" and someone else added to give motivation.
All of that, of course, has added to the confusion of the heart of a Mighty Indra. Because to admit that he can't afford it, hasn't the scholarship program really lightened his burden?
For ordinary people, it would be beneficial. Because the costs borne by the government by itself have left only a few light portions that are charged to the student's family. Of course, if the prospective student's family could be said to be from a background unlike hers...
However, the living conditions of Indra's family aren't something that can be called mediocre in terms of the normal range of citizens. Because even just for the cost of eating and paying school fees, all family members must work very hard.
***