Better Human Resources for Indonesia Emas 2045

Better Human Resources for Indonesia Emas 2045

Posted by Salma Fauzia W on Agustus 24, 2021 in Speech,

What will you do if you get the opportunity to live on this earth for about 100 years? Well, 100 years sounds so far, but no matter what the future is going to be, we deserve to have a vision about it. Because dream matters. It also goes the same with Indonesia, our beloved nation.

This year in 2021, Indonesia is turning 76 years old. It has 24 years more to be a century of an independent nation in 2045. But since 6 years ago in 2015, Indonesia has created visions for 2045 that are called Indonesia Emas 2045. In order to achieve it, Indonesia has to reach about 5% annual economic growth on average. Indonesia needs a high quality of human resources for it and education is the key.

Like a dreamer should be, we also have to think of Indonesia Emas 2045 in a realistic way. No matter how great the vision is, we must overcome the challenge that happens at present. We know that now in 2021, Indonesia is still struggling to overcome Covid-19 pandemic. Covid-19 pandemic really affects the education system in Indonesia. 

Huge transition from offline school to online school needs huge adaptation for every student, teacher, student’s family, and obviously the government. The whole nation must overcome it together. Yes together, but in different conditions. For some people, online school is not a big problem, but for others that UNICEF stated in December last year, there were 938 Indonesian children dropped out of school and 75% of them couldn’t continue their education. 

That was so sad.

Those children dropped out of school mostly because their parents were economically impacted during Covid-19 pandemic. That was even sadder knowing that they had to work to help their family’s economic condition and others had to get married early. It is going to be so bad if Indonesian children lose their study spirit because of the situation. It cannot only affect their self-quality, but also the quality of Indonesian human resources in the future. Covid-19 pandemic is truly a challenge to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045.

Education is right for everyone. With education, someone can get a chance to improve their self-capacity. With better self-capacity, someone can have a proper job and improve their economic condition. Even on a national scale, with better self-capacity and economic condition, someone can be a good human resource that supports national economic growth like the vision of Indonesia Emas 2045.

But having family, friends, and surroundings that support someone to get proper education is such a big privilege. I understand for people that more tend to make money instead of studying for hours in front of the gadget. It makes sense because this pandemic really forces those people to survive in a hard way and make them prioritize saving their economic condition first to stay alive. But I feel so sad to know people let their children stop going to study when education is basically for the sake of children’s own good. I totally disagree with stereotype in Indonesian society that studying is not important. Ironically, this stereotype is getting worse during this Covid-19 pandemic. This stereotype shouldn’t continue in the next generation especially if we want to achieve Indonesia Emas 2045.

It is exactly not just some people's challenge, but also national challenge that is supposed to be solved by Indonesian as a whole. Well it’s not instant. It needs process and it simply can be started from ourselves, especially from youth who will potentially take the role of Indonesian leaders in 2045. 

So what exactly can we do?

Look. Look at our close surroundings. Who needs help in studying? It may be neighbors, friends, family, siblings, or even our own self. We can help them in various ways. If you can teach, teach them. If you can donate, donate books, stationeries, or other studying stuff for them. If you have a group of people with the same goal in education, gather some ideas to help them get proper education. Or if you are the one who needs help in studying, don’t give up! Seek for information, find partner, tutor, or anything that may help you. Surround yourself with people that support you to improve your self-capacity. Because having high self-capacity is not only for your own good, but also for your family, society, even for Indonesia as a nation.

At the end, you don’t have to wait for getting the opportunity to live for 100 years to contribute to the nation, Indonesia. You can always start from your dream today, your dream matters. So good luck for anything good that we are struggling for. Indonesia Emas 2045 is waiting for us in the future to make it come true.

Thank you.

Continue Reading

Speak Up (2020)

Speak Up (2020)

Posted by Salma Fauzia W on Agustus 14, 2021 in Speech,

Good afternoon, everyone.

Now, we live in 2020. 21st century. Have you ever known about 21st century competencies? Communication is one of them. That is based on the framework 21st century by World Economic Forum. We are hoped to be able to face complex challenge in this era with that competencies. Ability to communicate with a lot of kind of people, even people come from different background with us. Delivering informations in appropriate way. That is why good communication is needed in this century. And speaking up is one of the ways to communicate.

In this era, globalization lets our voice to be heared by people around the world. We don't have to go abroad, but we can see what happened in this world today. Do you know where? Yes, social media. Freedom of speech is also applied in social media. However, nowadays mostly people can communicate, but not all people can do good communication. For the evidence, verbal bullying happen in social media. There are people who bully each other and say hate speech to other people account. Based on the research by Polling Indonesia and Asosiasi Penyelenggara Jasa Internet Indonesia, there are 49% netizen in 2019 have ever been bullying target in social media. Irony. There are 31,6% of that bullying victim didn't do anything to the bullying. This kind of problem also happens in sexual harassment. There are 348.448 (three hundred forty eight thousand four hundred forty eight) cases of sexual harassment in 2017 based on data from Komnas Anti Kekerasan terhadap Perempuan. Sexual harassment victims mostly didn't speak up their case because of victim blaming.

Irony.

Bullying and sexual harassment are just the example of violence. Violence is kind of wrong thing and there are still many wrong things in this world. We should prevent it happen again and again. We should protect our next generation from the same cases. But, if the victims didn't report their cases, how will this violence meet the end? So, speak up! Speaking up can build togetherness among the victims. Speaking up improves people consciousness against violence. Speaking up can make sure public that violence or any wrong things in this world is serious.

We have known that speaking up is so important. Then it relates to my existence here. I think public speaking gives me space to speak up. So, I want to have good public speaking skill, especially in english, because yea, english is the first international language, right? Maybe soon my opinion is heard by people around the world, who knows? But until now, I feel my skill is not good enough. So that’s why I take this class. I want to surround myself with people who also have similar intention to learn more about english public speaking. I want to challenge myself to speak up about any topic, any theme. I want to encourage myself to be confident while my voice is listened to a lot of people.

Now, we live in 2020. 21st century. And, you still don't aware to speak up? Come on, wake up.

Thank you for your attention.

Continue Reading

Texting Anxiety in Covid-19 Pandemic

Texting Anxiety in Covid-19 Pandemic

Posted by Salma Fauzia W on April 30, 2021 in Speech,

Hello everyone.

Hellooooo everyoneee.

Could you find the difference? Yes exactly, the voice tone is different. Then how will you interpret those two expressions when it comes to the text popping up on your mobile phone?

Well, for me the “Hello everyone” sounds so-so and for some condition it sounds icy. But for the ”Hellooooo everyoneee” sounds happy, cheerful, it may look more positive vibes by adding some rainbow emojis in the end of the text.

But actually getting hello from someone has been a good thing, right?

Yes! So, hello everyone!

Well, as we know, many people are used to start their day by opening a mobile phone, checking on the texting application is kind of a morning routine. Especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.

Since coronavirus hit this world last year, every offline activities starts to get limited. Work from home. Many activities are replaced via online. School, office, organization, community, any other meeting must be held online. Gadget becomes a primary need. Many people have spent much time on messenger application during this pandemic. A study said that WhatsApp is the most popular messenger application in the world, getting 51% increase usage in the late phase of this pandemic. That’s such a large number. Among that large number, have you ever guessed the largest feeling of people while texting?

Happy, yes. In case you get a message from your beloved one. Excited, yes. In case you get a message you really have been waiting for, but how if it comes the opposite? Sending a message since 15 minutes passed, no reply. 30 minutes passed, no reply. An hour passed, no reply. A day passed, no reply. For some people, it doesn't matter. But for others, it could become anxiety till depression. Yes, texting anxiety is real, and that could be a more serious matter. Especially during this Covid-19 pandemic.

I actually didn't realize that texting anxiety exists. I just found out about that this year, a couple of months after I had days getting texting anxiety.

Last year was my first ever experience joining an organization in my campus. I was eager to start my different campus life even after the fact came that Covid-19 made every member stay at home. Then finally came the day for starting to organize big events. Many group chats were created. We need to communicate dan coordinate through social media. I had full online meeting for about six months straight. I had at least a meeting at night. The academic college affairs and gossip gang have not been counted yet.

Since the burden of responsibility was getting bigger day by day, there were days when I was too impatience to wait for people's responses on group chat, I was scared of being not responsible by skipping an hour not to open WhatsApp. I started to get used to making assumptions and worry about other people’s short typing as if they are angry at me, or even maybe they hate me! I was stressed out and it turned to be anxiety. I got so anxious just to read someone’s text on my own mobile phone. I thought that was okay since many friends were on the same phase as me. But that was wrong. Thinking that was okay was wrong. I started to realize how Covid-19 pandemic affected my health.

Getting used to skip breakfast, sleep late till I have no sleep for the whole night. Feeling scared about the future, suicidal thoughts happened.

Gladly, at that time I realized I should stop texting anxiety before all of my worst thoughts would happen. I started to try any method to keep sane and responsible at the same time. I started to change my bad habit during the pandemic. So I stopped having meal while being online on any social media. Slowly I started to normalize not to open WhatsApp every hour. Since having online meetings without any friends directly by my side was quite lonely sometimes, I calmed myself down by listening to my favorite songs while preparing myself to get ready to open any chat on WhatsApp.

Is that easy to get rid of texting anxiety?

Yes, in my case. But if the anxiety gets worse, it may take more effort. Cause texting anxiety may lead to anxiety disorder or any worse mental illness.

So in life, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic when many activities are conducted online, don't forget to save yourself. Be aware of any stress that happens to your mental health. A study at University of Wisconsin shows 43% American death doesn't cause stress itself, but due to negative response toward stress. And for you who don't realize how bad mental illness could be, the National Mental Health Association of America stated that there is no cure for mental illness, the best help for mental illness is effective treatments.

For you who have experienced texting anxiety too, deal with it. It’s okay to get stress, but confront it, don't escape. Instead of getting yourself tired while making assumptions of other people’s feelings, confirm what happened, ask if he/she is angry if it is needed. In case your anxiety isn't getting better, go to professional help. People are designed to be able to adapt. So, be resilient, I’m sure you can!

Then for you people who have no problem related to someone’s message typing, be aware that texting anxiety is real, that’s not a joke. Know your position, the online conversation vibes, and the person you send a message. Cause since we are so difficult to guess someone’s mental state, especially in this Covid-19 pandemic when you cannot always look at someone’s face and meet in person easily, keep being careful with what you say, what you type.

So everyone, in this Covid-19 pandemic, stay healthy both physically and mentally. Let's be smart to control ourselves while using smartphone. Texting anxiety is real, it may become serious matter. Being online sufficiently. Humanize humans even just simply while texting someone.

Thank you.

Continue Reading

Health Protocol is Not A Trend

Health Protocol is Not A Trend

Posted by Salma Fauzia W on April 20, 2021 in Speech,

 Hello everyone. Good morning still on the other day of Covid-19 pandemic.

It's 2021 already, but Covid-19 pandemic is still happening.

It's been more than a year since this fork-handed virus came to Indonesia for the first time. Many kinds of trend have also been happening from dalgona coffee, korean garlic bread, TikTok dances, to the houseplanting and gardening. Have you ever tried all of them? Well, it’s not a must but actually it’s fun though. Haha.. Well, seriously I mean we have to adapt and survive through this pandemic and we have many options to do. Most of us also get used to the new habits that we do almost every single day like staying at home if we don't have any urge to go out, having online meeting, online class, online competition like what we’re doing right now, until the most important habit for everyone all over the world must adhere to, yes, health protocol of Covid-19.

There are several types of Covid-19 health protocols, for example wearing mask, washing hands with soap, and doing physical distancing. Those three are basic. Most of us are used to hear those three reminders, but the data said, on 1^st-17^th of January this year, there were 434 people in Surakarta who violated health protocol. Even in Jakarta, on 11^th-22^th of January this year, 2000 people were caught due to violating health protocol.

It’s ironic, isn’t it?

There is  an African proverb "it takes the whole village to raise a child". It means that we need many people to encourage a child to have particular habit. If many people do the right behaviour, have the right habit, a child may follow them. If many people do the bad behaviour, have the bad habit, a child may follow them too. It got me thinking how relevant it is to the violation of health protocol problem. Let me give an example. If there is an adult going out to public place without wearing mask properly like his/her nose and mouth don't cover properly, it doesnt seem like it’s big problem, but actually it may give bad impact. If a kid sees that inappropriate behaviour, that kid is going to think "ah that man looks okay, so it should be okay for me to do the same thing as him". If we allow that to happen, it's going to be a bad habit, a bad culture for the worst.

Corona virus still exists. It's getting even worse. Coronavirus mutations have infected people around the world. Last month, our minister of health reported two new cases of British variant or B117 which is more transmissible and deadlier type of corona virus. The other type, called N439K, has also made 48 cases in Indonesia. See? We live in environment togother with some worse versions of corona virus, how could many people still violate health protocol?

It may be Covid-19 vaccine has discovered. Well, we all know that vaccination has been started on the 13^th of January this year. Our president Joko Widodo was the first person who got vaccinated in Indonesia. Yes that's good news. But the whole citizen has not got vaccinated yet. Instead of being patient for a while, many people go out without wearing mask properly. This kind of problem needs a lot of cooperative people to reduce that problem.

The possibility to get infected with Covid-19 still exists. Getting vaccinated and implementing health protocol can’t assure everyone will 100% safe, but that's currently the best thing that we can do. Many public places have been opened, but the awareness of people following the health protocol properly still needs to be improved. And that's the perfect time for us youth to take our role.

Well, everyone has their own definition of youth. But if we refer to World Health Organization,  youth is everyone around 15-24 years old, then youth should understand what’s good and what’s bad, including the health protocol context. Information’s also provided in many ways. Google, Youtube, social medias are “tools” to get any information during this digital era. The important needs are curiosity and awareness. We as human beings do have heart, right? Yes, we do. Using heart should be enough to wake up humanity and awareness to protect ourselves and others from Covid-19.

Especially for the youth.

In my place, Sragen, there is a community called Lentera Sukowati. Their popular project was Sragen Sadar Corona. They started the community due to Covid-19 pandemic. Their activities are cool and great! They share free food supplies, masks, share knowledge, and encourage awareness of Covid-19 to people on the street. They also visit to some old people from home to home in Sragen. Their community is getting bigger, better, till their movement has been supporting by community institution and also local government.

I have also joined that such social project called Share From Home. I talked to random people on street, shared to them about Covid-19 issue, and gave food supplies and mask for people in need. It became so ironic if I found out people who worked offline on street everyday, but they didn’t wear any mask. It also ironic to see people who had no privilege to buy proper mask and healthy food.

So yeah, there are still many positive things that the youth could do to spread awareness of Covid-19. What Lentera Sukowati and I did could be some examples. But if you think you don't have that much time to start and join social project or social community, it's okay. I also don't always that much time due to college stuffs. But that should not stop our awareness. We still have ourselves and people around us.

Once we go out, wear mask properly till it covers both nose and mouth, wash hands with soap properly, avoid the crowd as good as we can. Start from ourselves, it's been good example for others. It's also much better to remind people on street or wherever public places to wear mask properly. It sounds simple action, but it's such a precious way to protect ourselves and many people from getting infected with Covid-19.

It's 2021 already, but Covid-19 pandemic is still happening.

Health protocol and vaccine have been provided and even getting more advanced, but how about the people? As part of society, as part of human lives, youth are very clearly able to spread awareness of Covid-19 in many positive ways. So, for the sake of the younger generation, humanity, people around us, and also our own self, let's make Indonesia as a safe place to live.

It’s 2021 already, so let this be the year that we can live more peacefully even though we are still scared of something, scared of Covid-19. Let this be the year while implementing health protocol properly is not only a trend that we can choose to like it or not, it’s not only a habit that we can choose to do it or not, but it’s a must. Everyone can get infected with corona virus. So, following health protocol is a must for everyone.

Thank you.

Continue Reading