Clique and Prejudice

Many years passed by. We all have known each other. You and I have the same chance to be succeed. Although there are so many obstacles in our lives, but we believe that we can make it through. We also have our strength and our weakness. Everyone has their own good side. I believe it. Even if that is a thug. When you loose hope, that means you must be strong. When you fall down, that means you must stand up. This is the world where you must learn from anything. When you were hurt by someone, just stay calm. They might think about your bad habit, but you know, implicitly they pay attention to you. The prejudice is the beginning of disunity. Don’t be trapped in your mind. Your conjecture might be wrong.

Indeed, I can’t talk too smart like Oprah Winfrey and Andy Flores Noya. They are very clever to discuss about anything. Look, when you watched them. You must be amazed and impressed for their performance. I want to be like them someday. Call me an introvert, but I have another side of my life. Perhaps, most people don’t like that personality. So, I try to enjoy my solitude. I’m afraid to do something important. Sometimes that makes me disappointed. Well then, I should do something that can make me change to be brave. I need other people’s help. I can’t just count on one person in my life. I need more people who can help me to make my dreams come true, because you and I are human beings. We need each other, don’t we? Alright, forget it for a while. Let’s start our main idea. ~(n_n)~ -Actually, I don’t want to talk about myself explicitly -_- my apologizes, everyone.-

The clique, the group, the population, the team, whatever you called it, I want to know, what do you think about the meaning of those words? Not in ‘Bahasa’, but from your personal point of view. When you feel comfort with some people, when you think that they are the best friend ever that you have, or when you consider that there are no one who cares about you more than them, is that a reason why you always want to be with them? Someday, there will come a day when you must be ready to split up with them. So, just be ready. Nothing last forever, but you can make some unforgettable memories.

 How about the condition when we were placed in a group where we were not comfort in? Once I observed some people who had a problem like that. Ow sorry, apparently, I took it as a problem. (n_n)v The first one:  she was very annoyed with her friends and couldn’t smile as usual at that time. The second one…… hmm, she likes to express her feeling on the social media. Lately, I read her status on Facebook and she was angry with someone, I thought. Then, I found she was really angry several days later with someone whom I know. I saw it directly. Before the conflict happened, both of them had built a good relationship each other. Now, I can only hope for the peace coming back to their lives. What a feeling (oh, that’s Irene Cara’s song). So… what must we do when we have a problem like that?

Yes, indeed. This is really complicated when fire and water can’t be put together. Everyone has a different character. It’s reasonable if we don’t like other people because of their behaviour or because of something that makes us annoyed. Everyone has their own comfort. We can’t make all people for liking us. Even if you do a good thing every day, there must be someone who is envy with you. I said again that the prejudice is really the beginning of disunity, but if you keep your positive thinking to other people, your anger would never be happened.

I have experienced an occasion when I should do my responsibility with my friends. First, I did it alone at that time. They rarely asked about what they could do to help me solved the problem. However, I tried to hold my anger. Actually, I didn’t have any reason to be angry with them. I didn’t know what actually happened. So, I decided to be active persuading them to do that obligation. A team exists to learn about how to appreciate other people, how face the problem together, how to help each other, and how to get rid of selfishness.

By the way, have you ever watched “Pride and Prejudice” the movie? Or maybe you have read the novel? Pride and Prejudice is a famous English roman. The author is Jane Austen. It told about a story between Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy. From the beginning, Miss Bennet disliked Mr. Darcy because of his arrogance, manners, and selfishness. She considered him as a bad person ever who was impossible to marry. Gradually, Mr. Darcy fell in love with Miss Bennet, but she already hated him. Nevertheless, you know, her prejudice was wrong. Apparently, Mr. Darcy was very kind to Bennet’s family. He helped Miss Bennet’s little sister to solve her problem. First, Miss Bennet didn’t know about that, but unintentionally her little sister had told her and begged her not to tell anyone. Finally, Miss Bennet began to open her heart for Mr. Darcy.

I think we can learn something from that movie. At least, we can try to see a good side from anyone when we already know that they were bad. That’s difficult, but very useful if we apply to our partners in a team.

Alright, I hope nobody will be offended after reading my words. This is just what I think about. Remember, the prejudice is the beginning of disunity. (^_*)

A good clique exists because there is a mutual trust among the members.

Program Talent Scouting - Bank Sentral Republik Indonesia

Program Talent Scouting - Bank Sentral Republik Indonesia

Opinion: Cara Menanggapi Curhatan Teman

Pernah nggak ketika kamu punya masalah lalu curhat ke temanmu terus dia merespon, "Kamu sih.. bla bla bla..." atau "Makanya jangan bla bla bla.." atau lebih parahnya "Itu sih derita Lo."  Contohnya nih, kamu dapat nilai jelek saat hasil ujian dibagikan. Kamu curhat ke temanmu dan dia nanggepin, "Emangnya kamu gak belajar apa?" Padahal sih kita sudah berusaha memahami materi yang akan diujikan dan juga sudah berusaha mengerjakan soal-soal ujian tersebut semampu kita. Yah tapi itu tadi, orang lain selalu mengungkit-ungkit penyebab mengapa kita bisa seperti itu, bukannya malah memberi masukan atau solusi bagaimana seharusnya kita melangkah selanjutnya. Terkadang saat kita dicurhati teman, mereka memang lebih butuh jawaban dari pertanyaan 'bagaimana' ketimbang dari pertanyaan 'kenapa' karena posisi teman kita itu sedang susah dan butuh pencerahan. Kalau kita malah memberi tanggapan seperti yang dicontohkan tadi, bisa saja dalam hati teman kita terselip rasa tersinggung dengan tanggapan kita. Memang sih, ada orang yang easy going dengan tanggapan seperti itu, tapi saya rasa itu bukan sikap yang tepat. Coba kalau kita kasih solusi, dia pasti akan merasa lebih baik dan merasa sedikit lega juga. Jadi, ayo dari sekarang belajar mendengar, belajar peka, dan belajar menghargai teman kita karena suatu saat ada kalanya giliran kita yang akan seperti itu. Hidup ini tidak selalu konstan, Kawan! :)

Short Story: The Miracle of Honesty

“Believe… Believe… you can do it, Sharon! You can do it!” Sharon said to herself staring at algebra book in front of her. She had been sitting in her campus library for four hours. The library visitors began left that place one by one since it was almost 5 pm –the time when the library must be closed. She did not know what to do. She looked very frustrated after she had been out from algebra class. The lecturer had told her not to cheat during the test. Inside her heart, she felt very guilty of what she had done. Sharon always wanted to stop that habit and she always had that intention. However, every time she faced the test, she was not able to contain herself for cheating.

“Stupid!” She groaned and cried a little bit loud. She was almost mad bearing that burden alone.

The librarian, Mr. Thomas, saw her. He then walked closer to her. He wondered why that girl hadn’t gone home yet, while it was 5 pm and the library must be closed soon.

“Hey girl, the library will be closed. Why are you still here?” Mr. Thomas asked her, friendly. By his sharp gaze, he stared at her curiously. Sharon hastily stood up from where she sat up. She quite shocked when Mr. Thomas came to her. “Oh, I’m sorry, Sir. I don’t know that it is 5 pm now. I’m going to back home.” She then took the algebra book that she borrowed previously and returned it to the mathematics bookcase which quite near from where she sat up before.

            “Don’t take it personal. Why do you cry?” Mr. Thomas asked her again. He realized that Sharon was crying at that time. Sharon wiped the tears from her eyes quickly. She was shy and nervous suddenly when Mr. Thomas said to her that way.

            “I wish I could remove all the damn things in my mind. It’s alright, I’m okay. I need to leave. Good afternoon, Sir.” Sharon left Mr. Thomas. “Good afternoon. Come again tomorrow with your bright face.” Mr. Thomas could not figure out what something that actually happened to her.

            Along the journey to her house, Sharon still thought about what her algebra lecturer had said. Those words seemed appeared in her mind continuously. The stronger she tried to forget it, the stronger her mind to remember it.

            After she left behind the school approximately 1 km, she arrived in an area near her house, in the front of Mr. Harry’s house exactly. Mr. Harry’s family is one of the richest families in that neighborhood.

Sharon saw so many people near her neighbor’s house. There were so many police too around it. Every people looked so panic and confused. Mrs. Harry was crying loudly and getting angry to the police. Sharon became curious about all of this condition. She then decided to ask to the woman who wore green clothes standing not far from her. 

   “Excuse me, Madam. Why is Mrs. Harry’s house so crowded?”

   “There was an assassination inside that house one hour ago.”

               “Oh my God, who was the victim? And who was the assassin, Madam?”

           “I don’t really know, but I heard that the assassin was someone who had been deceived by the victim. The assassin has gone and the police are still chasing after him.”

TO BE CONTINUED...

Cerpen: Terima Kasih, Alayer!

Perkenalkan, nama gue Alpin. Gue masih kelas dua SMA. Hari ini adalah hari bad mood sedunia bagi gue. Diawali pagi tadi telat berangkat ke sekolah, pintu gerbang ditutup sama pak satpam, dan akhirnya gue harus nerima takdir mungut sampah daun sebanyak-banyaknya di sekitar pintu gerbang sekolah. Itulah password yang diberikan ke pak satpam agar beliau membukakan pintu gerbangnya. Duh, malu gue, mana ini hari senen lagi. Jelas ada upacara bendera di lapangan sekolah. Gue akhirnya diliatin guru-guru dan teman-teman yang lagi pada baris. Jadi nggak khidmat deh tuh upacara gara-gara gue. Penderitaan gue belum selesai. Setelah upacara selesai, gue dijemur di lapangan sambil hormat ke Bendera Merah Putih selama dua puluh menit sesuai hitungan waktu keterlambatan gue. Selesai dijemur, temen-temen nyangka mereka kedatangan murid baru dari Afrika.

Siang harinya gue dapet ‘pisang goreng anget’ alias cubitan maut dari guru sejarah gara-gara gue nggak hafal tentang cerita penjajahan Belanda di Indonesia. Sakit banget rasanya. Ya mau gimana lagi, gue nggak pernah suka sama yang namanya hafalan. Mending matematika deh (gaya betul, padahal mid semester nilainya double-la alias 66). 

Pulang sekolah, gue kehujanan. Sampai di rumah udah basah kuyup, lusuh, kotor kayak bebek habis kejebur di got. Untung ibu masih mengenali gue ini siapa. Kalo nggak, udah diusir idup-idup kali gue dari rumah. Akhirnya gue bergegas mandi agar gue kembali ke wujud asli Alpin yang sebenarnya. 

Malam harinya, gue mencoba untuk refreshing sejenak dengan membuka Facebook. Iseng-iseng gue ngepo-in beberapa profil temen gue. Udah gitu nyampah di status orang alias komen-komenan nggak penting. Lalu beberapa menit kemudian muncul 1 friend request. Nama akun facebook orang itu alaynya keterlaluan, yaitu tH4LicH4 aNaKLinCaHluTHudAniMoeT cinDTadIriM0ecLamAna. Pertama kali gue baca itu nama, gue sempetin istighfar tiga kali. Ada ya orang tua yang ngasih nama anaknya kayak gitu? Tapi gue bersyukur, gue mengenal satu jenis orang lagi. Biasanya gue suka mendiskusikan soal kealayan dengan adik gue, Zacky yang masih kelas satu SMP. Ketika gue tau ada alayer nge-add gue untuk jadi temannya di Facebook, akhirnya gue panggil adik gue yang sedang main Angry Birds untuk berdiskusi.
“Dek, sini geh bentar.” Gue menyuruh Zacky untuk beranjak sejenak dari posisi dia bermain Angry Birds.
“Apaan sih, Kak?” Zacky pun mendekat ke gue.
“Ini, ada alayer nge-add. Kakak harus gimana?” Tanya gue.
“Wah, ini sih spesies super alay dan langka, Kak. Harus dilestarikan. Accept aja, Kak. Ntar dia punah kalo diabaikan.” Jawab Zacky.
“Oh gitu ya, Dek? Oke deh.” 

Atas saran dari adik gue, akhirnya gue menerima permintaan pertemanan dari dia. Nggak lama kemudian, dia langsung ngajak gue chatting. Gue minta saran lagi ke adik gue untuk meladeni spesies itu atau tidak. Dan adik gue memberikan jawaban yang sama: nanti dia punah kalo diabaikan. Huh, susah juga ya minta pendapat sama anak SMP. 

“aLLowhH………………………………………………………..” Dia memulai percakapan.
“Elo siapa?” Tanya gue penasaran.
“LeH kNaLLan Gag????????” Dia malah balik tanya dengan delapan tanda tanya. Mungkin nggak ngerti bahasa gue.
“Nggak!” Jawab gue tegas.
“iCh,,, gaLaK BeuD siCH?????” Kali ini jumlah tanda tanyanya berkurang. Berarti udah ngeh bahasa gue.
“Masalah buat lo?”
“eMhh,,, gaK jgA koK,,, nMaQ LiCHa. nMa Qm cPa?????” Dia tanya siapa nama gue. Gue jadi curiga, jangan-jangan dia nggak ngeh kalo nama akun Facebook gue itu adalah nama asli gue. OMG, jangan bilang dia tanya nama alay gue.
“Apa nama gue kurang jelas di Facebook lo?”
“PngGiLann4 App4h?????” Akhirnya angka 4 sebagai huruf alay pengganti ‘a’ mulai dia pakai dan sepertinya dia mulai ngeh dengan nama asli gue.
“Pipin.” Di rumah, gue memang dipanggil gitu.
“OwH,,, kLaz bRp4 PiN?????” Dia nanya gue kelas berapa.
“Buat apa lo nanya gue kelas berapa?” Gue balik tanya.
“cMtZ.” Dia mulai mengeluarkan kata yang super aneh.
“CMTZ?” Karena gue penasaran, akhirnya gue tanya.
“cMa Mw tAu Za,,, Hihihi,,,”
Gubrak deh. Sejenak bingung gue mau bales apa, tapi karena cara dia tertawa kayak gitu, akhirnya gue punya ide lagi untuk melanjutkan percakapan.
“Lo masih keturunan mbah Kunti ya?”
“cPa tuCH mBh KuNtI??????”
“Ah sudah, lupakan.”
“pP Qm gMbr N4rUtO ea????? aQ jgA cKa n4RutO lHoo”
“Gue gak tanya.”
“aQ jGa cKa cMa s4kUr4,,, aQ pGen kYk di4. Hihihi.”
“Ya suka-suka elo aja, asal lo bahagia, gue juga ikut bahagia. Asal jangan nyuruh gue bergangnam style aja.”
“Co0 cUiitT,,,”
“Udah ya, capek gue baca hasil ketikan lo.”
“kNP4 cPeK?????”
“Lo pikir aja sendiri.”
“hEmM,,, ocE deCH,,, cLmaT iStiRhT eaAa,,,”
“Ya.”
 
Selesai chatting, gue ngakak sama Zacky. Bener kata adik gue, ini spesies bener-bener super alay dan langka. Pertama, nggak biasanya gue nemuin nama alay sespektakuler gitu. Biasanya gue nemuinnya kayak ‘Lisa Cinta Dia Celamanya’ atau ‘LiSa cInTa dIa CeLaMaNyA’ gitu deh. Gue masih penasaran, apa sih sebenernya yang ada di pikiran alayers itu? Gue nggak percaya 100% itu nama dari orang tuanya dan gue percaya 100% nama asli dia pasti jauh lebih bagus dari pada nama akun Facebook dia. Kalo orang tuanya tau si anak lebih milih pake nama alay itu, gue jamin pasti udah nangis deh.
 
Kedua, alayer satu ini lebih ramah dari pada yang pernah gue temuin. Biasanya kalo digalakin dikit mereka langsung exit dari obrolan atau mencak-mencak nggak jelas. So what? Suruh siapa sok kenal sok deket pake bahasa abstrak.
 
Anyway, gue bersyukur kedatangan alayer yang baik malam ini yang tanpa gue sadari telah mengusir rasa bad mood gue. Setidaknya mood gue bisa kembali lagi seperti semula. Terima kasih, Alayer! Gue harap elo selalu muncul disaat gue membutuhkan.