In a restaurant by the side of the road. I stepped my feet with a brown envelope in my hand. The envelope contains a cover letter. Well! I was only 15 years old then. I should be in a classroom. Learn. But, it's just a dream. Because at that time I had to fight hard to get on with life.
Since the mother decided to become a migrant worker in the neighbor country, since then my brother and I have to learn to live independently. In this case is not just a bath alone. But also to feed themselves. You can imagine my own age children having to feed themselves. Then where's the father? Hm ... My father is still there. But he is totally unreliable. Either because he did not work so did not care about us, or because he really did not care. Obviously we never expect anything from him. But, let's keep him our father. People we have to respect.
During this time my first brother, call it Alya, who financed our lives. But now she is married and has to quit her job since giving birth. While Amel, my second brother, has been 1 year since he graduated from his school, he has not been working. Not because they do not want to work. But there is no charge to redeem his diploma. So, want to apply for work?
Different from me. Using Bonek's slogan. Bondo Pekat, I fake my friend's diploma. I used his name to apply for a job at one of the fast-food restaurants not far from my house.
"We happen to need a waitress here. So, my sister receives the job here ", that's what the head of the restaurant store told me.
"Alhamdulillah ... So when can I start work, sir?", I asked.
"If the younger sister is ready, the sister can start work today", said the head of HC restaurant store that was named Heru.
"Good, Sir! I'm ready to work today, "I say excitedly. Imagine already in my eyes, I can continue school. It's ok if I have to stop for a year. Yet it is never too late to study. I'm sure next year I can go to school. As the saying goes, raft upstream, swim to the shore.
I immediately called my sister Alya. She cried when I knew I really decided to quit school and chose to work in HC for 400 thousand per month.
"I'm sorry brother ... This should be the responsibility of my brother. Because brother as your parents substitute. But sister promise! Just a year you quit school. Next year you'll be able to go to school again. Brother promise. Next year you will get back to your life ", said Kak Alya.
I was teary at the promise of Kak Alya. To me, he was an angel sent by God to replace mother. "Yes bro! Nothing. Thanks!".
From then on I'm sure. I can certainly stand on my own feet. Although it feels heavy, considering my workplace is very close to the school where my friends learn. But I'm sure I can do this.
"Bismillahirrahmanirrahiim ... Give me strength ya Rabb ..."
I do not feel a month I work at HC restaurant. Time to receive a salary. Hm ... This is my first salary. The result of my sweat. Work from morning to night. Although the number is not much. But I'm still grateful. Because at least with this money I can help Dhe Ya. The person who has been taking care of me since my mother left.
I bought the kitchen. Because I know Dhe Ya's salary is only a washerman is not how. Moreover, he had to feed all the inhabitants of the house. Me, kak Amel, my father, and his son Silvi.
Not to mention for his son's school fees. At least with me work will slightly reduce the burden. Do not forget I set aside some to save. I know even though the cost of the school is very expensive, and I would not be able to get it just by setting aside 50 thousand a month. But I'm sure God will not turn a blind eye to all my efforts.
I have been working for almost 10 months. Many things happened during my work. Met a junior friend when I became the cashier. Nearly my secret was revealed.
"So, you use someone else's diploma to work here?", Asked Dewi. Customer as well as my best friend in junior high school.
I nodded. "Next time stop by here do not call me Isa. But, Rina, "I said, pointing to the name tag that stuck to my chest.
Dewi smiled. "You're really crazy. But exclamation! Your life is colorful, Sa! Uh, Rin! Hehehe ... ", he said on the sidelines of our chat. "I'm sure you'll be a successful person someday!"
"Aamiin ...", I replied as I handed over the payment receipt to him.
New school year begins. I was so eager to welcome him. I started looking for information about which school would be right for me. Suitable here means that suit the pockets. Understand my savings only collected 700 thousand. Because I was pacing around here I finally decided to continue to former school Kak Amel first. In addition to being familiar with some of his teachers, the cost is cheaper than other private schools.
Form is already on hand. Just complete the requirements. But suddenly God tested me again.
"Home rented over this month?", I say hysterically.
"Yes, Nduk ... If we do not pay, we can be expelled. Your father also can not be expected. Though Mrs. Dhe already tell you long ago "
I am confused. Again I was faced with a difficult decision. Paying for a rented house, or paying a school enrollment fee? Oh my God ... Why is it so hard for the trials that I have to face at this early age? Is not there a better way out than I have to sacrifice one of these problems?
Kak Alya heard this news. Again he had to think how to keep me in school and rent a house soon.
"I can not close my eyes to see my relatives abandoned out there. I can not close my ears, hear them cry for their unfortunate fate. Allow me to work pa ... ", he said to Kak Wisnu, her husband.
"OK! I allow you to work. Provided you can divide the time "
Really! God has answered my prayers. He sent me an angel again. And again Kak Alya is the angel. He was accepted as an Accounting Staff in one of the private companies. He promised me I could go to school again this year.
"The money you have now used for the re-listing fee. The rest will be sized off after the sister's pay. If the matter of the house let my brother who told the owner of his house to be love tempo until the next payday "
That's what angels Alya did to me. In one fell swoop he can knock down two trees that block his pace. As planned, I went to school at Kak Amel's former school. Kak Alya meet the owner of the rented house to ask for extra time.
All this is God's plan. A plan that will not be guessed by anyone. And be assured that God's promise is certain.
Now I'm sitting on the bench of class XI. In addition to my other school activities are working part time. After school I went to work. Keeping a food stand with a wage of Rp. 250.000, - / month. At least that's good enough to add my pocket money. School while working is not easy. As a result I'm so not so achievers in school.
No problem! Are not most successful people out there people who do not have academic achievement? Great value report card is not a big guarantee of salary right? Even Eka Tjipta Widjaja, founder of Sinar Mas Group, one of the financial and real estate entrepreneurs in Indonesia only graduated from elementary school. But now he is in the order of the richest man. 3 out of 10 rich people in Indonesia. Great right!
So do I! One day I will show the world that I can be successful! I am sure I can. Because only with confidence I can be here and write my story.
Hopefully my story is an inspiration for my friends to be more appreciative of time. Because the time left will never come back. Do not ever regret the time yesterday, because we can still do better in time tomorrow! Spirit!