Amigos para siempre

Last Sunday, I met Oon and Yanti, my best friends in campus. It is a long time since three of us met last time. We spent time at Mal Ambassador –looking for Miss Congeniality 2 DVD for my lecture’s assignment and Yanti bought a pile of CDs for her brother. Along with Gombang, we drove by to Teater Utan Kayu and finally stuck on Plaza Semanggi, chat and having early dinner.

*

Yanti and I went to the same high schools and university. I didn’t know her very well in the past. I think we have became close since I joined the Global Youth Forum on my third senior high level. She asked me about the event activities, what I experienced from there and talked about many cultural things. We happened to share common interest. I wrote about my travel to the event in HAI Magazine and Yanti already have her writing published in Bobo magazine, way back when she was still in elementary school. We both love languages. Her English is more advanced than me and now, she is polishing her German. She’s the one who told me about Flemish and Waals in Belgium. We were visiting each other house on the late of our high school period. We lost contact since graduation, but I met her again when I entered ITB in 1997.

Zirhoni or Oon, as he usually be called, was my senior in ITB. He was an Electrical Engineering student. I met him at Student English Forum, Instute’s extra curricular club for those who likes to read, write and chatt in English (the trend nowadays is debating in English, actually). He’s a shy guy (uuuuu….). His cheek always turned red when the rest of SEF-ers tried to match him with a girl.

Three of us like spending time together, but often with other SEFers such as Mpoque, Reev, Donny, Hasan, Liv, Aris, Tata, Anto and lots other. We usually went to BIP, eating on Cikapundung, watching Saturday night football together or just walking around the city. TPB was my greatest year in the Instute (it is true: TPB means “Tahap Paling Bahagia”, the Happiest Time in campus!) and the worst was still yet to come…

Life in Department was not a joyful period for me. A lot of study materials to memorize, tight laboratory schedule and dormitory life learning had left me with insufficient time to explore unit’s activities. My early years at the Department didn’t end well (to be honest, it was a terrible mess). I often deplored of my being and grumbled at things. I didn’t like spending long time in the Department and frequently ran into SEF office, place I called sanctuary. That’s where Yanti and Oon helped me a lot.

I still remember when Oon took me to the top of PAU building. I was moaning at that time (with shed of tears in my eyes). At the top, he said that everytime he had a deppressing time, he always went to the top of the building, watching sunset goes down underneath Tangkuban Perahu mountains. And his deppression would fade away. On other occasion, Oon took me walking around Dago in the afternoon, just to stop me lamenting and asking stupid questions about my inabilities.

And Yanti is nothing but a great friend. She’s the one I could turn to when I have dreadful feeling. She would accompany me anytime she could, took me eating outside in the afternoon and introduced me to her colleagues. One thing I remember is her advice for “stop blaming myself for something that isn't my fault”.

I finished my study and were enjoying my time in campus units. Not with other people’s standard, certainly – but with mine. I have memorable experiences learning choral harmonization and singing theory, although my vocal often sounds incorrect tones;p I am lucky to undergo two musical performances in the past, since –as I predict- I don’t have time to attend Ananda Sukarlan recital nowadays, even at TUK. My GPA is not excellent, rather it is ‘quite standard’ -but I’m happy with my life right now. I have a decent job, enough to stimulate me learning about the world and many things, also accommodate me financially more than I expected.

And here I am again, with those who helped me going through all the nightmares behind. Arif joined the Sunday reunion. He was also my senior at SEF. He sometimes let me sat in the back of his Vespa and dropped me at my destination in the campus. He currently lives in Jakarta, after being assigned to Singapore and Nagoya (not Japan, but a bussinees hub in Batam).

**

I have met a lot of old friends. Sometimes I still can have conversation and share lives with them. Sometimes, I can’t. And I don’t think it’s a big deal. I think that’s the way life goes. We often walk the same path on our journey. When the trail breachs, we follow our own destiny.

***

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winner for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. But the applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz.

See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you.

Easier?

The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

(Charles Schultz)