Personal Identity among Others

Talking about personal identity for me is not easy at all. When some people are able to be proud with the culture and the identity they have, I am getting confused with what identity I have. Lots of things are fighting in my mind to know the truth of life I live in now. Once I think about that, it is really nice and interesting because it sounds like a mystery. In the other side, the more I think about my identity the more I realize I do not know who I am. Then I ask to myself, why I need to know about my identity? Is that for having appreciation from others (?) or vice versa?

Identity for many people in this world could be the first or the most important thing to be kept in their life. So it seems like a big dignity to have and keep their identity in life. Their dignity is their truthful identity. Then what is identity?

The meaning of identity itself (which I got from Mr. Gazali’s reading material) comes from Latin language which means ‘equal’ or ‘similar’. By identity, people try to classify how similar you are with the people around you, because each person has characters which can be the same with the other ones. That is why we have cultures, as a part of our identity. We have so many, in this world!

Talking about my personal identity, I personally truly feel that I am Indonesian though I am a Chinese ancestry also. I was born in this country and I know a lot about the life I live in Indonesia, especially in Jakarta. I am a Chinese Indonesian and my parents teach me a lot how to face the life as a minority. I have to yield or understand the others first (esp. from other cultures such as Javanese, Bataknese, etc) than myself. My parents said they are stronger and they have power because they are the majority. However, my parents teach me to be strong implicitly, meaning I should have a power inside myself, I am not allowed to give up with everything I am facing in, I have to be a hard worker, I have to be better than people around, I have to be more different (though I have been different). My parents could be very harsh to me, but they said they got a harsh thing from their parents before, that is why they could survive this life in the midst of differences until now.

As a person who lives with many kinds of people, it is inevitable for me to do not get any stereotyping from others about myself. The culture we have, made people (from different cultures) think different as well whether about the politeness, the habit, the characters, etc by using the standard of their culture. So do me. I also have some point of views, opinions about others’ culture, and even some stereotypes for others. Then I realized it as a usual thing, we just need to accept it and appreciate it. However, not all stereotypes are negative or bad.

Again, in this social life I have to develop my awareness that I live with others. Personal identity among others always has two sides whether it is positive or negative. People might think we are different. One thing that we cannot avoid is we live together. We may and need to keep our identity, and do not forget to keep and appreciate others’ identity as well.

I AM A WEED

The picture which represents me a lot is one thing, a weed.

No matter how people stand on me,

I will stand up again and again, just like weed.

I am strong; I am cheerful; I am free.

I make your garden gets green (because of me).

I love to be that one!

Your Name: Where All Things is Started

Life is such a big mystery. Sometimes it’s too confusing to talk about where our life was started. One thing I know, name is a part of your big mystery. Your name is meaningful. It was where all things started. When you were born, then your parents would think a lot about your name. It is all about your parents’ hope, your characters, yourself inside your name! Be proud of it!

So, let me tell you more about mine.

My parents gave a word of ‘Merry’ as the name of me. Believe it or not, my name is only one word ‘Merry’ and it was given by my father, my daddy.

Before I write this all, I asked my mother about the history of my name (completely).

No longer then I truly know the history of me! #yeay

So this is where all things of my life started.

My mommy said that I was born at Mekar Sari Hospital on March 18, 1993.

My mother was so great to bear the first child of her (It’s me).

No longer then, my father decided to give me ‘Merry’ as my name.

You know why? Because I was born with many letters of ‘M’

Mekar Sari, March and.. My father thought it’s a western name. He felt that is very good for his first child and I still use it till now!

Not only that. Having Chinese family background made me have this name as well.

The name of Merry means ‘Mei Li’ in Chinese language.

The name of Mei Li means beautiful.

So every single person who uses this name, meaning the person is hoped to be beautiful, gorgeous, and perfect, and my father chose it for me!

Does that mean I am beautiful? That’s your opinion. Just tell me the honest fact. Thanks ;)

So far, I feel really good to use and to have this name. I realized that my name also has another meaning. In English, Merry means Happy. So I am a happy person, am I? Well, I feel it.

This name made me realize why I am always cheerful. That is my world. I love to be free and happy. I love my name. My name is (only) Merry and I don’t want to change my name at all.

It is given, the best given from my parents.

My name is my identity since I was born, till now.

Whether my name ‘Merry’ has been popular to be used, it’s not a big deal.

Even, if I need any addition, I prefer to use ‘Evangeline’ as my last name.

Though I don’t know exactly the meaning of it, I just feel the name of ‘Evangeline’ has a power for me. I found that means you are strong!

Some tell me, it is also related to Evangelist.

Though I am not that kind of people to be an evangelist, it does not matter.

Otherwise, I wish I am able to make my faith gets stronger, to believe in God.

That’s mine.

Humanistic Studies – Knowing more about YOU!

Humanistic Studies - Individual Essay I

Once we heard the words of Humanistic Studies, I do believe all of us will think that we are going to study a lot about humans. Then, the next thing to think is have you ever thought why we should learn ‘more’ about humans when we all already know that we are the humans they mean?

One thing which I know very well about the reason of why should I learn Humanistic Studies is because I have a complicated reason, which I got from a roman ‘This Earth of Mankind’ (the best-seller book ever). Read this with all your heart and all your soul, then you’ll find the answer of that WHY?

Jangan anggap remeh si manusia, yang kelihatannya begitu sederhana; biar penglihatanmu setajam elang, pikiranmu setajam pisau cukur, perabaanmu lebih peka dari para dewa, pendengaran dapat menangkap musik dan ratap-tangis kehidupan; pengetahuanmu tentang manusia takkan bakal bisa kemput”  --Bumi Manusia, h. 119

See? Though we are the humans they mean in learning humanistic studies, we need to realize we still do not know about ourselves, or even other’s self. Humans (for me) are the most complicated object to be reasearched. Humans are great to change theirselves, their characters anytime and anywhere they want (meaning it’s us too!). Humans are amazing to adapt their physical environment into human environment (e.g. jungle becomes a city). Humans are the most wonderful creatures in the world, we are the winners which has been born and thank God we are still alive till today!

Well then, do you have any expectations by studying this challenging subject? What’s that?

If you want to know about mine, I myself personally wish a lot for sure! I believe Humanistic Studies will get me to be open-minded and I wish more! I realize by learning this subject I still cannot change the way others’ thinking about stereotyping, majority, minority, etc. That is others’ rights. What I have to do the most is I have to appreciate others more than before. The way I want to change my world is only by one thing, change my thinking first then I will get a new point of view about life. I am proud to be me, and I know you too.

People who live around us (for me) are the special creatures (ever). Whether we get pissed off with someone or get happy a lot because of them, it is a miracle from God. We cannot live only with some people who are the same with us. Never! Though we have the same color of skin, the same religion, the same ethnic, or anything we have to realize we are all actually different! We are all from the different DNA. We are all from the different family background. We all have different characters. Then? What life is about? It is not about the differences of us. It is about how we can appreciate each other to make a better life. Do you think so?

LET’S LEARN HUMANISTIC STUDIES!

ROCK IT!