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.

A BIG HI for St. Theresia!

# School Experience Part I

At the first time I knew that the school which would be the place for me to be observed is St. Theresia Senior High School, it has been amazing for me to have that chance. Why? Because St. Theresia had been a place I dreamt to study. It is a national plus school and it has a good culture in being discipline, independent, and studying hard. I love the culture and the situation at that school. So it has been my big chance to observe and even teach great students there because I already had a good mindset about them.

Having a big chance does not mean I may think everything would be easy. As a teacher assistant, I already had a chance to teach the students there for two times (twice).  The master teacher who guides me and two other partners (Elia and Gratika) asked us to make a lesson plan with a good structure and do it very well. It had been a difficult time for our group because the arrangement and the detail of lesson plan we had to make is according to her. So we learned a lot about how to make a very good lesson plan by having lots of details about the activities and the purpose inside it, because in the process we learned that, we had to change the lesson plan again and again, till we knew we were already right.

After finishing the first lesson plan, then we were allowed to teach the students (XI Science-1) . It had been a happy time for me and two other partners because the students paid attention to us when we taught them about ‘analytical exposition text’. The students are seriously smart and critical. During teaching the class we used full English, and giving them some activities. They looked very happy and satisfied; we can see that by looking at the reflection that we asked. The thing that I felt as the difficulty is only one, the students are not easy to be asked to be active in speaking and answering questions, or bring their voice in the class directly. Well, not only that, our master teacher also just allowed us to observe her class once.  So far this all what I am impressed about St. Theresia.

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.

Digital Media for DIGITAL NATIVES

Reflective Journal II - TLL

Talking about digital media, there are always some characteristics inside it. I love digital media, so I have to know what are the characteristics of it. Reading the article of topic 4 in TLL Module, has let me know what are they. Text, images, audio, video, interactivity, software, feedback, wow! We still have a lot :) Those things are what we usually face in our daily activities. We need those great characteristics in the digital media! Remember, we are digital natives! We are easy to understand the use of technologies.

Then, what would technology be without those characteristics?

I believe, we will get bored! Absolutely.

We, as the digital natives have realized that we need media in order to communicate, to share our thought, our mind, our voice, ourselves!

I love the part of the module, which said 

Communication is at the heart of language teaching and learning.

Yeah! Using technology means it helps us to communicate to others.
It helps us in language teaching and learning *yuhuuu..
Technology is a magic which has come into my life, our life!

We can get lots of information easily.

We can interact to others easily.

We can get any feedback from others easily.

We can distribute any information to digital media easily (as well).

See? How great technologies are!

Sometimes I wonder that computer is smarter than me. I realized that one.

However, in many books I read, they always say human is much better than computer! The one who created computer is a human! Human is always able to learn about computer. Computer is only a smart machine. It is able to be broken (well, I don't want mine to get broken) LOL. 

Whether my computer is smarter than me or not. I love my computer. I am absolutely addicted! And you too #Let's keep it as a secret :)

The characteristics of digital media nowadays have let us get into a modern era.

The information of digital media nowadays is really flexible to be edited, to be used (software), to be mixed (images, video, audio), and even to be plagiarized as well. Hikz -____-"
Our position now as a learner, a teacher, and a digital native needs to make us realize that we have to do something right. It would be embarrassing, once you know that your status as a student is also as a plagiarist. Digital media has helped us a lot in our study, our work, our life!
Then why don't we be thankful and try to appreciate many things we have got?

Again, TECHNOLOGY IS A MAGIC.
It's about how you use it :)
 
Keep Moving Forward, Technology :D

PETA: IS THAT A MAP?

Hello world!

I am Merry and I am studying English Language Teaching at Sampoerna School of Education. 

I am the third semester student at my campus now. 

So let me tell you something great what I am studying about in my major field for this third semester.

Well, when I get into this new third semester, I have one subject which makes me eager to know more a lot! Guess what? The subject’s name is PETA. At first, before knowing the meaning of PETA I thought PETA meant a map. So I thought I would study about maps or something which was related to Geography (Laugh Out Loud). No longer then (when) I realized what that was, it made me thought, it was not that simple. I am as the teacher candidate really should have a new way of teaching. PETA which means Principles of Effective Teaching and Assessment will let me know how to teach my students effectively in the future time for sure.

In my class I do learn a lot with my great lecturer, named Ms. Ine. I enjoy her class very much! I realize I have to learn many things so I am able to be an effective teacher, I didn’t get bored in this class. Though the name sounds hard, but I, myself personally feel it is interesting! I am in the big journey to learn about PETA! I do believe learning this subject would be the solution for the new generation of teachers! Is that you?

Rock it!

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!