Memoirs of A Birthday Boy/Man

You can stay young as long as you can learn, acquire new habits and suffer contradictions.
- Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach (1830-1916)

It is a very happy day for me. Today I turn 21, an age in which someone is not too young, yet not too old. This particular age is special for me, since it is one of the culmination moment of my journey in this world. When I think about everything I have done before, I feel like I have achieved quite many things. I thank everyone who have supported and helped me to become who I am now. And now I would like to use this moment to appraise my success.

Before turning 21, there are two things that I have done well, if not greatly. I finished my undergraduate study and got my Bachelor degree in my 20. Studying for 7 semesters in college while working part-time is not easy. After long and hard working of writing my approximately 950-page thesis and defending it, I got an A and pass that thesis defense. My GPA of 3.96 out of 4.00 is the proof of my endeavor and excellence while in college. I am now waiting for my Graduation Day on August to be inaugurated as a Bachelor that graduates with the highest honor (summa cum laude).

I have applied for a job to some companies. Some rejected me, some were rejected by me. I finally chose a job as Oracle and Hyperion Consultant in PT DesignStream Indonesia. It's a Singapore-based company. After applying there in the job fair held by BINUS Career, I was scheduled for an interview. I went to its office yesterday and I was interviewed for 2.5 hours! Lucky me, I was immediately offered the job. I will start working on Monday. It is a wonderful gift for my 21st birthday.

Although the basic salary is not very high, the enumeration package is quite interesting. I believe that the prospect of this job will be very good for my career path. There will be 3-month probation time before becoming a permanent employee. And there will be a raise too after that probation time. After all, this job requires a lot of traveling. And that is the interesting thing for me as I really like traveling. But I will have to learn fast and work really hard in order to succeed in this job.

Those are the two important things that I have achieved before turning 21. I think, not many people can do that. There is a satisfying feeling inside me for having achieved those things. In the other hand, there is also a terrifying emotion for facing the future. And there are still so many things that I want to and have to achieve in the future.

We, human, cannot handle the unknown. It's scary. That's why we like to be in control. Can I succeed in this cruel world? I hope and I believe so. The ladder is for us to climb. All I have to do is to take it step by step, piece by piece, and one after another. And for all of my friends out there who still working on their thesis or looking for a job, I pray and wish you the best. I look forward to be with you all on the top of the ladder.


Cordially yours,

Stewart Togu Hangewa, S.Kom