Year 12

It’s All About Choices

It is such an honor to be the head of year 12, the final year of life spent in Global Jaya School. It’s been almost one and a half years that I have walked with them, accompanying their journey in pursuing the Diploma and setting the foundation for their future. When I think about this cohort and my role as their head, one thing that I have to admit about them is that they never stop making me proud.

How would you feel if you had your final year in high school in a quarantine situation? You might feel miserable for not being able to do the usual ‘teenage things’ that you have seen others enjoy. Between the ages of 17 -18 is a time for new freedoms, for new responsibilities - a time when you might have gained your parents’ trust to explore the world independently and been finally able to drive a car legally. It’s the best time to hang out with friends, to perhaps get excited for the final year prom and the promposal with your loved one. The pandemic strikes and everything changes! The freedom and opportunities that you have looked forward to are cruelly snatched from your grasps. You have no choice but to stay home, be physically distanced and focus only on your study. It would be very easy to drown in self-pity, wallow in negativity, and be overwhelmed with anger.

But let me tell you about my kids. They teach me that being locked down in your house does not mean that you are isolated from the world and that these circumstances do not have to stop us from being fun and high spirited! Since the 3rd week of March (the beginning of HBL), our year 12 students have not spent too much time in pause mode.

In the beginning of April, Agha, Vala, Fadil, Haiqal, Ado and Joseph initiated the “Peduli Pandemi” program, which collects donations to provide hazmat suits for the medical doctors in local hospitals and “Paket Pandemi” for many unfortunate people whose jobs got hit by the pandemics.

Just a month after the Peduli Pandemi, several year 12 students (Azka, Yesaya, Kenza, Ory, and Rangga) ran a GJS e-sport competition which provided a platform for student gamers to express themselves and show their amazing talents, without needing to leave their couch.

During our summer break, it is the turn of Fitra, Arvin, Hejira, Vala, Raja and Ao to spread their wings through establishing a youth NGO named “Kisah Korona”. This time, they expand their focus from those who are suffering as a result of the pandemic, to patients who have thalassemia.

And just a couple of months ago, three year 12 students (Agha, Ory, Chaeyeon) launched ‘Student Ambassadors’, an initiative where older students utilise their strengths to provide support for younger students who might benefit from support in specific subject areas. Last November, Kisah Korona and the Student Ambassadors participated in “Global Exchange: CAS in a new normal” and shared their stories and inspiration to many IB schools all over the world.

There is so much evidence that our year 12 students are choosing to not wallow in self-pity, rather they choose to make a difference to the lives of others. There are additional examples of year 12 students’ strength, motivation and integrity during these challenging times: the resurrection of our Hawk digital magazine, winning 2nd prize for Kompetisi Debat Sastra Salihara, leading Motivation week and Halloween spirit week etc.

Let’s not forget that year 12 students are leading these initiatives at the same time as juggling Diploma and university application requirements, such as internal assessments, the Extended Essay, Theory of Knowledge and university application essays. This really is quite remarkable!

If they wanted, they could choose to be ignorant and complain about how bleak the situation is and how much they are missing out on. Instead, they choose to put a creative hat on their head and find a way to do something meaningful and make a real difference. It’s all about making the right choice.

In this time of a global pandemic, there is always a choice; The choice to feel bitter about life or the choice to seize opportunities and be part of the solution. Our year 12 students have shown us all that we always have options and that each of us has the power to choose how we respond in difficult times.