Dewi Sartika: A National Hero

Dewi Sartika came from an upper-class family. As a child, she received both Sundanese and Western education, whereas most people, especially women received no education at all. She also liked to play school, and loved being the teacher while playing it. She taught her friends reading, writing, etc.. So as you can see, Dewi Sartika has had a talent for teaching and a passion for education ever since she was little.

In 1904, Dewi Sartika established a school so women can also get an education, as she had. The school was named Sekolah Isteri. Sekolah Isteri got a lot of positive remarks, and more and more students became students. In 1910, Sekolah Isteri was changed to Sekolah Keutamaan Isteri, also adding a few more school subjects.

So, what can we learn from the famous Dewi Sartika? For one thing, don't be afraid to start first. People often wait for someone else to do something, and then they follow up to do it. The problem here is they are afraid to be wrong, to make mistakes, to be laughed at. You shouldn't be afraid. You are a human, a mere teenager at that. We make mistakes, a lot of them, and we must admit that. Be brave. Stand up for what you think is right, do something about what you think is wrong. If everyone in the whole world waited for somebody else to do something, when would anything get done?

Number two, have a passion for education. Learning is actually fun if you do it right. And once you love learning, you can help other people learn too. Or in other words, you can teach people. You can give them knowledge, a better education than they already have. You can start small, like just teaching what you learned at school today. Who knows, maybe some day you can make a school too, and become a national hero.

Three, never give up! Do what you love! Running a school isn't easy, there is a lot of students and subjects to teach. And don't forget about the money that is needed for the school. But Dewi Sartika still succeeded, didn't she? And so can you! Just do what you love, try your best, and give it all you got!

Now, we are in 2018. One-hundred and fourteen years since Dewi Sartika established Sekolah Isteri. Now, we all have our rights for education. There are schools everywhere. Studying is getting more and more easier because of the technology. We have all these advantages, and we have to use it wisely. We have to be the best of the best! We have to reach our dreams!

Padmalya S.

Wednesday, July 25th