BREAKTHROUGH4ALL: Sikeben Simalem

UNFORGETABLE MOMENT

IN SIKEBEN SIMALEM

It was all started in March 1998. Together with Rudy Mart Heryanta Sinuraya, Arizona, Hernita, Erni Johan and Mendrofa, we were sent by government to be teachers in SMP Negeri 1 Sibolangit, located in Sikeben. Some of you possibly have known or visited Sibolangit with its fresh air and enjoyed its tasty durians, but not for me.

Everything seemed wonderful and enjoyable for that moment. The very first day we were warmly welcome by Mr. Jairus Doloksaribu as the principal, Mr. Jamin Ginting the vice principal, the staffs Mr. Theopilus Pinem, Ms. Esther, Ms. Peringeten Sembiring, and Ms. Raysah Tarigan and some teachers . Let me memorize teachers there with my getting older mind - Jairus Doloksaribu, Rehmalem br Ginting, Terima Ginting, Radu Keliat, Candra Sitepu, Iriani Surbakti, Kembaren Sembiring, Elisabeth Keliat, Rosliana Ketaren, Wartasiana Manik, Ranggut Bangun, Risda Purba, Osni Lisraida Manullang, Minah br Silalahi, Jamin Ginting, Masna Tarigan, Yusni Alemen Munthe, Kooryenni Barus, Nuriati Barus, Senihati br Sinuhaji, Ingen Malem, Ersada br Ginting, Samsiar Tarigan, Arifin Sitepu, Lamhot Nadeak, Aritonang, and Kilo Tarigan. Then come Adelina Sinuhaji, Jeremia Gurusinga, Juli Dalintanggit Tarigan, Ernawati Tarigan, br Purba and br Ginting.

Once again, we were warmly welcome by the school stakeholders. It is still freshly in my mind with the four principals I was bound with on duty. The symphatatic Mr. Jairus Doloksaribu gave me guidance to deliver my first teaching experience. The mentoring Mr. Fachruddin guided me to have vision about balancing duty and career. The goal-oriented Ms. Mary Sembiring sharpened my vision about the future and reality. The highly-ordered Ms. Baskami Ginting posted me in consciousness about the importance of obediance. The teachers were my truly inspiration. What about the students? They were my real teachers. I learned more from them than I taught.

Let me share few of my best moment during my duty in Sikeben Simalem. Once, I left for Medan early in the morning to reach Sikeben sooner to do instruction for the first period. By getting on Sutra bus as usual, everything was still under controlled untill the bus passed by Sembahe bridge. While passing by Tirtanadi and Sibolangit Learning Conservation, these eyes irresitably began to get sleepy as the other passengers mostly did. I heard nothing at all and I fell into soundly sleep. “Ough, where am I right now? Do I get lost in a jungle I have never known before?” I spoke to myself wiping my sleepy eyes. I clearly heard two passagers snoring responsively. My nose stuck on smell of boiling corn. Oh my goodness, my eyes was unfortunately surrounded by boiled corn sellers and simultaneously my mouth cried ‘pengger bang” – stop! I stepped my feet down and headed to a coffee shop nearby. Sinfully I decided to have breakfast. I had to say sorry to my principal and my students deserting you wait and having breakfast in Penatapen was not listed in my agenda. At last I reached the school at the third period, about 9 o’clock. What a fool experience!

Here I cited the other best moments in SMP Negeri 1 Sibolangit published in local printed media. Perhaps they were out of your conciousness.