Integrity

“We are the students of excellence and high integrity…”

That sentence is the opening sentence of anthem song in the school I teach. For me, the sentence is so powerful and giving the spirit of my students to keep their integrity among all. But, that crucial word is disappearing as the time goes by. Living at the dormitory gives me time to know and understand my students better. Then, I reflect on myself, do they have that integrity like mentioned in their school anthem?

In about weeks, grade 12 will face a nationwide exam called Ujian Nasional. It is no longer an exit test, but it will be used as the assessment to map education in Indonesia. Students (and also their school) will have a comparison of their result with the results of other students all around Indonesia. This is a new innovation from the Minister and I’m looking forward for the realization. This is my challenge to my students at grade 12: will you keep your integrity among all? Ujian Nasional is one of the battles that they will face before they graduate, but will you lose your integrity in passing the exam?

I am really hoping that my students will keep their integrity above their anxiety of the examination. As I concerned, many Indonesian students are actually capable in passing those kind of exams but they do not have trust and honesty even to themselves. In my school, trust and honesty are the mental that built since the time they inaugurate, so again I am really hoping that my students will keep their integrity. I wish my students will not only pass the school exam, but also pass the life exam by giving their best efforts for the sake of their integrity.

My beloved grade 10 and 11 are also prepared for becoming a future leader. I do believe that a generation of new leaders is existed at my school. In the time of becoming a leader, there are processes that my students need to face and pass. What is the leader with no integrity? I wish my students would remember that question. Integrity is coming along with trust and honesty. Integrity is also not only coming from mouth words, but it is also showing from the attitude and action that they do. I know that you are in the young and immature age, but integrity must be planted since very beginning. So, it will not be so meaningless by the time you guys are saying: I AM A LEADER.

I am still far from perfection and still learning to become a truly leader with the integrity. This writing is not made to lecture you guys, but to share my prays for you my future leaders. Have the integrity and lead the nation! 🙂