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Tidying up with Slamet: Security guard goes viral for sparking joy over lines of motorcycles
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South Tangerang Police deputy chief Comr. Arman (right) shakes hands with security guard of SMAN 4 South Tangerang state high school Slamet Gunadi (center) for his innovation in arranging parked motorcycles in the school on Friday, Feb. 1, 2019. (Tribunnews.com/Jaisy Rahman Tohir)
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apanese tidying expert Marie Kondo would be proud of Slamet Gunaedi. The 47-year-old security guard at SMAN 4 South Tangerang state high school has a knack for keeping things organized. And for him, organizing motorcycles in the school’s parking lot is what sparks his joy the most.
Slamet's orderliness has gone viral following social media posts of him showcasing lines of motorcycles in the school that he organized. Slamet decided to arrange hundreds of motorcycles — owned by teachers and students — based on brand, type and color.
“I love order. Besides, [the arrangement] also helps the owners, for example if someone is sick and needs to leave school, if the motorcycles are parked messily it will be difficult to get it out,” he explained as reported by kompas.com.
Slamet said he had been doing his job for the past 19 years. Working from 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. every school day, he chooses to do all the work by himself as he once had an experience of relying on another worker who was dishonest. He said the person took belongings stored inside the motorcycles.
The contract worker keeps doing what he does even though it is not easy.
As a contract worker, his salary often comes late. To help him make ends meet, he works as an online motorcycle taxi driver after work.
“I get my paycheck once every two or three months,” he said adding that his Rp 1.25 million salary (US$90) was not sufficient to pay his monthly house rent of Rp 1.7 million and other expenses including for his children’s needs.
“But thank God there is always a way.”
Slamet’s impeccable tidying skills have won him the attention of netizens, who have praised him for the lines of organized motorcycles. His skills also landed him an award from the South Tangerang Police, who gave him a security guard innovation award on Friday.
South Tangerang deputy police chief Comr. Arman said the award aimed to honor Slamet, who was innovative and cared for the students and the school.
“Usually security guards only focus on security, but Slamet cares for the students,” Arman told kompas.com.
Moreover, students can learn a lesson from Slamet's actions.
“Slamet teaches discipline and orderliness to students from the arrangement of the parked motorcycles,” Arman added. (ggq)
