When British superstar Adele’s English teacher made a surprise appearance during a concert last weekend, the singer’s fanbase was reminded of what teachers often mean to people. In tears, Adele told the audience how her teacher, who she called Ms. McDonald, inspired the songstress to study English literature and thus influenced her songwriting. 

Some people do have that one teacher who changes their life for the better. 

Indonesians commemorate Teachers’ Day every Nov. 25, as this was the day the country’s Teachers’ Association (PGRI) was established back in 1945 following a two-day conference in Surakarta, Central Java.

Thirty-four-year-old writer Sylvie Tanaga found a mentor in her Bahasa Indonesia teacher in Taruna Bakti high school in Bandung, West Java. Growing up in a Chinese-Indonesian household, Sylvie admitted that she did not receive words of praise from her parents as it was not their style of parenting. According to Sylvie, her interest in literature and political sociology was also rare among her family members.

“So when Ms. Yulianeta openly praised and appreciated my talents – I ‘melted’ away. It was the first time I felt truly understood by someone else,” said Sylvie in an interview with The Jakarta Post. 

Yulianeta did not stop at applauding Sylvie’s knack of writing – she guided her pupil further, to not only hone the technical skills but also develop her passion and empathy. 

Sylvie remembered that at one point, she entered a national-level writing competition held by the Education and Culture Department (now Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry) and, under Yulianeta’s tutelage, won third place.

 “That moment really helped my confidence,” she added.

When Sylvie decided to enter college, becoming the first person in her family to do so, it was Yulianeta who suggested she take the International Relations’ Study Program at the Parahyangan Catholic University in Bandung, West Java. Yulianeta felt Sylvie’s strength was writing on sociopolitical themes.

Sylvie’s family was surprised when they found out, but she is grateful for her choices.

Passionate: Lecturer Yulianeta, 46, never finds boredom as an educator. (Courtesy of Yulianeta) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Yulianeta)

Now a writer and editor, Sylvie is thankful for Yulianeta’s guidance and mentorship – citing that it not only helped her professionally, but her teacher also helped her to become a better person. 

As a side note, Sylvie added that Yulianeta was also in tune with pop culture – recalling how she idolized Taiwanese pop star Jay Chou during her high school years and asked her friends to call her “Ajay”. 

“Bu [Ms.] Neta still calls me ‘Ajay’ to this day,” she said, adding that she and Yulianeta remain in contact.

‘We’re study buddies’

When the Post reached out to Yulianeta separately, she refused to be called Sylvie’s mentor, insisting that they were good friends and, in fact, they learned together.

“I’m not [her] mentor. We’re study buddies,” said Yulianeta, who now teaches Indonesian literature at the Indonesia Education University (UPI) in Bandung, West Java.

“We’ve been friends for… maybe 17 years now? We still see each other from time to time.”

Yulianeta acknowledged that she saw her former protégé’s potential, talents and most importantly, persistence. She also noted that even as a student Sylvie already liked to engage in discussions.

Acknowledging Sylvie’s struggle as part of the minority groups, Yulianeta recalled how she used to encourage Sylvie to focus on her potential. Yulianeta often reminded Sylvie that writing was a form of speaking up – including against discrimination.

“Writing is humanity's work,” said Yulianeta. “By writing, [we can] speak up against hatred and spread goodness instead. The cycle of inheriting the stigma of hatred from generation to generation should be avoided.”

Yulianeta acknowledged that she never felt bored as a teacher or a lecturer – as her late father was also an educator. Still, she understood the struggle of her colleagues – especially non-permanent teachers who have lower incomes compared with the minimum wage.

“They’re amazing – especially since they have to continue teaching with the limitations caused by the [COVID-19] pandemic. Hopefully, the government can pay more attention to them,” she said.

Courage

Sydney-based graphic designer Marina Utami remembered one particular teacher who encouraged her to enter university. Thirty-four-year-old Marina explained that she had been struggling with the idea of higher education at the time as her father (now deceased) refused to pay her college tuition full-time.

 It was Marina’s Pancasila and Civic Education (PPKN) teacher, she referred to him as “Mr. Sukanda”, who told her to never give up.

 “Pak [Mr.] Sukanda supported me a lot. He regularly encouraged me to enter art competitions. It was him who helped me register and even rented a car to go places,” Marina told the Post.

When Marina failed to enroll at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), she admitted that she was full of ennui. Her teacher once again supported her – going as far as finding brochures for her as well as scholarships information. 

Marina later enrolled at the Harapan Bangsa Institute of Technology (ITHB) and took Visual Communication Design with a scholarship. Marina could not thank Sukanda enough for his encouragement. Sadly, she conceded that she had lost contact with her former teacher. 

“A couple of years ago I heard that he was sick and there was someone who organized a fundraiser for him. I donated, but then I did not know any other information,” said Marina.

For others, their favorite teachers are so inspiring they decide to follow in their footsteps.

Prasakti Ramadhana Fahadi, 30, a lecturer at Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta said that she was moved by her lecturers, citing how their words inspired her to never stop learning. While admitting that she did not do well in their classes at first, Praksakti, who preferred to be called Dhana, said that she bounced back in order to impress her professors.

“I saw how passionate they were in their field and job, and how encouraging they were toward their students – including me,” Dhana commented on her decision to become a lecturer herself.

Inspired: Prasakti Ramadhana Fahadi, 30, a lecturer at the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta, was inspired to be an educator herself. (Courtesy of Prasakti Ramadhana Fahadi) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Prasakti Ramadhana Fahadi)

Now teaching Media and Communications Studies at UGM, Dhana found herself working alongside one of her former lecturers, Muhammad Sulhan, and still considers him as a mentor. 

“I’ll never forget when [he] said that it doesn’t matter how expert you are at something, there are always more things to learn and more people to learn from. [These words] always remind me to always be humble,” said Dhana.

Contacted separately, Muhammad Sulhan acknowledged that he had also found motivation from his own lecturers. While he entered Communications studies at UGM to become a journalist, Sulhan later decided to be a lecturer as the subject really attracted him because of the phenomenon of digital media – as well as being inspired by his mentors.         

“I’m happier to be called a teacher than a lecturer. The meaning of ‘teacher’ is deeper,” he said.

Inspiration: Muhammad Sulhan, a lecturer at Media and Communications study program the Gadjah Mada University (UGM) in Yogyakarta. One of his students, Prasakti Ramadhana Fahadi, is now a colleague. (Courtesy of Muhammad Sulhan) (Personal collection/Courtesy of Muhammad Sulhan)

On his student-turned-colleague Dhana, Sulhan said that she was “fearless” and commended her accountability and interpersonal skills.

“Dhana always applies professionalism and willingness to study further. Naturally, Dhana will further inspire her students,” he said.