Untuk Ketua KOMAHI yang baru

Untuk Ketua KOMAHI yang baru,

I’d like to congratulate you for going through all the phases of the succession with high spirit and enthusiasm and I see that you, whichever you are, have been faithful in holding on the values you’re adhering to. You’ve offered us something we have not seen in the past year.

First of all, I’d like to offer my apology for neither being dedicated nor consistent enough that you want to prove that someone can be much more dedicated and bring changes to this KOMAHI of ours. I deeply regret that I was not able to listen to all the voices for KOMAHI that you both want to renew the commitment of delivering programs favored by the members. I’m sorry because I was not able to represent what people want. I can assure you that I did try my best, but to no avail, I guess. Having said that, I want you to know that you, whichever you are, have my full support. Let’s make peace and get over all the criticism I wrote previously. Maybe it was just because I resent that you could spot where I did wrong and even offer betterment. I may be just an envious person. I may just be afraid that you can do better than me and people will start comparing me and you, concluding that you bring much improvement. I assume it is quite normal and acceptable as a normal human being to feel that way. I’m sorry.

You might have hoped for the worst before the disclosure of the result, but believe me, the worst part is to win the election. However, this is a position not everyone can be responsible of, and now you can find yourself in it, meaning you fit the best for the job.

Having said all that, let me leave you with some advice that I hope can help you go through your service next year.

First, set yourself free from any kind of anxiety. You have everything any ketua KOMAHI ever wished for: enthusiastic freshman students, a team of more supportive and caring lecturers, loyal friends, healthy financial condition of KOMAHI, and of course funds to fix the secretariat. You have everything so better get the best out of these. I myself believe that next year will be bright for you and KOMAHI that you serve. Maintain and improve relations with everyone and you’ll be happy to find yourself in no pressure, especially the financial one. So, take your time with your team to plan everything perfectly.

Secondly, leadership is a crucial aspect and you are, from this moment, a role model. Of course we may still lack the experience that we also need our own role model. Don’t bar yourself from ‘copying’ the style of your favourite politicians, be it Jokowi, Obama, Sadiq Khan, Jeremy Corbyn, Justin Trudeau, or even Trump and Farage if you like. But always keep in mind that you have to look no further than Him. Any leader can show you charisma, tact, intelligence, wisdom, or any other values. But no one can show better compassion and love. No one else but Him. Don’t let yourself away from Him, but be close to Him. No leader can be better in showing selflessness and willingness to sacrifice than Him. Today, you have to know that the year 2017, you will not fully own your life. You will live for others, for the betterment of all members of this beloved organization. Accept it as a part of your life and love it. Cherish every moment and give your all, as He gave His all to us. You can admire any leader, but above all, be like Him.

Thirdly, don’t be like me. I concede to the fact that I made neither a good leader nor example. I was overconfident and now I let myself down. I am one person who is never good enough in anything, who never lives life to the fullest, who always fail to give the best effort. So don’t be like me.

You will need to surround yourself with the best friends and make sure that you have mutual trust with each of them. By friends, in this context and particularly for you, I mean the closest persons you’ll be working with: BPH. Be someone to whom people can pay respect. Be a friend who can listen, who is acceptable to each of them. Be someone who knows little details about them. Be someone who knows their taste of humor. Be someone who knows the right thing to do in the right time. Be someone who deserves to be treated fairly.

I have always blamed others for the situations I am in. I chose the ones I can trust, the ones I always regard friends. However, I thought that I got snubbed, ignored, and treated unfairly by some of these friends. During your the debate, I was actually quite offended when both of you said I was not dedicated enough and I was not able to work professionally by putting aside personal problems for the sake of the KOMAHI's programs. At that time, I thought to myself that I have always loved this organization with all my heart and soul, which I thought was manifest enough in my availability. I thought I was a person who does not mind tackling little details directly. I also thought to myself that I have always tried hard to put up with friends who snub me, who reject me, who ignore me without telling why. Can you just imagine getting ignored and rejected while you yourself don't know whether you do anything wrong? Can you feel how it feels when being told “nothing, I just don’t want to see you” when you try to solve the problems? Can you imagine how it feels when you were just trying to have fun with one of your perceived close friends but they end up being angry, and when someone else do the same thing to them, they choose not to get angry? I have humiliated and beat the shit out of these persons more than 100x, but only in my mind because I was also angry. I just hold myself back from showing it. I wouldn’t have done this if it weren’t for the sake of KOMAHI’s programs. I have always put up with such things and you said I was not professional enough.

But after days of thinking, I conclude that the problem is me. I’d like to think I’m dedicated enough, but I did not manage to attend and give attention to every departments of KOMAHI. I even ignored one of them, (I’d be honest here) Sosmas. I was not present in every department’s meeting, I was just not really there when they need me. I may think I love this organization, but it was never enough.

I conclude the problem is me, not them. I did not know their details, I got reminded by facebook about their birthdays, I did not really understand their taste of jokes, and I am simply a person who does not deserve being respected. I don’t know what to do or say in different situations. I did not do enough effort to bond with them. I tried, once or twice but it is by no means enough. I give up too early when initially I was being overconfident and narcissistic. I may not seem to have enough ability or the right character to lead. But above all, I am not a good friend to them. I have no one to blame but myself.

Don’t be like me. Be there, be physically there especially when they need you the most. Be a good friend, know your friends by heart, make them your new family. Don’t fail like I did, don’t let yourself down.

Fourth, as I said earlier, it’s a service in which you have to give your all and you will live for others. Do it with heart and be strong. At times you will feel that you’re alone. It’s normal because it’s your duty to support, push, and care for them. That is why it is important to surround yourself with friends, but above all, be a good friend. I myself have surrounded myself with good friends, but I was never a good friend for them.

I think that is all. Be worry-free, be like Him, don’t be like me, and be strong. Live your life as the new Ketua KOMAHI to the fullest. Don’t let anyone down, don’t let yourself down. Be a ketua KOMAHI who will regret nothing at the end of your service. Be a ketua KOMAHI that will never say “could have” and “should have”. You are the best that we have and we leave our hopes on you. It’s hard, but be a good person so you won’t feel alone.

Beside all that I said above, I will be glad if you can do me a favour.

If we want a KOMAHI that works for everyone, that is present for everyone, it will be a blunder to leave all the hard work to KOMAHI to elicit our loyalty and attention. Things should be mutual and reciprocal because it's simply the righ thing. I may not have done enough effort during my service. But nothing would change if everyone ignores KOMAHI. We, IR students, members of KOMAHI, should start pay attention to KOMAHI. We all need to acknowledge that it is present and inherent in our life as IR students. Look at your korsa and there’s the badge of KOMAHI. It’s symbolical, I know. But KOMAHI is in my vein. It’s in yours too. It's there for us, for good. Nothing will change unless we start changing our mindset on KOMAHI.

Please do me a favour by telling all KOMAHI members, all IR students, that we should treat KOMAHI better. Let’s be mutual for the betterment of all. You, the new ketua KOMAHI, need to make us understand that nothing will change unless we work together, unless we pay attention to each other.

I’d like to wish you all the best of luck. I’ll have you know that I’ll be there if you need anything. This will not be easy, but you have the capacity. Be good, be loving. Don’t let yourself down.

Ini KOMAHI kita.