Fenny’s Fun Pensieve

Last night after work my friend Sylvi and I went to the mall, simply because we had nothing more interesting to do! After strolling arround like two lost kids, I popped up the question ‘What about going to the cinema?’ She said yes instantly. If you happen to be a frequent movie-goer, you must have known that started back in January, with 25 K Rps you can watch a movie in XXI (Tuesday-Friday), and only 20 K for Mondays. I’ve watched several movies ever since, but last night’s Pursuit of Happyness is the best. I personally think that Will Smith should have been awarded an Oscar for his appearance
If you haven’t watched it, I strongly recommend this movie, It’s human and soul-touching, and it’s based on a true story. I always like such flicks for I’m tired of superficials and oh-so-impossible stories. The movie depicts an episode of Chris Gardner’s life in 1981 when he was a humble salesman of medical device called bone density scanner. He was struggling to make ends meet. With one son aged five and a soon-to-be emotionally exhausted wife, he tried hard to sell at least two scanners to make sure his family survives for another month. When his wife finally couldn’t take it anymore and walked away, he insisted on taking care his son Christopher eventhough he knew it was nearly impossible for him to take care of his son and at the same time worked as an intern for a stock brokerage, and also tried to sell scanners on weekends. He pulled it off in the end, and watching him struggle during the movie is pretty agonising…
My favorite part would be the scene of Chris and Christopher playing basketball. Chris told his son not to believe anyone saying he cannot be what he wants to be, not even his dad. If you have a dream, you have to protect it, he said. Such inspiring words of wisdom came from a marginal, homeless black man who kept failing all his life. That’s beyond great, the immensity of his strong will and love to his son clearly showed.
Watching this movie makes me evaluate my own life and dreams I have that keep me alive. It reminds me of my parents’ struggle to send me to school and give me and my sister a decent & happy childhood inspite of financial instability of our family back then. I remember thet my father encouraged my sister and I to be swimming athletes, just to make sure that we have privileges to go to public university on athletic scholarship. I swam for almost 5 years and I cried a lot in the pool (maybe that’s why I’ve had a poor eyesight until now ;p) because that wasn’t what I wanted to be. I wanted to stay at home studying or watching TV instead of being in the pool for 2-3 hours on a physically hard exercise. I gave up on swimming when I was in the last year of elementary school despite my father’s opposition.
I made a pledge to myself that I would excel in school to show my father that I don’t need athletic scholarship to be accepted in a good public university. I simply spent years of my junior high and highschool studying, ignored the distraction of puberty and puppy love. Well, it wasn’t difficult to do since I was a nerdy and ordinary teenager hardly being in the spotlight.
It paid off. I got a place in Gadjah Mada University without UMPTN, exactly in a faculty of my choice. I had a lot of explanations to my parents on why I chose this study (Int’l relations). I told them I would take International Political Economy as my major. Anything related to Economy appealed to my parents so I finally had their blessings. Did I mention that I graduated as the best student achieving the highest score in Ebtanas? Hehehe.. (pssst, my score was 60.25). A little bragging wouldn’t hurt anybody, right? ^_^
I was never been that happier. Got a PMDK in my hand and a recognition as ‘the brainy student’ flew me up to the blanket of stars. Yet, the more challenging struggle had just begun in a new chapter. Trying hard to find my feet in a new environment has been the trademark of my life since then. Moved to Jogja, spent my college years for 3 1/2 years. Tried to get into the job market afterwards. Finally went to Jakarta to make a living. Living here was not an easy option. I don’t quite like big cities actually but I had no choice. My parents never wanted me to be just an average worker in a small city. They wish to see me climbing the career ladder out there… in a big city. I’m grateful for having them as my parents (my support system), and I just realized it again after watching the movie.
Someday when I settle down and start a family, I will tell my sons and daughters not to give up and succumb to other’s discouragement. I will be like Chris Gardner (except for the salesman part ;p I never make a good salesgirl!).

This entry was posted on Saturday, March 10th, 2007 at 5:23 am and is filed under Inspirations. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.