“Why become a lecturer?” is a simple contemplative question for the lecturers of Parahyangan Catholic University.
After participating in the workshop “Sang Guru, Sang Peziarah 2” / The Teacher, The Pilgrim 2, lecturers were asked to write the result of their life and reflection on the struggle that has taken them to the call ‘I want to be a Lecturer.’
On Friday (27/11), the Learning Innovation Center of Parahyangan Catholic University (PIP UNPAR) conducted a book launching at the Mgr. Geisse Lecture Theatre FISIP. The Frog Turns Lecturer ‘Skat Jados’ is a compilation of acts, reflections and contemplations by the lecturers.
Starting with an activity report, the head of PIP, Mr. Agus Sukmana, stated that the royalties of the book will be donated to the Kanisius Education Foundation, Yogyakarta branch. And the royalties from the Sancaya-article compilation book that was also published at the same time as SKAT JADOS is projected to be used for financing teachers’ education on Sumba Island NTT.
Father Agustinus Mintara Sufiyanta. SJ, as the Director of Yogyakarta Kanisius Education Foundation and editor of SKAT JADOS stated that he received three contemplations from every reflective writing of the lecturers namely, appearance, involvement, and loyalty. Father Mintara as he is called, admitted that ‘the frog’ had been taken from an analogy that appeared in in a story by Fiona Ekaristi Putri, a lecturer in the Business Administration Study Program.
In the first session, the writers shared their stories. ‘….I’m content, I’m happy; my happiness is to be in the same book with far more senior lecturers than me. It brings pride to myself.” admitted Altho Sagara, one of the young lecturers who started at UNPAR nine months ago.
Different from Altho Sagara, Mr. Bernadus Ario Tejo, S.S., M.Hum., shared that he suffered from physical abuse at school. He wrote his experience in the article “a book gift from my teacher”. In the article he tried to derive the positive side from past experiences. This book has awed him and transformed him; if in the past he refused the existence of ‘teacher’, now he wishes to love the teachers who made him who he is today.
After listening to the testimonies of the writers, Mr. Mangadar Situmorang Ph.D, as the Rector of Parahyangan Catholic University, responded and asked how the spiritual aspect influenced the calling to be a lecturer.
In a warm sharing session, Dr. Pius Sugeng Prasetyo, M.Si admitted to have a source of reflection and inspiration, “…I too want to spread kindness in my profession as a lecturer. How educating and teaching can bring happiness to people.” He stated.
In addition to the sharing session with the writers and the editors, UNPAR’s senior lecturers, Professor R.W. Triweko and Mr. AH Djojoadikusumo were invited by the PIP to share their experiences.
At the end of the event, Mr. Hendrikus Endar Suhendar, SS, M.Hum, as the moderator gave a final summary quoted from the writing of Father Mintara in the introduction section of SKAT JADOS.
First, if UNPAR wants to be “The Great UNPAR”, the power of appearance, involvement, and loyalty is extremely crucial. But passion will be a major challenge.
Second, the call to become a lecturer will make us reflect “What does UNPAR want to be?”
“Is UNPAR going to be a coconut shell that imprisons its frogs; an ivory tower isolated from the efforts of citizens’ life; a skyscraper that stands tall in pride while surrounded by petty dwellings of the poor?’
“…or, can UNPAR become a place of contemplation and action where each and everyone of its citizens realize their appearance, involvement and loyalty; to become a place of inter-human relation encounters that keep on reflecting and adding meaning to every act; the place where the seeds of freedom of human children who keep greeting and touching each others’ heart, grow, and where a flask connects the love of God with Human life story?’
