Akhirnya aku berhasil menyelesaikan Sekolah Dasar dan melanjutkan ke Sekolah Menengah Pertama - sebuah sekolah swasta yang cukup bergengsi...
Aku kaget dan heran... di sini aku berada diantara sekian banyak teman dengan latar belakang yang berbeda... suasana yang sangat berbeda dengan sekolah dasarku... ada anak bicara kasar... ada yang tak menghargai guru... ada yang suka nyontek ... sungguh hal-hal baru bagiku.... karena itu aku terkejut.
Teman-temanku kebanyakan berasal dari keluarga yang berada... penampilan mereka bagus dan cantik-cantik, pakaian, tas, sepatu, dan accessories mereka bagus-bagus sementara aku ... hanya anak yatim yang tak punya apa-apa, seragamku warisan kakakku, sepatuku saja beli di Ciroyom ... ada sedikit rasa minder dan kurang percaya diri mulai menyelimuti aku... tapi aku mencoba untuk melawan semua itu... karena seharusnya aku bersyukur karena aku masih bisa ada di tengah mereka.
Aku mulai punya beberapa sahabat, tentu saja mereka bukan orang-orang populer di sekolah... aku berteman dengan orang-orang biasa... tapi mereka semua baik dan menjadi sahabatku, kemana-mana kami selalu bersama.
Aku mulai mengikuti beberapa kegiatan non formal, dan ternyata aku bisa... aku mulai bangga pada diriku.
Aku mulai tertarik pada seorang teman laki-laki... tapi dia seorang "bintang" yang tak mungkin melirik aku... jadi aku berusaha membuang perasaanku itu dan bersikap biasa pada semua orang... aku tahu itu bukan aku... tapi aku tak berdaya...
Kadang aku merasa lapar dan haus di sekolah saat istirahat atau saat pulang sekolah... melihat teman-temanku membeli makanan dan minuman... aku juga ingin seperti mereka, tapi aku tak punya uang saku untuk membeli jajanan...
Aku mulai ingin seperti anak-anak remaja umumnya... bermain dan bersenang-senang... tapi aku tak sebebas itu... pulang sekolah aku harus cepat pulang, berjalan kaki dan bergegas, menyusuri jalan raya dan rel kereta api... karena aku punya tugas... aku juga harus belajar... tak apalah... aku masih bisa bermain dengan saudara-saudaraku.
Aku rindu beraktifitas dengan teman-teman sebaya... akhirnya akupun mulai mengikuti kegiatan-kegiatan di Gereja... meskipun harus berjalan kaki cukup jauh dari rumahku, aku setia berlatih paduan suara, mengikuti legio maria, dan kelompok muda-mudi...
aku senang, aku bahagia ada di sini... di sini aku menemukan jati diriku... di sini kutemukan indahnya masa remaja...
Hum of Early Youth - Junior High School Entrance
I was shocked and surprised ... here I was among so many friends with different backgrounds ... The atmosphere is very different from elementary school ... before no student speak harshly ... no student not respected to the teachers ... no one like to cheat ... but now... really new things for me .... so I was shocked.
My friends are mostly from rich families ... they looks nice and pretty, clothes, bags, shoes, and accessories they use are nice things, while I ... only orphans who do not have anything, my uniform is inherited from my sister, just bought my shoes at Ciroyom ... there is a slight insecure feeling and lack confidence began was wrapping me ... but I tried to fight it all ...I should be grateful because I can still exist among them.
I began to have a few friends, of course they are not popular guys at school ... just ordinary students... but they are all well and be my friend, everywhere we are always together.
I started to follow some non-formal activities, and found I could ... I started to feel proud of myself.
I became interested in a male friend ... but he is a "star" who can not glance at me ... so I'm trying to get rid of my feelings and be common to all people ... I know it's not me ... but I was helpless ...
Sometimes I feel hungry and thirsty at school during recess or at the time to back home... Just watching my friends who buy food and drinks ... I also want to be like them, but I had no pocket money to buy snacks ...
I'm starting want to be like other teens generally ... play and have fun ... but I'm not as free as them... After finish school I had to hurry go back home, and hurried on foot, along highways and railroads ... because I have a job ... I also have to learn... never mind ... I can still play with my brothers and sisters.
I miss the activity with teens peers ... finally begin to follow the activities of the Church ... even had to walk quite a distance from my house, I'm loyal choir practice, followed the prayer group, and youth group ...
I'm happy, I'm happy to be here ... here I found my identity ... here I found the beauty of adolescence ...
:)Arlina Husen - Indonesia
