It's still my dream

Germany is not a strange word for me since I was child. From the television, newspapers, articles or even textbooks in my schools often told about it. From the elementary school, I had been introduced to Germany, when I studied about some countries in Europe. But, absolutely it was about Germany in general, about the political system, economy, industries and the famous Berlin wall. Many articles, television, books gave me more information about it, about NAZI with its Adolf Hitler, Germany’s role in World War II, and the most influencial information to me, as Indonesian, that was one of our Presidents, a great engineer, the only man in Indonesia or even in South East Asia who could create the aeroplane in that time, Mr. President B.J Habibie, had ever studied and lived in Germany before his return to Indonesia. That all informations opened my mind about Germany. At least, in my first perception, Germany is very developed and influencial country among the others. And that was why, we had to learned about it in that time.

When I was a child, I didn’t really think to study in most of my time, I mean, I just thought that I had to finished my schools, my bachelor degree, and then work. That’s it. However, this thought is changed when I begin  to enjoy my study. I begin to enjoy the knowledge I’ve got. I get my own pleasure when I study and learn about something new. I know something that other peoples don’t know about it, I can tell them, I can teach them and it is nice. I begin to think, if I had chance, I will continue my study. Not only in bachelor degree, but also in higher degree, master, docotorate, until the top. I think, in social aspect, by getting high education, I can increases my family level of life too. I just imagine, how happy may parents are if their son will be Doctor. Yes, getting my own satisfactory for the idealism, and increases the standard life in realism aspect, two advantages that I can get by getting high education degree.

Now, I’m studying in the Department of Chemistry, Sepuluh Nopember Institute of Technology (ITS). The education atmosphere here, especially in my department is really influencing my mind. My lecturers are often the the graduated Ph.D students from some universities from countries abroad, like Australia, UK, France, Japan and of course Germany. By them, I can get more information about that each country, the lifestyle, academic style, etc. They often motivate us to fight, to continue our study abroad, to get the knowledge and apply it in Indonesia in many sectors. Mrs. Nurul by her story about Australia and it’s science, she always motivated us to study abroad and come back again to Indonesia, to develop our own country.  Their stories, their experiences and their motivation increases my motivation to study abroad.

Another lecturer who always gives us her stories about her experiences is Mrs. Irmina. She studied in Germany for her doctorate degree. From Mrs. Irmina, I get more information about more specific aspect in Germany, its about the sciences and education there. She said that the sciences in Germany are so developed, with the good facilities, infrastuctures, great scientists and good quality universities, institutes, etc. And then, by her, I begin to realize that we, as the chemistry students, are familiar with Germany, actually. When we do the experiements, or researches, the materials or reagent we used are often from Merck, Sigma Aldrich, which  come from Germany. She opened my mind that Germany must be developed in their chemical industries so that they can export the really advance material such that reagents. It means, the sciences there is also developed. 

The familiarity with the Germany are further developed. In our lectures, we often met the German scientists, like Otto Diels, and Kurt Alder who supposed the Diels-Alder reaction, Johann Wolfgang Döbereiner with his Triad Döbereiner, Herman Emil Fischer with his Fischer projection and many other scientists. I think that it’s absolutely right if the sciences in Germany is so developed, because it has many good scientists in its history. Until now, it is still mentioned in many articles that Germany is one of the best destination for Indonesian students to continue their study due to its developed sciences and engineer, and also good quality education. All these facts, motivate me that sometime, if I had opportunity, I want to study in Germany. It’s my dream.

By following the Fast Track Programme held by Indonesian Governments, the opportunity is opened to me. At least, I have a chance to study doctorate programme in Germany. During my study, I concern my research to solid state chemistry. That is about Aurivillius oxide for my script in bachelor degree, and for thesis, I have a plan to concern to perovskite as a inorganic membrane. Both topic have similiarity, in which Aurivillius structure is composed by perovskite-like structure and both, are included in solid state chemistry. If I study in Germany, I would like to concern my research in this field, solid state chemistry, especially perovskite material and its application. I hope, everything will be alright, and this programme will always “on the track” as its purposed.

It’s my dream, and I’ll always pray that my dream will come true, by the grace of God.