Abur Mustikawanto is not only a unique leader but also a kind of brilliant and humorous

By Fitriyani, S.Si., M.Pd.

On Tuesday, February 28th, 2023, I had the pleasure of meeting the Head of Branch for Education Services in Region I, Dr. Abur Mustikawanto, M.Ed. It was during a farewell event where I observed him gave a speech. The word that came to my mind was unique. Little did I know that the following day, on his first day at the office, he will surprise all of us by announcing his visitation to our school.

Fortunately, I was at home yesterday. I was took care of my sick daughter when I got the message of his impending arrival to our school. Without any hesitation, I got to school quickly.  I got to school with some teachers who visited me at home, checking up my daughter. We were grateful to be able to welcome him along with his management team.

During our meeting, I was once again struck by his uniqueness. Dr. Abur Mustikawanto is a rare kind of leader. He regaled us with the stories of his S1 studies experience. He had completed his S1 degrees in two prestigious universities in Bandung, IKIP and ITB. Something that was so hard to find in many people. Our admiration for him grew up when he shared his experiences studying for his S2 in Australia and his S3 in Japan. He is not only a unique leader but also a kind of brilliant and humorous.

During our meeting, we were lucky enough received a ton of guidance and cool ideas from him for new innovations in our school. We also had the opportunity to show some of our students' literary works, including a book written in four languages. As an addition, we presented the school portfolio for the year 2022.

As Dr. Abur Mustikawanto walked around the school, we showed him the Taman Literasi, Biogas Installation, School Auditorium, and Coffee Juara. Coffee Juara is a life skill program that accommodates students’ passion who want to become a Barista after graduate from a high school. It can be noted that only 20% of our school graduates go on to higher education, while the remaining 80% go into the workforce. This reality made us think that is a necessary to equip our students with life skills to help them thrive after high school.

We highlight the importance of life skills in education. While academic skills are crucial, life skills are important as in preparing students for their future. Life skills such as communication, problem-solving ability, teamwork, and adaptability are essential for gaining a success in every single field. Coffe Juara program enables the students to gain practical skills that will serve them well in their future careers.

Moreover, learning life skills helps students become well-rounded individuals who can contribute to their communities. It allows them to live a more useful life, establish a meaningful relationships, and impact the society positively. Therefore, it is crucial that schools provide opportunities for students to learn life skills as good as academic skills.

As we wrapped up his visit, Dr. Abur Mustikawanto dazzled us with a magic trick, showcasing another of his unique talent. We all left the school that day with the hope that his uniqueness, intelligence, and humor would help transform Region I's Education Services into an even more remarkable institution.

Finally, I would like to add that I wrote this story in English version as one of Dr. Abur Mustikawanto's direction, that mastering English language is an essential element. Fortunately, with the help of AI, I was able to write this story in English.