In the quiet and small village of Cilacap, nestled among the lush rice fields of Central Java, a young boy named Tomo stood at the threshold of his first-grade classroom, his heart heavy with confusion and disappointment. The joyous chatter of his classmates echoed from the second-grade room next door, a stark reminder of the milestone he had not achieved.
"Ibu Mus," Tomo called softly to his teacher, using the affectionate nickname the students had given her. "Why can't I join my friends in second grade?"
Bu Mus remained silent, her eyes avoiding Tomo's pleading gaze. The boy's small voice trembled as he persisted, "May I please leave this class and join my friends over there?"
After a long pause, Bu Mus finally responded, her words gentle but firm, "Tomo, for now, you need to stay in first grade. You can't move up to second grade yet." Tears welled up in Tomo's eyes as the weight of her words sank in. Sadness, shame, and disappointment washed over him in waves. He didn't understand why he alone was being held back while all his friends moved forward. Was he truly that unintelligent?
As the days passed, Tomo sat quietly in the first-grade classroom, watching his former classmates laughing and learning in their new environment. Tears would occasionally slip down his cheeks, a silent testament to the resilience of a young boy accustomed to facing life's challenges head-on. What Tomo couldn't comprehend at his tender age was the complex web of circumstances that had led to this moment. Unbeknownst to him, his parents were struggling to make ends meet, unable to pay the modest school fees that many took for granted. The school, through Bu Mus, had made the difficult decision to hold Tomo back until the financial situation could be resolved.
Three weeks later, in a turn of events that seemed as sudden and miraculous as the appearance of a blue moon, Tomo was unexpectedly promoted to second grade. Confused but elated, he joined his peers, the earlier pain of separation fading in the excitement of reunion.
It wasn't until years later that Tomo learned the truth behind those three weeks of limbo. His parents, determined to give their son the education they never had, had moved heaven and earth to scrape together the necessary funds. Whether through borrowing, selling household items, or working extra hours in the rice fields, they had made the impossible possible.
This early experience was just one chapter in Tomo's childhood, a time marked by hardship and hunger but also by the unwavering love and sacrifice of his parents. There were days when the family's rice container stood empty, and his mother would resort to frying dried rice crusts for their meals. Tomo remembered the ache in his heart as he watched his mother distribute the meager portions among her children, keeping none for herself.
"Mamake wis wareg, nggo kowe bae ngonoh," she would say in their local dialect. "Mother is already full enough, this food is just for you." It was only later in life that Tomo truly understood the depth of love behind those words, the selflessness of a mother who would go hungry to ensure her children were fed.
The challenges didn't end with hunger. When Tomo was still young, his family was forcibly evicted from the home they had occupied for years. A dispute with his father's half-brother resulted in the loss of their shelter, leaving them vulnerable, displaced, and homeless. The pain of leaving the only home he had known was etched deeply in Tomo's memory, a stark reminder of life's unpredictability. Despite these hardships, Tomo developed a resilience and determination that would shape his future. His mother, illiterate and never having set foot in a school, and his father, with only an elementary education, instilled in him the value of learning and the power of perseverance.
In June 2000, Tomo made a decision that would alter the course of his life. Rather than continuing his education at the local high school, he chose to attend a vocational school in Purwokerto, far from home. This choice was driven by a desire to lessen the financial burden on his parents and to work while studying, ensuring that the painful experience of first grade would never repeat itself. He believes that only by having a good education will change the fate and break the chain of poverty. The decision was not without its problematics. Tomo had consistently got first class honor ranked in his class throughout middle school, even achieving the second-highest score in the entire Cilacap regency during the national exams. Many felt he was squandering his academic potential by choosing a vocational path. But Tomo understood something that others didn't – the value of practical skills and the importance of self-reliance.
Years later, Tomo would recall his father's words, spoken during a rare moment of openness: "When you become successful one day, don't forget to look back at your father's humble hut. Never forget your roots, for this is where your journey began." Those words became a guiding light for Tomo, propelling him forward through years of hard work and dedication. Against all odds, he not only completed his vocational education but went on to pursue higher studies. His journey led him from the poverty in the small village of Cilacap, Central Java, Indonesia to the prestigious halls of the National University of Singapore, ranked 8th in the world and 1st in Asia according to the QS World University Rankings 2024 & 2025.
As Tomo stood on the campus of NUS, preparing to embark on his doctoral studies, he marveled at the path that had brought him here. He was still that boy from the village, the child of a poor parents, ex-vocational school's student who once seemed unremarkable. But he had defied expectations, including his own, to reach heights that once seemed as impossible as a blue moon.
Tomo's story is a testament to the power of perseverance, the strength found in adversity, and the transformative nature of education. It serves as a reminder that extraordinary achievements often have humble beginnings, and that the rarest and most beautiful moments in life – those "once in a blue moon" occurrences – can spring from the most unlikely circumstances.
As he looked towards the future, Tomo carried with him the lessons of his past: the value of hard work instilled by his father, the selfless love demonstrated by his mother, and the resilience forged through years of struggle. He understood that his success was not his alone, but a tribute to every sacrifice made, every tear shed, and every small victory celebrated along the way.