My Privilege

By: Qosima Luthfa Anvari

I am a privileged girl.

I got this story from my mother in her trip to Nunukan, North Kalimantan. She visited some
elementary schools, in rural area near oil palm plantations. In rainy seasons, the area will be
covered with mud, no vehicles can pass through except the oil palm trucks.

Consequently, the students there can't go to school easily, unless they ask for a ride to the
trucks. For your information, the trucks only pass every 2-3 days, and the they have to share
with other children, in a truck full of palm oil fruit.

It means, there are days they can't even go to school.

Pondering about the story, I thought about how privileged I am. I can go to school easily by
accessible and comfortable public transportation. I used to think that my six kilometers
distance between my home and school is far. It turns out that it's nothing compared to the
distance and challenge that those students faced in Nunukan.

So, that's why I need to think twice when I wake up reluctantly and think that my struggle is
the most tiring thing in the world.

Now, I got a stronger reason to utilize the available technology, particularly transportation in
my area. At present, riding public transportation such as "angkot" is not something I should
take for granted but meaningful to facilitate me to study harder.

This is my privilege, what is yours?