Yogyakarta in My Mind Eps 4

The Power of Girl

By Debby Zunta

STERO was a homogen school. Homogen was same, I meant all the students were girl. It was very special school beacause in Yogyakarta only 4 school that had the homogen system. There were, STECE (Stella Duce 1), STERO (Stella Duce 2), STAMA (Santa Maria), and De Brito. STAMA and STECE was same with STERO, But STAMA was in the different foundation. De Brito was in different foundation also, but  it was a school that special for the boys, yes only boys. STERO students had Chinese name for the three  school. There were Cici for STECE, Mei mei for STERO, and Koko for De Brito. There were so many Chinese in that three school. STERO students always claimed that “ We are the youngest sister” because our school was born the last. Cici and Mei Mei always had ambition to had a boyfriend from  Koko. Koko was famous because of their fashion. They were not wearing uniform except on  Monday, the smart students always had the long hair. Could you imagine? I ever went to Cici and Koko.

   Yes, How lucky I was. I went to Koko because there was an event named “ Meet Fummer Fest”. There was an Indonesian artist named Raisa. All boys knew her. I came to that event with Kak Fe. Kak Fe was a good friend for me. She was my senior in grade eleven. I knew her because she was my neighbor room. I had a change to blink blink eyes with so many boys. That was me and all girl favorite . Cici and Mei Mei sometime did’t have a good relation. Actually we competed, who the best in achievment, fashion, and also BOYS. I went to Cici because I had to practice cheers. I was a cheerleader. Cici and Mei Mei had the same coach.  Hey I was a captain. Being a cheerleaders made so happy and I felt that I was so good and a little bit arrogant. You know everytime I watched cheers movie, they were looking so cool. Actualy, I never want to be a captain it was not my goal. There were so many things hurted me. It was hard, but to be a cheerleader give me a chance to be famous and knew I had to learn more.

 
   We rarely wanted to have relation with public school students. Some of my friends claimed that “study in private school is better than in public school”. We were not to be discriminated.  I felt so in STERO. I was getting good service, from the teacher and all. If I can compare with the time when I was in junior high school, I was in public school, it was very different especially in cleanness aspect. STERO was a green school, clean, and the teachers were so care to the students. I could say that it was a green school because there were so many three. My favourite place was Pedopo. Pendopo was a Java building even though my school building was Dutch style. It was so big canopy . There were some fish pond beside, casuarina tree, and green green grass. The statue of  Maria was in the corner near the pendopo,  above the fish pond. The teachers liked to ask the students to study in the pendopo. Pendopo also was used to held some event like performance, praying, dancing, cheers, and many more. It was very useful place.

   I could say that my school was unique. We were very proud to use everything that say “ We are STERO” . They had the cloth, pan, Jacket, helmet, accesories. We called we were “Super Girl”. Everyone must look at us in everywhere we go. We were very famous. Although we only used flip flops. it never be a big problem. We were always feeling cool and beautiful. We liked to use our uniform to go to everywhere, even though the headmaster prohibited us. Hahaha She didn’t understand that we were happy to have STERO. Our uniform was the best ever.  We were an adolescent that really confidence about our identity school. Our peak of pride was when our school went to compete with other school in futsal and basketball competition. We were so happy to be the supporter for our school. Never mind with our shrill voice , we were always win to be the best supporter and scream STERO was fulfill the building. Everyone must know about STERO girl. Our happiness was to sing our mars song in the end. You can imagine it by see the figure one.

Figure 1. DBL season, it was basketball competition in UNY sport building.

  The students came from all area of Indonesia islands. We were completely diverse, but we could prove that we were compact and solid. It was too long to write all about our diversity, maybe in the next episode.

   We were studying in this private school not because we were couldn’t get public school only. Everyone had choice for their life. I was sad that most Indonesian people still had negative thinking and didn’t open mind. They were prefer to make critical than widen the knowledge. 

   Two of my reasons to go to STERO were because of  the uniform and the homogen system. I really love the uniform, it was really cute. We called it “ Kotak kotak biru and kotak kotak Merah”, square blue and  square red. We wore OSIS uniform, all senior high school had, in the Monday and Thursday, squarel red in the Wednesday and Tuesday, and squarel blue in the Friday.  I show you that. Ahh the figure 2 is not too clear, you can ask another with uncle google with the key “ SMA Stella Duce 2”, you will get all the answer. Not only that, STERO was in the Yogyakarta city. City made me smart. Especially, about the culture in STERO, I was very conservative. I was shock to have so many kind of friends, but now I am full of tolerance.  I had an Idea about school, it was not only teach you, don’t ever forget the process.

Figure 2. The squarel read with my lab coat

Figure 3. The squarel blue with my pom pom

I will tell you about my diverse friends in the next episode......................