Every ending has a new beginning. This sentence best describes the send-off of Generation 7 (“Gen 7”) Titian Foundation (“Titian”) scholarship programme which was held on Saturday,June 3rd, 2017. The Gen 7 scholarship recipients, a total of 89 students, have proudly made it through their three years in high school. Unlike normal high school students, the Gen 7 students undergo multiple roles: as a school student and as a scholarship recipient. Some of them even become members of an organization in their school and in the community. During the three years they have undertaken many extracurricular activities. Finally, they have successfully graduated from high school.

Celebrating one of their proudest achievements to date, Titian held a send-off ceremony, taking “Rain” as the theme. No matter how high you fly, there are times when you have to land your feet on the ground. Through this theme, the Gen 7 scholarship recipients are reminded to remain humble as they become successful. Like rainwater that gives life, Gen 7 are expected to lend their hands to help others wherever they are, not forgetting those who have helped them achieve their success.

The send-off of Gen 7 coincided with the fasting month’s momentum; therefore, we started in late afternoon. The enthusiasm of Gen 7 was captured through their guitar and angklung performance. Wearing a blue batik uniform, they sang Laskar Pelangi accompanied with a very beautiful angklung melody. The event was also enlivened by the presence of the younger scholarship recipient batches – Gen 8 and Gen 9 – and also the performance by Titian’s CLC dance class, presenting a traditional Javanese dance to welcome guests called Sesonderan.

Besides being attended by scholarship recipients of Gen 7, Titian alumni were also invited, as well as Titian Foundation donors and board members. In her speech, Lily Kasoem – CEO of Titian Foundation – said that each person has in them a ‘fire’ ready to shine. What is still needed is to look for a ‘lighter’ to ignite this ‘fire’. The scholarship recipients are expected to be able to find this ‘lighter’ so that the ‘fire’ within them can catch alight and guide them to the path of success. The main prerequisite set in the selection of scholarship recipients are not the students’ achievements nor economic factors per se, but their eagerness to become a better version of themselves. Ibu Lily hopes that Gen 7 will remain in touch with Titian, just like other scholarship alumni who came to the event.

Releasing balloons served as physical symbol of the Gen 7 send-off. Some of the donors and Gen 7 unleashed the balloons which had tied to them inscriptions of their hopes and wishes. Hopefully, they will also ‘fly’ as high as the balloons to reach their future aspirations.

The event continued by listening to a spiritual message from former ROTA vocational school teacher turned entrepreneur, Edo Al Fauzan, SPd, and then followed the breaking of the fast.

At the time of writing this article, as many as 36 Gen 7 students have been accepted in universities and 11 students have been accepted for work. There are 6 students who will take on apprenticeships, 28 students are still trying to get into university, and 9 students are looking for a job.

Graduating from high school can be the end of the road to some, but can also be a new beginning for the others. (SSD)