During the lock-down cause of the Covid-19 crisis, 5 students are living in the Bali WISE campus. What is their story? Bali WISE interviewed them and asked the following questions:
How do you experience the Bali Wise education at the campus during the COVID-19 crisis and the quarantine?
During lock-down, every day, they start the day by cleaning the Bali WISE campus area. Take care of plants and pets. Every twice a week, they will go to Eco-park to learn about environmental education and help the staff to do farming. They are glad that they are doing great during this crisis. Not only looking for the bright side but also do something about it.
What do you miss the most?
They have been doing the tasks from Bali WISE, sheltering in Bali WISE dorm, for 2 months now. They feel lucky to be able to study and learn a lot of new things from the campus. They don’t have any complaints about their current situation. For them, there are not that many things they miss about doing activities under quarantine. But there is one slight thing they have come to realize.
Quite a bit is about missing the feeling after campus, the relief after class. They used to talk face-to-face about their dream, uplift, and support each other. Also, having a good laugh and a great time with friends before going to sleep.
What things have you realized you don’t need?
The Covid-19 crisis has taught them to be more critical about managing the money — There was a time when they had out of control over their finances. Because of friends and advertising influence, they bought unnecessary stuff, affected by discount items too, especially online shopping. They realize it’s become wasteful. Since they start to study at Bali WISE, they have become aware of the habit and are taking real action to stop it. It needs a strong mind and discipline.
What’s the best thing that happened to you recently?
“I became more appreciative of time and opportunity. We may think that gratitude is a feeling. It is much more than that. It is simply living in the real world, in which everything is a gift.” Said one of the students. They get to get to know themselves. Now everything has become critical. It helps them to think clearly about what is valuable. Every time they have free time, it’s an opportunity for them to talk to their family and friends. It’s the best thing to finally realize that they have someone whom they can call home.
What’s giving you hope right now for the future?
People who care, love, and support them. They are Family, friends, and Bali WISE staff. Hope is always there within them, no matter how hard it is sometimes. Not to mention their hopes are also themselves. Nobody could be there sometimes. They want to succeed and be independent. They are willing to do their best for their good later in the future.
What do you wish for us all to learn from this experience?
The responses to the Covid-19 pandemic in the situation of uncertainty, panic, and fear are grateful and never give up — These times can feel like an uncontrollable whirlwind but, it doesn’t mean that they have to give up on their dream and can’t be grateful. They learned that if they constantly look at the bright side, it gives them positive energy and stay optimistic. We can overcome these situations.
Thus, even though they are not back in their hometown, they keep faith that things will always get better. Comprehending how difficult the situation is, they remain kind and supportive of each other.
For the next week’s interview, we will learn about Bali WISE Alumni.
