(My valedictory speech during the graduation ceremony at George Washington University on May 19, 2006, published on the Jakarta Post, June 6, 2006 – Photo credit: Photograds)
It is a real honor for me to receive my degree from George Washington University and to have an opportunity to deliver this speech.
Graduating from George Washington University is a dream come true. I am now better equipped with the skills and knowledge I need to contribute to the success of democratic transitions in my country, Indonesia.
I thank God for allowing me to reach this far. Being a child of a civil servant in Indonesia is a challenging experience. When I grew up, my family had to cater food to the neighborhood so we could go to a good public school. I always wonder why a country with rich natural resources such as Indonesia cannot afford basic public service for its citizens.
Later, when I became the chief operating officer of the Partnership for Indonesian Governance Reform, I came to understand the root cause of the problem: lack of governance causes corruption and corruption causes acute poverty.
As you may know, Indonesia is still suffering from economic crises and political instability. On the positive side, however, the crises have led to a new government, elected through a popular, peaceful process. Along this bumpy road toward economic and democratic governance, Indonesia needs strong leaders with a combination of integrity and capability to manage the transitions; to make the country a better place to live.
I was so passionate to join this effort, and it triggered me to apply for a master’s degree at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. I chose the Master’s in International Policy and Practice because it provides relevant courses which combine the strengths of the various schools at GWU.
I found that the journey to a degree at GWU has been intellectually, sometimes physically and emotionally, challenging, but rewarding. My peers have been inspiring, coming from different parts of America and all over the world with various professional backgrounds.
The lecturers have been helpful, treating us like friends — there has been no gap between the lecturers and the students. I have learned from my professors and my peers alike. Although I was sometimes overwhelmed with the assignments — the reading, the papers, the deadlines — I was confident that the tasks could always be accomplished because I knew there was reliable support around me.
Being in Washington DC for one year and being in such an intensive intellectual environment at GWU meant so much to me. I learned about so many different ways a country like Indonesia can transform itself.
I can compare and contrast the theories as well as practices from other countries on how they manage democratic transitions, pursue sustainable development, as well as manage the impacts of globalization.
I also learned about how the U.S. can help other countries with its soft power; with its influence in education, business, science and technology, development assistance and culture. The president of Indonesia has said that the use of American soft power charms and disarms. I have found that this is very true.
We are all very fortunate to be graduates of George Washington University, one of the most prestigious universities in the world.
God has given us the strength and ability to contribute to a more sustainable world in the future. May God bless us all.
Arlington, VA, April 2006
I am agree that our country need a strong and truswothy leader, called amanah, which will lead Indonesia people to better society. Indonesia itself already have very strategic location and lot of resources that should give benefit for all people not only for few people that have power to abuse people trust.
Ati, thank you so much. We have started something with our SMA 70 Alumni. With collective leadership capacity that we have, I believe we can do something significant to our country. Best, Risa
Selamat atas keberhasilan dlm meraih impian2 kamu. Terus terang aku sering ikuti berita2 ttg kamu di BBC, Metro TV atau status2 kamu di FB. Kita mmg gak pernah dkt di kampus kt tercinta lPK Tarqi. Tp stlh voting program Go Green kamu aku jd penasaran sm sepak terjang seorang Alumni sekolah sekretaris bisa berkiprah di tingkat dunia boo! Luar biasa! So pesan aku untuk kamu, kalau sdh berhasil ttp pulang ke Indonesia. Dan berkaryalah untuk negri tercinta kita. Krn negara ini butuh banyak org2 spt kamu. Jgn terlena dgn tawaran bagus dr negara lain ya Ris. Dan ttp berjuang utk negaramu. Finally Happy birthday to you Risa, GOD bless you.
Dear Maria, terima kasih atas hadiah ulang tahun yang begitu manis. Program PhD yang saya lakukan kali ini adalah untuk meningkatkan kapasitas diri saya, sehingga lebih banyak lagi yang bisa kita lakukan agar Indonesia bisa menjadi negara yang bermartabat dan makmur untuk anak-anak kita. Kita akan terus berjuang, karena sewaktu kita meninggal nanti Tuhan tidak akan menanyakan jabatan apa yang telah kita miliki, tapi perbuatan apa yang telah kita lakukan. Indonesia adalah lahan amal kita, sehingga tidak akan saya tinggalkan tanah air tercinta ini. Salam manis dari Canberra.
dear Risa, on your birthday…
I’ve known you since we were in junior high
it was in 1978 to 1981 in Jakarta
then off then on ’till now
and I thought that I know you pretty much..
Having browsed a bit in your blog
I’m checkin’ to myself,
do I really know you pretty much ?
Apparently, yep, but a Risa is going pretty fast
so knowing her pretty much to a point is never enough
there is always something new about her
that is worth-knowing
or something old, that i missed…
I won’t miss a thing in this blog
that you just started sharing
it is one important vitamin for me
to keep going and keeping my pace
learn on how to focus
how to strike the pins as if we bowl..
Your stay-grounded aroma
is what make me feel closest to a Risa
that, we will stay the same as a person
only, we will do more and more as a worker
coz the nature of a person
or eeeeeeevery creature exists on earth
is to work
you name it, either he or she is a janitor or doctor
a scientist or journalist
even an entrepreneur or president
we are all workers, aren’t we ?
Every persons’s work weighs differently
and a Risa is one of not too many
of those who should be labelled as
workload-lifter champions
a Risa is special
just like eeevery child of the earth…
I haven’t mentioned of workquality, but shoud I ?
ha ha, just enjoy Risa’s blog furthermore dear all friends..
I love you Ris
I love you mother nature
I love you smuaaaa handai taulan
In the name of God
I shall take part going hand-in-hand with you all
In the path to Better Indonesia !
I love you, too Dana. You give me such a touching birthday gift with your words. This kind of support that makes me alive, and gives me strengths to move on. Big hugs from Canberra. All the best, Risa
two thumbs up for you…
walaupun baru kenal lewat dunia maya tapi saya senang dan bangga bisa kenal dengan mba Risa..
ada yg mau saya tanyakan : pernahkah ato sudah berapa kali mba mengalami kegagalan sebelum sampai pada posisi ini? dan apa yg memotivasi mba risa hingga terus mengejar cita2?
Dinda, yang bikin selalu semangat adalah rasa syukur kita karena diberi kehidupan oleh Allah. Kehidupan itu harus kita isi dengan hal-hal yang bermanfaat, sehingga kalau kita meninggal nanti, kita bisa bertemu kembali dengan Allah dan berkata, “terimakasih atas kehidupan yang telah Engkau berikan. I’ve done my best”.
Gagal adalah bagian dari pembelajaran terus menerus agar semakin pintar dan pintar lagi. Oleh sebab itu saya tidak pernah berhenti belajar, sehingga saya terus tahu betapa banyak hal yang saya tidak tahu. Kegagalan dan keberhasilan selama proses pembelajaran itu yang membuat kita selalu rendah hati.
Salam peduli,
Risa Bhinekawati
Risaaaa……Happy birthday !! Wish you are always enough of everything. With enough love, enough patience, enough dream, passion and happiness, everything is possible to be achieved. Great success with your life yaa Ris… Amen. (we were friends in lpk tarq)
Hello Niken….
Of course I remember you at Tarqi… we were always together…!! Thank you so miuch for your kind support…. I will keep you informed about my progress!! Thank you….!!!
Big hugs from Canberra,
Risa
Hallo Risa, masih inget saya ? Budi, class 98-00 ANU. Just dropping bye saying hello. Saya tahu dari Alicia bahwa kamu nyaleg. Malu2-in juga sbg org Indo tau caleg Indo dr org Sgp. Too bad ga liwat, tp nurut saya tdk jadi masalah. Kontribusi utk negara kita ga semata2 harus dari sisi politik, masih banyak sisi yg dmn kita bs kontribusi. Anyway, all the best for you and your family
Hello Budi,
Thanks for keeping in touch. Aku rencana jadi dosen dan pendidik untuk karir berikutnya. Hope to contribute to human capital and leadership development in Indonesia.
All the best to you and your family, too!
Cheers,
Risa