In some families, going to school isn’t always seen as the best choice. Especially in places where money is tight, continuing education can be seen as a strain instead of a blessing. Some parents want their children to start working early to help the family, while others believe in letting their children chase their dreams. This situation is the theme of the short film "Impian Bagas", which shows how tough it can be when a young student’s goals clash with his family’s struggles.The Emotional Cost of Dreaming
Bagas is a dilligent young student who gets a scholarship to a top high school in Medan. It should be a moment of pride. But instead, his parents are stuck in a debate: should he keep studying or start working to help the family? His mother is especially hesitant. She’s more worried about what the neighbors say than what her son hopes to achieve. In her eyes, schooling is no longer a necessity, but it’s a luxury, and Bagas is being lazy by avoiding hard labor. What a painful misunderstanding.
Social Pressure Disguised as “Practicality”
What "Impian Bagas" shows clearly is that poverty isn’t just about money, it’s about mindset. The mother isn’t heartless. She’s overwhelmed. She sees people talking behind her back, judging her son, and she’s afraid of being seen as a failure. So she chooses what feels like the safer path: pull him out of school, put him to work, and stop the gossip. It’s a defense mechanism, but it ends up hurting the very person she’s trying to protect.
The father, on the other hand, shows a stronger character. He reminds her (and us) that being poor shouldn’t mean giving up hope. “Let me be the one who’s stupid,” he says, asking Bagas to keep learning so the next generation doesn’t have to repeat the same struggle. It’s a powerful statement, said simply, that education is not a burden, but a way out of it.
Emotional Labor in Families is Real
People often forget how hard things are for students like Bagas. He doesn’t just go to school—he also feels guilty for not helping his family earn money. He feels like he has to prove he’s not lazy. When his mother says he’s just wasting time, it really hurts. Instead of standing up for himself, he gives up. He skips school, throws away his scholarship letter, and starts thinking maybe chasing his dream isn’t worth it.
It takes a friend to bring him back, to remind him that the scholarship is a reward he deserved to earned. Sometimes, kids need someone to say, “It’s okay to hope.” That reminder is often missing in families where survival is the main priority.
A Message We All Need to Hear
"Impian Bagas" shows how complicated things can get when money is tight and people are stressed. Bagas’s mom isn’t mean, she’s scared and tired. Bagas isn’t lazy, he’s stuck between his dreams and his family’s struggles. The film helps us see that these problems don’t always have easy answers. It reminds us to be more patient, more understanding, and to support young people who are trying their best. Because no one should have to give up on their future just to survive today.
