Sekolah Tinggi Bahasa Asing (STBA) LIA held its annual event, Gathering, on 9th of October 2013. The event which is the program for the english department students was located at villa Boenda Mulia, Mega Mendung, Cipayung, Puncak, West Java. This event was participated by all of the english department students, Mahasiswa Baru (MABA) 2013, some lecturers, speakers, alumni, and Unit Kegiatan Mahasiswa (UKM) delegation. Besides it was the MABA orientation program, it was for introducing the major of English literature and the western culture too. “The main purpose of Gathering is for introducing and uniting the new students to all of the senior in STBA LIA Jakarta,” said Saena, the chairwoman of Himpunan Mahasiswa Jurusan Inggris (HMJI). This program was believed can give many benefits for all english department students of STBA LIA.
The theme of Gathering 2013 was Intelectual Student Raising with Harmony (INSTAGRAM). The reason of choosing this theme was not only for making the new students harmonious in all aspects such as in the personal and social life, but also in the academic and organisation. This event needed two months for the preparation. There were many difficulities that they faced. According to Saena, the main difficulty was searching the villa that will be used for this event. The problem that they faced was not because there were not acquaintances, but because of the technical mistake of the villa’s owner. The one-sided postponement ofrenting villa made the committee, especially the HMJI, a little bit confused to solve the problem. According to Klarina, one of the program division committee, the difficulty was in the agenda preparation. “There were many difficulties! First was how to decide the agenda rundown. Initially, we wanted to make it in three days, but finally just in two days. The next was how to decide the performers for the event, either from the lecturers or the alumni. The money aggregation from the participants and from campus was really difficult too,” said Klarina.
The transportation that was used for this event were two trontons, car, and motorcycles. The trontons were used by MABA, and the other transportations were used by some Gathering committees. Dio, the chairwoman of Gathering committee said, “The transportation that was used by MABA was tronton. We hoped that the new students could be independent and solid. It would be a common study tour if we used bus for that event. Through the uncomfortable condition, they would learn how to appreciate their life even though life is not always exciting.” According to Dwina, one of the committee, the enthusiasm of MABA was good. “They didn’t only interact with their friend, but also to their senior supervisor. They had prepared their snacks from their home too because they knew that the journey would be far.” Yuli, one of MABA 2013, said that she enjoyed the trip although they had to use tronton. “I was excited though we had to use tronton, because it was the new experience for me. It was exciting too because there were my friends, though it was a little bit hot.”said her.
The trip to the villa Boenda Mulia approximately spent two hours. There was traffic jam too because this event was held on the weekend. Because the road to the villa was not wide enough for big cars, the MABA and some committees that used tronton had to walk to the villa. The road was far and steep, so the walkers had to take a rest sometimes. “Many MABA complained becausethey were really exhausted to hike the steep road, but we always supported them so that they could arrive quickly and take a rest,” said Dwina.
There were many activities in gathering, such as seminar, games, drama performance, cultural dance, sport, midnight park, and outdoor activities. As the opening agenda, all MABA had to show their group performance, group’s yell. The purpose of group’s yell was for showing their solidarity, creativity, and characteristic. Almost all of them were enthusiasmto show their yells, but several of them were ashamed to show off.There was no championship for the best yell performance, because the committee appreciate them from the many aspects, not only from the groups’s yell.
Besides group’s yell, there was seminar too. The speakers of seminar were alumni and lecturers. In seminar, they introduced MABA about the major in english department and gave motivation for MABA too. Then, there was a time for alumni to share with MABA.
After all, there was also activity in the midnight, Jurit Malam or Midnight Park. All participants had to wake up at 02.30 AM and brought their raincoats and nametags.They had to played riddle from one post to the other posts. According to Klarina, Jurit Malam was the most meaningful activity. “This activity was for testing MABA whether or not they were responsible to their senior and alumni. It was for testing their solidarity and discipline,” said Klarina. There was a diffculty in the midnight park too. The obstacle that they faced was the weather was the havy rain. The committees and all MABA had to use raincoat during Jurit Malam, so that the activity continued. For some MABA, there were some difficulties for following this activity. Vega, one of MABA 2013 said “The difficulty that I had was when Jurit Malam. We had to hurry and I almost left my raincoat.” But according to Vega, there were many benefits that he got. He learned how to respect the senior and work with the team. He became more educated about what is HMJI too.
For the closing agenda, there was the announcement of the best participants of Gathering 2013. The best participant of MABA 2013 was won by Vega. Klarina said that the determining of the best participant was decided from theircourage to be active, different, not bashful, and soon. “To be the best participant was suprising enough but made me glad,” Vega said.
Saena, the chairwoman of HMJI thanked the Gathering 2013 committees, for they were reliable and energetic. According to Dio, the committees were solid to do their works, active and transparent.They showed their opinions and complains in the forum, so the problems could be solved together. For the next Gathering 2014, Saena hoped that the committees will keep developing the Gathering’s programs that can educate MABA to be better in undergoing the learning process, not only in academic learning skill, but for their social life too. Klarina had hope for Gathering 2014 too. “I hoped that the next MABA and the committees will be more excited. The committees will be more responsible to their works or job-dash that is given. And I hope HMJI not to recruit the committees that cannot work. Something different is needed too for Gathering 2014, different from the last Gathering,” Klarina said. For some MABA, they hoped the next Gathering will be held in three days, the games will be more exciting and more enjoyable too.
Marina Christmartha, Mahasiswi STBA LIA (Penerima Beasiswa Unggulan KEMDIKNAS tahun 2012) www.beasiswaunggulan.kemdiknas.go.id.
