CHAPTER 2 BACK TO SIANTAR

After three years of schooling in Berastagi, Perry was finally able to complete junior high school in Berastagi with good honors. However, this graduation raises new problems. After graduating, Perry was faced with the choice of deciding where to continue his education. At that time, Perry didn't have many choices. Financial limitations are also still an obstacle for him, and returning to Sidikalang is impossible because there is no high school available for him. However, in God's hands all the problems have a solution.

It all started with Perry's unique habits. As a teenager full of curiosity, young Perry Alus Siboro has a unique way of fulfilling his curiosity about world news and developments. Because he doesn't have money to buy newspapers, Perry often spends his time at a shop near where he lives in Berastagi. At the shop, he likes to read newspapers to gain knowledge and information.

One time, while reading the newspaper at the shop, he read advertisements about schools for judges and prosecutors. One of his concerns was that at that time those who passed the exam would receive a service bond from the government. In other words, apart from having no school fees, there is also the opportunity to become a civil servant and receive pocket money or salary during your education.

Apart from school for judges and prosecutors, there were other alternatives that also attracted young Perry's attention. A Nursing School for General Hospitals from the Ministry of Health also opens opportunities for those who have completed junior high school, later for those who pass the entrance exam, they will start their education without paying, and after completing their education they can immediately work as civil servants at the General Hospital. owned by the Department of Health. For him, these two opportunities to continue school are also opportunities to go to Medan City, because both are in the capital of North Sumatra. Now, it's just a matter of how the parents respond to this choice.

To determine what choice he would make, Perry decided to go to his parents' village Simangar-angar, Sumbul Pegagan, Dairi Regency, North Sumatra to meet his parents. There, Perry again met his uncle, Rev. B.G. Siboro who had once advised him to continue his studies at Pematangsiantar. Perry also told his uncle about the choice he faced, between continuing to judge and prosecutor school or choosing nursing school.

Hearing the options available, his uncle, seeing the enthusiasm in young Perry's eyes, gave him support to continue his struggle to achieve his goals by going back to school. Regarding the choice of continuing to study as a judge and prosecutor, the uncle was of the opinion that becoming a judge or prosecutor was a good choice, especially since at that time no one in the Siboro family was known to be a judge or prosecutor.

Meanwhile, regarding the choice of becoming a nurse, his uncle suggested that Perry continue at the Nursing School at the Adventist Hospital, Bandung. This is because the education system is almost the same as Perry's junior high school in Pematangsiantar where there were foreigners who would teach there. This certainly caught Perry's attention even though in fact, becoming a nurse was not her dream. He is more interested in becoming a prosecutor or judge.

This school itself is under the auspices of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. At this nursing school, you will not have to pay school fees and after completing your education you will be employed at the Adventist Hospital. But unfortunately, at that time, they only accepted high school graduates. For this reason, Perry had to continue his education at the Adventist High School, Pematangsiantar first to reach a high school level of education at that time.

The decision finally fell to take Nursing School at the Bandung Adventist Hospital, by first continuing high school at SLA Martoba, Pematangsiantar. However, problems then arose about how to meet financial needs while attending school in Pematangsiantar. The uncle also provided a solution for him to join in selling books as a side job during his holidays. By working selling books, it is also hoped that Perry can get a scholarship and have his school fees waived. With great determination and hope, young Perry returned to Pematangsiantar.

Young Perry eventually became a student at the Adventist High School, Martoba Pematangsiantar from 1955 to 1957. It was not difficult for him to adapt because Perry had always liked the education system at this school. He was also happy because most of the teachers at this school were foreign nationals. He admired all the teachers he met while studying there, they were all alumni of the Indonesia Union Seminary (IUS), now the Indonesian Adventist University (UNAI), in Bandung, especially Mr. Richard Figuhr, who is the Director of Adventist SLA, is a foreign citizen who has a firm, charismatic and respected character. The young Perry had great admiration and respect for him.

Perry's enthusiasm for gaining knowledge is demonstrated by his high enthusiasm in every lesson. He likes his most popular subject, namely English. For him, this language can be the tip of the sword in opening his way to other fields of knowledge. By mastering English, he can understand the books in the library, almost all of which are literature in English.

Young Perry's enthusiasm was also shown by his good test scores, so that the English teacher, Mr. John Sakul trusted him to help correct the exam papers of his fellow students. His closeness to his teacher also ultimately inspired him to become a teacher one day. He finds pleasure in being a teacher who shares knowledge with others. In his heart he once again harbored the hope of being able to follow in the footsteps of the teachers he admired by continuing his education in Bandung, and majoring in teaching later.

He passed his first year at SLA Martoba, Pematang Siantar well. As time went by, he reached the end of second grade, where his desire to become a teacher grew even greater. Meanwhile, at the same time, he also realized that his burden in life was still very heavy, namely studying while working, being a bookseller during the holidays. He must be ready to undergo this condition and this does not dampen his enthusiasm.