CHAPTER 3 EXAM FOR FUN: BANDUNG?

At one time, on the school notice board there was posted an announcement regarding registration to take the entrance exam for nursing students, i.e., Student Nurse, at the Adventist Hospital, Bandung, which was open to second and third graders. Young Perry remembered his initial goal of attending SLA at this time, but his mind rejected the memory because it had changed his determination to change his dream of becoming a teacher and studying later at the IUS, Bandung.

With this determination, at first he did not have the slightest intention to register for the exam even though almost all of his classmates took great interest in this opportunity. From the first day he saw the announcement until the last day he never thought about registering. Becoming a teacher has become his life's determination.

Until one day he and his friends were playing football after class, when unlike usual the school bell rang and his friends rushed to leave the field and get ready to go to class, he wondered what was wrong with today. Not long after, he learned from his friends that today was the entrance exam day for the Nursing School, Adventist Hospital, Bandung.

His heart was a little tickled to take the exam. His high curiosity encouraged him to test his abilities in the exam, although if he passed he had no intention of taking this opportunity because his determination was already very strong to become a teacher. That day, he decided to test his skills in the nursing school entrance exam. Just to try, he thought.

Perry realized that he had not registered until now. As for those taking the current exam, they have passed through the registration office which at that time was guarded by Mr. John Sakul, an English teacher who is close to him because he often helps correct exams. However, he dared to ask whether he could still register to take the exam. Mr Sakul answered that registration had closed, while asking about Perry's interest in becoming a nurse. Perry answered honestly that he wanted to take this exam just to test his abilities, Mr. Sakul stared at himself for a moment, then said, "Okay, just write your own name," while handing him the attendance sheet for the students taking the exam that afternoon. Because he had no intention of taking the exam, even the pen he used to register was borrowed. Perry also wrote his name on the last line on the sheet.

When he entered the examination room, the room was filled with prospective students, and found that the entrance examination was entirely carried out in English. Perry didn't expect the Nursing School exam to be so rigorous. The exam begins with an order for participants to put all their writing utensils on the table, and they are not allowed to open the exam papers that have been distributed. The exam is divided into several parts, each part lasts 3 to 8 minutes.

The exam proctor will say “START” as the start signal and “STOP, put down all stationery and fold hands” for each section until the end of the exam. In taking this test, Perry felt happy because he felt challenged. Even though he couldn't answer all the exam questions given, he felt satisfied because he had tried and didn't worry about whether he would pass or not because he didn't plan to become a nursing student.

Some time passed after the exam, Perry suddenly received a call to meet the Director of SLA Martoba, Mr. Richard Figuhr in his office. When he arrived there, Perry was given a letter, which contained information that of the 36 prospective students who took the nursing school exam in Bandung, he was the only one who passed. Mr Figuhr said that he had a week to prepare and returned to him to be prepared for the needs and administration required by the school. 

If he continues to nursing school, he will no longer face financial problems. All costs will be covered, except for transportation costs to Bandung and a cash deposit in the amount of transportation costs from home to Bandung. All other financial requirements are provided by the school. If he attends this school, Perry will enter a probationary period of 3 months during which he will not have to spend any money. Apart from that, if he can pass and pass this trial period, he will officially be inaugurated as a nursing student and receive pocket money of Rp. 50,- per month in the first year, Rp. 75.- per month in the second year and in the third year Rp. 100,- per month. Accommodation costs during education and personal needs such as dormitories, meals, uniforms are also all free. The only cost he has to pay is a deposit of money for a one-way boat ticket to his hometown, which will be used if he fails during her studies, but if he successfully graduates from the nursing school, the money will be returned.

Confusion filled his mind at that moment. On the one hand, he no longer had any interest in becoming a nurse, he was determined to become a teacher. But on the other hand, this opportunity was a great opportunity that everyone dreams of, and only he got that opportunity. The inner war and thoughts continued for a week according to the time given by the director. Arriving at the appointed time, Perry faced Mr. Figuhr, still carrying her determination to become a teacher and does not want to become a nurse.

In front of the Director of SLA Martoba, he stated that he was not interested in going to the Adventist Hospital, Bandung and becoming a nursing student, he wanted to go to Bandung only to enter the IUS and become a teacher. Hearing what he said, Mr. Figuhr was furious. His face turned red when he spoke to Perry, "You're messing around, embarrassing, why are you taking the exam if you don't want to be a nurse, now I'll give you another week to think about it," said Mr. Figuhr to him in an angry tone.

Many people around Perry also regretted his choice not to go to Nursing School. Currently, he has a week to return to Mr. Figuhr with the final decision on his future. Facing a difficult decision brought him back to his hometown, going to his parents for advice.

His parents only provided support. "Well, it's up to you which one you think is better than now having to struggle to support yourself...," said Perry's parents. His heart continued to waver. It occurred to him, would it really be better if he went to Bandung and continued to nursing school? The big opportunity that everyone dreams of is now in his grasp. Even though in his heart there was still uncertainty and his mind could not imagine what his life would be like there. Considering his parents' limitations in paying for his school fees while at SLA and later if he continues to IUS Bandung, not to mention thinking about his younger siblings who still have to attend middle and high school, Perry finally made an important decision in his life.

It came to a time when he had to face Mr. Figuhr again, Perry finally decided that he was willing to go to Nursing School, Bandung Adventist Hospital. Hearing his decision, the director greeted him happily and prepared all the necessary documents and of course conveyed to the school in Bandung that their students who passed the exam would immediately go there to continue their studies.