UNS — As one of the faculties in Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta, the Faculty of Teacher Training and Education (FKIP) is identical to the purple UNS flag. As its name suggests, this faculty graduates often work in education as teachers, and not rarely, as Headmaster in several schools. Among these graduates, one graduate has a unique story by holding a headmaster’s role after graduating in 2016 from the Chemistry Education Program FKIP UNS.
Nur Fitri Fatimah, a 26 years old woman who serves as the Headmaster of Elementary School (SD) Muhammadiyah Baitul Fallah (MBF) located in Bancak 1, RT 1/RW 2, Bancak 2, Gebyog, Mojogedang, Karanganyar District. Born in Karanganyar, she explained that MBF is established from Sekolah Tani Organik Intan Pari (STOIP) (Intan Pari Organic Agricultural School) initiated by Karanganyar Islamic Students Forum (Forum Mahasiswa Islam Karangayar – Formaiska) in 2016.
Not long after its establishment, the school received 4,000 square meter wakaf land trusted to the management to be used for a social cause. The land is then used by Pipit, Nur Fitri Fatimah’s short name, and her friends to build SD MBF. The elementary school was established in the spirit of improving the quality of Indonesian education.
“I want to participate in improving the quality of Indonesian education,” Pipit explained in an interview with uns.ac.id in the office of UNS Public Relation and Media Unit, Wednesday (27/1/2021)
When the school construction is completed, with their mutual agreement, Pipit is elected as the first Headmaster in SD MBF in her young age, 24 years old. Under her term, SD MBF has achieved proud accomplishments. In December 2020, one of their 1st-grade students received an award in Thailand International Math Olympiad. This achievement brings great admiration considering their school age.
Pipit also admitted that the most memorable experience while serving as Headmaster is when managing human resources in her team. She needs to learn about human characters and how to handle each of them. There is a challenge in harmonizing the available human resources. To handle this challenge, Pipit always tries to manage her time and stay orderly, to keep thinking and take positive actions. With a united human resource, Pipit thinks that SD MBF programs will run well. “In working, one’s need to be ikhlas to achieve blessings,” Pipit explained.
Pipit’s tenacity is also reflected in her spirit to take 90 minutes commuting from her house to the school. She also needs to take care of the school’s financial management and to implement education in the village, not the city. To improve SD MBF teachers’ skills, Pipit has taken several efforts, such as registering the teachers to join a workshop, encouraging them to participate in competitions, applying good daily habits, and increasing their worship to the God Almighty. Even Pipit also invited the teachers to write a book and set a target to publish two books in a year collectively.
In the interview, Pipit also retells her childhood when she spent hours studying. Her parents always stayed beside her when she stayed late until 02.00 am to study. Pipit stated that her good habits were formed through small and simple routines. The Master Program in Science Education UNS student has “man jadda wa jada” as a life motto. This motto means who has a will, will find success. To motivate her social circle, Pipit strongly applies “khoirunnas anfa’uhum linnas” which means the best human is those who benefit others. That is why she shares more good things in the community, both in education and social services.
At the end of the interview, Pipit said that she is proud as a UNS graduate and invited the young generation to be more tenacious in achieving their dreams. She said that amid the limitation, Allah would show one’s potentials that they never aware of, and it is beautiful when a person can shift their limitation into potential and strength.
Pipit added that what she achieved is inseparable from her parent’s prayers and blessings. “We are weak human, but we are owned by Allah Almighty, who always strengthen us. Insyaallah, everyone can achieve their dreams as long as there are efforts, prayers, and parent’s blessings,” Pipit concluded. Humas UNS
Reporter: Zalfaa Azalia Pursita
Editor: Dwi Hastuti
