2024 Wrapped | Navigating Unpredictable Turns
2024 Wrapped |Navigating Unpredictable Turns
As 2024 is a yesterday, I found myself looking back on a year filled with growth, surprises, and moments of the most life changing decisions in my life. This year, guided by commitments set in the past, I experienced profound lessons and achieved milestones that I didn’t think were possible. From starting a new business unit for my education foundation, shifting from one to another job, and creates a hope not only just for my life but also for others.
This year reaffirmed a lesson I started learning before
Challenges are not threats but stepping stones.
2024 reminded me that making my life to be relevant isn’t just surviving difficulties; it’s finding the strength to strive my life and create more accomplishments. This year’s challenges taught me not just to overcome but to embrace every twist and turn, knowing they’re all part of my story.
By validating my emotions, sharing my struggles with trusted people, and celebrating even small wins with those who matter most, I realized that vulnerability is indeed a superpower. Reflecting on the life I’ve lived so far showed me the value I carry — I’ve been through so much, and yet here I am, still working towards my values and live.
There were many things happened in 2024, January I visited Turkey and Dubai for a work trip, started many small habits and turns out becoming what shapes me as a person at the end of 2024.
February was a bit rough. I juggled four different jobs across four different time zones, and amidst it all, I fell ill for quite a long time. I kept pushing myself, thinking I had to surpass my energy limits. However, I realized that this approach drained my energy for the rest of the year and perhaps even beyond. On the bright side, I started a new hobby — archery — which brought some excitement into my life.
In early March, I decided to spend quality time with my closest friends. It was refreshing and helped me recharge. I also started reading the Holy Qur’an as it marked the beginning of the most beautiful month in my religion, Ramadan. During this time, I focused on maintaining the momentum of giving to those who needed it most. I also embarked on an interactive new venture — a podcast.
April was a truly beautiful month. It was Eid Mubarak, and I spent precious quality time with my loved ones. A vacation with both my parents became the most memorable moment of 2024. I also attended my first concert of the year, which was an exhilarating experience.
May was dedicated to recovery and restructuring my health and well-being. I cooked and ate lots of healthy food, began drinking juice every day, and finally reached 59 kg — a weight I hadn’t seen in years. I felt healthier and more balanced.
June was a mix of work and personal space. A working trip to Malaysia and Thailand allowed me to explore new places. I also took some well-deserved days off, enjoying a vacation without the pressure of work — something I hadn’t done in a long time. I attended a second concert and had the unforgettable experience of meeting IU! It was then I truly understood the sentiment, “Please treat yourself; you’ve been through a lot.”
With that, the first half of 2024 ended on a high note. June concluded beautifully as I received inspiring recognition for dedication and impact. Amor Matris Indonesia, the non-formal school foundation I’ve been building, was honored with an award from the Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan Republik Indonesia (the Ministry of Education and Culture of Indonesia). This award highlighted Amor Matris Indonesia as the most progressive and best-developed non-formal school in a rural area. Alongside the recognition, we received a special fund of 45 million rupiah to further our mission.
Oh! I received this letter from the past that was written by myself to my future self. This is what keeps me accountable to always be grateful for what I have right now and keep surprising myself.
To end this writing, I have one learning from the Holy Qur’an.
“And that there is not for man except that [good] for which he strives. And that his effort is going to be seen — then he will be rewarded for it with the fullest reward”
An-Najm: 39–41
Do everything that makes you positively fulfilled with the most beautiful ways of process, work on it, and give your best to exceed what you want to achieve. The effort will never betray the result. Remember, exceeding means that the result might come in a different path, different way, or even different form. Enjoy your life by always seeing the good side of what you give, get, and have right now. Surprise yourself and do not just do the things that are relevant.
July was a breakthrough. I asked myself, “What should I do next for my life and others?” This question led me to start planning a business unit for my informal school foundation and venture into the formal education sector by creating an academy for students in my hometown.
August was relatively calm until the end when it became serious. I formed a team to pioneer the Amor Matris Academy. This period was filled with emotions, mixed feelings, decision-making, and planning.
September marked a new momentum. I transitioned to a new remote job in Malaysia. More importantly, after focusing for a year on school operations and equivalency exams (A, B, and C Packages), we officially launched a new sub-business model: a school academy for formal-school students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels — Amor Matris Academy.
As the foundation grows, so does its impact. Amor Matris Indonesia continues to expand its outreach, providing more people with opportunities for education, regardless of their background. We began strengthening our impact in both rural and urban areas by establishing the academy.
October started with a business trip to Malaysia for my new job. It was a period of stagnation but also one of reflection, creating cherished core memories.
November was full of fun and meaningful moments. I attended my third concert of the year, met many people in different cities, and initiated a new business plan. This time, it was a beverage stall called Segelas Kasih Sayang by Amor Matris.
December, my favorite month, marked my 26th birthday. I celebrated not just another year of life but also the values that have guided me to where I am today. It was a month of embracing every moment, finding hope, and surprising myself with what I can achieve. I ended the year by reflecting deeply on life and the twists and lessons of 2024.
This year, I celebrate the growth I’ve experienced and the lessons I’ve learned. I celebrate the people who have supported me, inspired me, and shared their stories with me. And I celebrate the chance to do the same for others, to be a small light in someone else’s journey. December was full of twist but also reflections for me and my whole life.
I wrote this letter back in June 2024, and it comes into a realization that…
Remember that you have to be the first person who must believe that you could accomplish so much in this life.
And with that, 2024 was a year of learning to trust in life’s unpredictability, knowing that I always have the strength to survive and to surprise myself.
As we are now entering 2025, I carry forward the lessons of this year with a renewed sense of purpose. I’ll keep reminding myself that:
Once you become a star, your light will never fade.
In every decision I make, I aim to uphold the belief that has guided me so far, which is “Make it relevant”. By staying true to my values and surprise myself, I will continue to build a life that is authentic and impactful.
Here’s to more beautiful moments, here’s to more unpredictable turns that comes out as a momentum and ended up as accomplishment.
#surpriseyourself and #makeitrelevant
