DRAW MY LIFE - CERITA HIDUP JEROME POLIN (NIHONGO MANTAPPU)

Summary

This video follows the inspiring journey of Jerom, a young man from Indonesia who overcame numerous challenges to pursue his dream of studying abroad. Born during the 1998 Indonesian crisis, he grew up in a modest family but developed a strong determination to achieve a better life. Through hard work, sacrifices, and perseverance, Jerom earned multiple scholarships, including one to study in Japan at Waseda University. Along the way, he faced failures, but these setbacks only fueled his drive to succeed. His story highlights the importance of persistence, faith, and striving toward one's goals, no matter the obstacles.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jerome was born in Jakarta on May 2, 1998, to a Batak father and a Chinese mother, making him Indonesian with a diverse cultural background.
• 😀 He grew up during Indonesia's 1998 monetary crisis and faced significant hardships in his early years, including difficulty accessing basic needs.
• 😀 Jerome's family moved to Surabaya when he was 6 years old, where he began his schooling and received a scholarship to attend an expensive private school.
• 😀 Inspired by his friends' overseas holidays, Jerome set his sights on studying abroad, believing education was the key to achieving this goal.
• 😀 Despite financial challenges, Jerome remained determined to pursue his dream of studying overseas with a scholarship, beginning from his elementary school years.
• 😀 Jerome became highly skilled in various fields, including sports, music, and academics, particularly excelling in mathematics and competing in national and international Olympiads.
• 😀 He faced multiple setbacks, but his persistence led to winning numerous prestigious competitions, such as the International Kangaroo Mathematics competition and others.
• 😀 In high school, Jerome began focusing on preparing for studying abroad, entering Olympiads in various subjects, and eventually winning a bronze medal in the national Math Olympiad.
• 😀 After facing rejection from some universities, Jerome finally secured a scholarship for studying in Japan, where he began his education at Waseda University, majoring in Applied Mathematics.
• 😀 Jerome also became a YouTuber, starting the channel 'Nihongo Mantappu,' which gained popularity with content about his life in Japan and motivation, amassing over 2.6 million subscribers.
• 😀 Jerome's story highlights the importance of perseverance, faith, and determination, with key messages that failure is part of the journey and that effort and prayer will lead to success in the end.

Q & A

What was the main theme of the video shared by the speaker?

The video focuses on the speaker's life journey, his challenges, and successes, especially in achieving his dream of studying abroad with a scholarship. It also highlights his early life struggles, educational aspirations, and how he started his YouTube channel.

What is the title of the speaker's book, and what is it about?

The speaker's book is titled 'Buku Matamu Jiwa Ini,' which translates to 'Your Eyes, My Soul.' It is a personal life guide detailing the speaker's journey from birth to the present, featuring motivational quotes and personal experiences, including his ventures in public speaking and overcoming life's challenges.

How did the speaker's family cope with financial difficulties during his childhood?

The speaker's family faced significant financial hardship, particularly during Indonesia's economic crisis in 1998. They struggled to afford basic necessities, including milk, and had difficulty finding food due to widespread looting. Despite these challenges, the speaker's family persevered.

What motivated the speaker to pursue education abroad?

The speaker was motivated to pursue education abroad after noticing that many of his classmates spent their vacations overseas. He believed that education was the key to achieving this dream, and since a young age, he was determined to secure a scholarship to study abroad.

What key challenge did the speaker face in pursuing his dream of studying abroad?

The main challenge the speaker faced was his parents' financial limitations. Despite this, he remained optimistic and worked hard to secure a scholarship, believing that a full scholarship was the only way he could afford to study abroad.

What extracurricular activities did the speaker engage in during his schooling?

During his schooling, the speaker participated in a variety of activities, including futsal, basketball, ping pong, and music. He also became actively involved in his school's choir and later focused on preparing for Olympiads in subjects like mathematics and chemistry.

How did the speaker overcome initial failures in Olympiad competitions?

The speaker faced many failures at the beginning, often not qualifying for the finals. However, he remained persistent, and through continuous practice and learning, he eventually succeeded, winning multiple awards, including third place in a mathematics Olympiad at Brawijaya University in 2014.

What role did the speaker's faith play in his journey?

Faith played a central role in the speaker's life. He firmly believed that with God's help, he could overcome any obstacle. His faith in God guided him through difficult times and encouraged him to keep striving, even when facing setbacks.

What was the significance of the speaker's YouTube channel, Nihongo Mantappu?

The speaker's YouTube channel, Nihongo Mantappu, became a platform for sharing his experiences as an Indonesian student in Japan, learning Japanese, and offering motivational content. Despite initial struggles with gaining an audience, the channel eventually grew to 2.6 million subscribers, generating significant income.

What was the speaker's ultimate educational achievement?

The speaker's ultimate educational achievement was securing a full scholarship to study in Japan, where he attended Waseda University and pursued a degree in Applied Mathematics. He also excelled in a Japanese speech competition despite only having studied the language for five months.