My Childhood

When I was a child, my parents were both lenient and strict on various occasions. They often took my brother and me to “Taman Mini Indonesia Indah,” particularly to the bird section. They used to establish rules that had to be followed, such as setting a time limit for playing on mobile phones, yet they allowed me to play games on the Nintendo DS and PSP. They also consistently encouraged me to study every day, with a special emphasis on subjects like English and Math.

My parents would occasionally choose the activities I engaged in, but they also granted me the freedom to make my own choices. For instance, they would encourage me to learn the keyboard, and violin, and even attend Chinese and English classes. They supported my pursuit of interests I truly enjoyed, like enrolling in a drawing class and participating in multiple extracurricular activities during primary school.

Perhaps I will adopt a more lenient approach than my parents did. I want to ensure that my children do not feel compelled to engage in activities they dislike. However, I also believe in guiding them towards essential learning experiences and limiting excessive involvement in online games.

Tamara Angelie Gunawan – Grade 12