Darlene Sharon Siahaan: How Tabgha Shaped My Growth

Eventually, I never expected that I would spend my entire childhood at Tabgha Education Centre. I started attending this school when I was only four years old. One of the most important lessons this school has taught me is: never be afraid of growth. Because growth means you have gone beyond your limits and discovered your true potential.

Today, I am not only telling my own story, but also the stories of many others. I have seen how Tabgha’s teachers constantly encourage students to try new things and step out of their comfort zones. That is something you may not always find in an ordinary school.

Personally, I used to be a shy and fearful child. I didn’t have the courage to try new things. I never imagined that one day I would be able to lead a team or an organization. However, through the events held by the school, I was given the opportunity to learn how to lead and manage a whole committee of students while working together for TEC Fest 2024. It has been one of the best experiences of my journey at Tabgha.

The teachers here continuously support us in exploring our potential, and I am truly grateful for that. I would like to say thank you to Tabgha Education Centre for shaping me into who I am today. To all the teachers and friends who have helped and supported me, thank you so much.

I truly hope that this school will continue to bring hope and courage to the children out there who need it the most — just like it did for me.

And most importantly, to the person reading this right now: life is not about who has the best. It is about who experiences the most growth. Results are not truly meaningful if you do not experience the process of growth itself.

Thank you.

Regards,

Darlene Sharon Siahaan
Year Joined: 2010

I am currently studying in Taichung City, Taiwan, at National Chin-Yi University of Technology. I am majoring in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Engineering,

Hezekiah Kevin Usman : Universitas Brawijaya

Selama saya bersekolah di Tabgha saya merasakan adanya rasa kekeluargaan yang baik. Di Tabgha saya bkn saja dididik secara pengetahuan,tetapi Karakter yg kuat sehingga saya bisa menjadi seperti sekarang.

Guru gurunya juga baik dalam menerangi pelajaran, dapat bergaul dengan murid

Harapan saya ke sekolah semoga sekolah tabgha dapat lebih meningkatkan dalam kreativitas agar dapat memberikan hiburan kepada murid” dan mengikuti perlombaan akademik maupun nonakademik agar orang orang diluar sana dapat mengetahui sekolah tabgha

Timothy Joseph Hutagaol : Indonesian graduate's journey of hope and achievement in China

Indonesian graduate Timothy Joseph Hutagaol poses for a photo with his mother at Tianjin University's 2024 commencement ceremony for undergraduate students in north China's Tianjin, July 6, 2024.

TIANJIN, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Seeing his son's image on a banner hanging at the roadside on campus at Tianjin University in north China's Tianjin Municipality, Esther Samosir Pakpahan from Indonesia could not help but feel a strong sense of pride.

"It's so inspirational, and a huge honor for my family," Pakpahan said, a businesswoman who arrived in China in June to attend her son's commencement.

Her son Timothy Joseph Hutagaol was among the first five international students recognized as outstanding graduates of the university, with their photos displayed on banners aside the main road on campus. He gained the title not only for his academic performance in chemical engineering but also for being a student ambassador, helping the university recruit international students.

He has shared his campus life in China through hundreds of posts on social media platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, WeChat and Bilibili, drawing more than 1 million views. His online presence also helped attract more than 50 international students to enroll at the university.

Raised by his single mother, Hutagaol studied hard and graduated from high school with excellent academic performance in the Indonesian national examination in 2019. Then, Hutagaol decided to pursue his undergraduate studies at Tianjin University.

"I love science and engineering, and nothing combines the two better than chemical engineering," he said, adding that his choice won his mom's full support.

In the summer of 2020, Hutagaol received an admission letter from Tianjin University with a chemical engineering scholarship, making him the first and only one in this generation of his family to earn a fully-funded undergraduate scholarship abroad.

During his studies, he collaborated with doctoral and postgraduate students from the lab and published a paper in the Journal of Food Chemistry as the first author and another in the Journal of Applied Energy as a co-author.

"This experience cemented my passion for chemical engineering research," Hutagaol said.

His journey now continues as he has been awarded a full scholarship from the Chinese Government Scholarship to pursue a master's degree in chemical engineering at the university.

For Hutagaol, the recognition banner and his mom's presence at his commencement brought a perfect close to his undergraduate studies.

"I wanted my mom to be part of this wonderful journey in China. Without her love and support, I wouldn't be here," Hutagaol said.

During their free time, Hutagaol took his mom on a city walk in Tianjin.

"Tianjin is clean and well-organized," the mother noted. "So much modern technology everywhere. Even payments are made through QR codes. It's impressive."

The excellent facilities and welcoming environment she observed both in the city and on campus solidified her support for Hutagaol to further his studies at the university.

"I'm really grateful to the university for bringing out the best in my son," she said.