Young Evelyn struggle hard to win for Indonesia
Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The composed Evelyn Mintarno perhaps represents the spirit of today's youth in Jakarta and probably in other big cities in Indonesia for the same reasons.
Born in Jakarta on June 21, 1985, Evelyn is truly a typical urban teenager. She studies foreign languages (Mandarin and English), takes piano lessons and hangs out at malls in her spare time. But the one thing that sets her apart is she loves science.
She often falters or delays her answers when she is asked questions about being Indonesian: the nationality, the country and its history.
"If I am asked about August 17th, I don't know why I always associate that day with the morning flag ceremony at school," she remarked while giggling.
Evelyn and her peers cannot be blamed though.
She is a part of the generation that does not feel tied down to the country by the heavy weight of nationalism and she was raised to see that all land belongs to everyone. The generation that lives in a borderless world.
This cannot be said lightly because she does know what it is like to fight for one's country. The country's reputation was at stake when she participated in international contests.
In addition, she knows the country's history and she understands what is meant by nationalism. But she cannot describe how she feels to be Indonesian.
"I don't know, I am just being me. I am an Indonesian because I was born and raised here. But I have no idea what needs to be shown to be Indonesian," she said.
Raised in an affluent family and living in an exclusive neighborhood in North Jakarta, Evelyn probably has had an easier time than her unfortunate peers of Chinese-descent who were discriminated against and stereotyped.
However, she has her strength to be proud of. Recently, Evelyn, who is one-half of a set of twins, won the bronze medal in the 33rd International Physics Olympiad, which was held in Denpasar, Bali. She was also awarded the best female participant.
"I am really proud because I am the world's number one (female) in physics," said Evelyn, who confessed that she was nervous at first because there were only a few female contestants.
At the end of the contest, the Indonesian contingent was basking in glory because apart from Evelyn, her compatriots Agustinus P. Sahanggamu, Widagdo Setiawan, Fadjar Ardian and Christopher Hendriks, respectively bagged two gold medals, one silver and a bronze.
Indonesia, along with Taiwan and Hungary, took fourth position after Iran, China, South Korea and Russia.
"In a competition of international scale, like the one in Bali, we really realized that we must work hard so that Indonesia will win. It's not just me or my friends, we are a team. The Indonesian team," she said.
Nevertheless, before the victorious moment, Evelyn and the boys went through a long struggle.
Previously, the Ministry of National Education held a test to select the most promising students. There were some 2,000 students competing in the test, but only 30 passed.
And then for nine months the 30 students trained for the Asian Physics Olympiad in Singapore. Only eight managed to go to Singapore, where Evelyn received a bronze medal.
The students -- narrowed down to only five later -- then were given another two months intensive training and were quarantined at a shop-house in Lippo Karawaci housing complex in Tangerang, some 30 kilometers west of Jakarta.
The fruit of their labor was eventually satisfactory.
The struggle does not end for young Evelyn though, because she will face more challenges not here, but overseas.
The graduate of private high school SMU Penabur I Jakarta and her twin sister Elvina will fly to California in September to continue their studies. Both are enrolled at Stanford University in the States.
"I am concerned about quality. I want to get the best (education) and I must go to another country where the best education is offered," Evelyn said.
Her dream was Harvard though.
"I sure want to return to Indonesia once I finish my studies. But I still get confused if I am asked what I want to be later.
"I want to improve myself and dedicate my knowledge to Indonesia but I don't know in what field," she said.
Her choices are running her own business like her parents or becoming a scientist.
The eighth grade pianist who loves to play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata could only say, "I don't know what to do later, I am still confused."