Project : Alterization
Chapter 4's

Until there came a time when he reached a point. A brilliant idea was in his mind to continue his struggle to raise the generation of literacy. A program that would have made us fall in love with reading. A program that could make us fall in love with something known as books. And yes, he did the program in our class. Literacy class program. He obligated each of us to buy a book with a title he had specified. For the means of purchase, you can directly buy it yourself through parents, or you can also leave the purchase of his book directly on him. We just need to prepare some money for the book we are going to buy. Initially, some of us thought that this program was just a mere business. All of this was just a subterfuge from him so that he would have a personal benefit. But that's not his real purpose. His goal was really sincere to make us like reading activities. And according to him, this program is one way so that his wishes can be realized.

"To form new habits, sometimes we need something called coercion. More precisely, an encouragement so that we are more enthusiastic in cultivating good habits." he said.

When my name was called, I raised my hand. He clearly mentioned a book title along with the name of the author and also the price. Book of Mindset, written by prof. Carol Dweck, with a price range of one hundred and ten thousand. My hands were swiftly recording the identity of the book. After reading the title of the book I had to buy, he moved on to the next person next to me. Secretly, I was shocked to death.

"What?! One hundred and ten thousand? Just be right! What kind of a book is that? What's the point of buying a book like this? After all, at most later it will also be junk because it is illegible. Fuck up! I'd rather use the money to shop in the city of Salatiga when the permit later." I murmured inwardly. That was my thinking long ago. A very narrow assumption of something that is very important for people today and the future. Most people have also forgotten the first commandment that God sent down on this earth for the last of mankind. A culture that is able to develop a generation to be more accomplished. Literacy.

Back then, I was completely exasperated half to death. Again, I had to put my pocket money aside again. In fact, enough classroom cash, room cash, and other derivatives make empty wallets unfilled. But what is my power. This is the request of a teacher who is also my homeroom teacher this year. How else would you like? I also contacted my parents to ask for additional allowance to succeed this program. In fact, I have not been through this program with all my heart. Run it with the bits of aggravation still left in this heart.

A few weeks later, the books he ordered came to us. He piled it on the teacher's desk, about to share it after the lesson time is over. Finally, there came a time when the books would be distributed to us.

"Atomic Habits by James Clear"

"Don't Want to Be an Average Person, by Ahmad Rifa'i Rif'an."

"Life Once, Means, Then Die, by Ahmad Rifa'i Rif'an."

"Golden Generation, Productive Generation, Notes From Qatar 2, The Face of Western Civilization, A Cup Of Tea, etc."

We also advanced one by one every time the title of the book which is our respective ration is mentioned by him. Then it was my turn to take. I got up from my stool, and immediately went to the teacher's desk. With his trademark smile, Ustadz Jaelani handed me the book titled "Mindset. The cover is blue. Has a book thickness that may reach three hundred pages. He also handed me a blank striped piece of paper with the book. In the header of the paper it says "Literacy Class Program". Then in the bottom right corner of the paper there is the inscription "Qari'ul yaum, Qaaidul ghad" in Arabic. It means "A reader in the present day, a leader in the future". We were asked to write down the key points of the book we were reading, on the paper.

I sat back on the bench and folded and slipped the paper into the book. It's really damning, I thought. Though my own daily schedule is already crowded because most of my time has been spent memorizing the Qur'an, penguroja'ah, and writing. But what can I do. I just need to modify my schedule after this. Why is it also taken seriously? Since when did my soul turn into an exemplary santri soul like this? Just relax, lah.

"Ana really asked for cooperation from all antum to succeed this program. At a minimum, antum can you set aside five minutes before bed to read? It doesn't take much. At least one day you can read five pages. If it is not able to then three pages, if it can not then one page. If it really can't, even one paragraph is already a progress to be proud of.

I hope you all can fully take advantage of this program. Indirectly, now you have begun to plunge into a path that can lead you to success. Don't waste this opportunity. Read your books. Later you will find a miracle behind the enormity of reading."

The class of the day ended with a new assignment that was assigned to us. After that day has passed, still nothing has changed for me. I'm still stuck in the monotonous routine that I used to do every day. Writing, memorizing the Qur'an, and a little sport. Keep spinning in the wheel of habit as if those three things were the most important things in my life.

Then, you know what I did to the task of summarizing the book? I wasn't looking for any key points in the book at all, let alone summarizing them. Just reading it is not. At first I was interested in trying to read it. But after the first five pages passed, I got caught up in an overwhelming saturation. So, I just rewrote the quotes of famous characters that are listed on the dark printed page at the end of each chapter. Just from there, the task of summarizing this book is complete. And I haven't read the book in its entirety.

This is the end of the literacy class program that he wholeheartedly held for us. For me who is only half-way through, there has not been the slightest change that I have shown. However, that sentence is not entirely true. There was one small change that I probably didn't notice either. Slowly, little by little my heart began to open. Whatever he was trying to do for us, now it feels more deeply in the soul. Even so, he also never abstained from retreating. He will move forward to change us and to raise the next generation of literacy in this runaway world. I don't know what I thought before. It is very shortsighted my opinion on the urgency of this literacy.