Undergraduate / PERSONAL STATEMENT - GKS-U TOUR MANAGEMENT [3]

Growing up as a Chinese-Indonesian and experiencing prejudice has taught me the value of cultural education. Although discrimination towards Chinese-Indonesians has reduced, some prejudices and stereotypes still exist. Most of these stereotypes arise from misunderstanding and little knowledge of culture.

In Junior High School, I went to Banten for a field trip. I learned about the Baduy ethnicities- a Sundanese ethnic group known for their traditional way of living and resistance to modern influences. I was fascinated when I listened to them sharing their histories and traditions. I know them only as an indigenous ethnic resisting themselves from the outside world, which doesn't use smartphones and footwear, but after this experience, I got to know more. It was an eye-opening moment for me. I discussed it with my junior high school teacher and learned that tourism could also be a platform for cultural exploration. Therefore, I pursued tourism as my major in vocational high school.

In my second year of high school, Indonesia started implementing "new-normal" regulations and lifted lockdown restrictions. My first assignment back in face-to-face learning was to design a half-day city tour. I was nervous about meeting people again, yet I was excited to explore and see the world in a broader view, finally, so I explored Tangerang city directly to learn about the Cina Benteng community- Chinese-Indonesians who have lived there for generations. I made a half-day tour itinerary to learn about the history of Cina Benteng and how they lived in the area. I spoke to the locals, watched their daily doings, and visited historic sites, which increased my passion for tourism. Making the itinerary and learning about it directly made me come up with the idea that someone may come out of my tour with a better understanding and support of that community, just like I did after I went to Banten, brought me great joy.

After that experience, I became more active, involving myself in the school's projects and activities while maintaining good academic performance. One of the most meaningful projects I led was a cultural tour for elementary students from grades one to six. We went to six different places of worship that the Indonesian government recognized. I compiled the itineraries and explained each site's cultural and historical significance. Watching students at a young age, sharing about their religion, and becoming more curious and respectful toward other religions confirmed my belief that tourism can be a tool for empathy and unity.

I also had a memorable experience planning a four-day, three-night trip to Yogyakarta for our juniors and teachers. I did the itinerary and accommodation bookings, which increased my interest in itinerary design. I also served as the secretary for our school's Chinese New Year celebration, which required me to coordinate between teams, take minutes of meetings, and complete the supporting documentation needed. In this role, I improved my organizational and communication skills. Public speaking was a great struggle for me at one time. However, I overcame this weakness by participating in school events and my three-month internship at a four-star hotel in Jakarta. As a food and beverage attendant, I welcomed local and international visitors and introduced them to the Indonesian cuisines we served, initiating conversation to make the guests feel welcomed. I learned that good customer service, a genuine smile, and cultural knowledge can bridge language barriers and offer a memorable experience.

In addition to guest service, I worked as a back office admin responsible for sales, finance, and human resources documents. There, I was responsible mainly for managing papers and inputting data, which gave me a better understanding of the work behind the scenes in the hotel industry.

After graduating, I supported my family as the oldest child. My parents divorced, and I live with my mother and two younger siblings. I wanted to experience the airline ticketing and booking system and tried to apply to a company that works in the airline sector. Fortunately, I got accepted. I'm responsible for flight reservations, reschedules, and services such as in-flight meals, baggage, and seat assignments in this company. Though I was the youngest employee, I adapted quickly with the help of my manager and co-worker. Eventually, I became a top performer, accurately handling over 90 daily transactions. It's improved my travel logistics as well as multitasking skills.

Through the lockdown, cinema provided me a doorway to see the world. I spend a lot of time watching Korean cinema, especially those that portray historical events and social issues. I admire how Korea uses entertainment to promote its culture to the rest of the world. It led me to reflect on the possibilities of collaboration between tourism and the media to build cultural knowledge. Watching Korean history and knowing that Korea and Indonesia share a similar history makes me more curious and led me to learn the Korean language. I eventually achieved level 4 on the Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK).

Having nearly three years of professional experience in the tourism industry, I feel deeply grateful for what I've learned- but I know I have more to give and my journey is far from over. I want to remind myself of the passion that first led me to choose tourism- I want to build a bridge that could connect cultural diversity and eliminate prejudice. Dong-A University's tourism management program is a good fit for my studies. I am deeply interested, especially in its courses on Tourism ICT Planning and design, and sustainable tourism. I want to learn to design community-based tourism programs to respect cultural heritage and learn about practices that might benefit both travelers and society. I wish to learn from Korea's success as a basis for developing sustainable tourism programs.

As Soe Hok-Gie, a Chinese-Indonesian activist, quotes, "No more hatred toward anyone, any religion, any race, or any nation... forget about war and hatred, and focus on building a better world." Cultural Education and tourism are tools for building a better world, and studying at Dong-A University is my first step toward realizing this vision.