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- Asep Haryono | Grateful at 55: A Life Reflection on My Birthday - Powered by Blogger
Hello all my fellow bloggers wherever you are.
Today, April 19th, I celebrate my 55th birthday. Reaching this age is both a blessing and a moment of deep reflection. It is a time to look back on my journey the joys, the struggles, the successes, and the regrets and to look forward with hope for the future.
I was born in Jakarta on April 19, 1971. I come from a big family. I have one younger brother, one elder sister, and seven elder brothers. Life in a large family taught me about togetherness, sharing, and resilience from an early age.
Sadly, one of my eldest brothers has passed away, and both of my beloved parents also passed away a few years ago. Their absence is deeply felt, but their values and sacrifices continue to guide my life. Today, our family remains with eight siblings in total, holding on to memories, love, and the responsibility to carry forward our family's legacy.
As I reflect on my life, education has been one of the most important chapters and also one of the deepest regrets I carry in my heart.
I successfully completed my elementary school in 1983, Junior High School in 1986, and Senior High School in 1989. Like many young people at that time, I had dreams of continuing my education and building a better future. However, in 1989, I failed the national state university entrance test. That failure was painful and disappointing, but I refused to give up.
In 1990, I tried again, and by God's grace, I finally passed the national state university entrance test. That moment filled me with hope, pride, and excitement. I began my first year at Tanjungpura University in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, majoring in English. I believed that this was the beginning of a brighter future.
Unfortunately, life had other plans for me.
In 1998, after several years of study, I was forced to drop out of university because I was no longer able to pay the tuition fees. Financial hardship became an obstacle that I could not overcome at that time. Leaving the university without completing my degree was one of the most difficult and heartbreaking decisions of my life. That moment became my first major educational failure, and it is something I have regretted for many years.
Since then, I have continued my life with only a Senior High School certificate. I worked, struggled, and tried to support myself and my family as best as I could. Life moved forward, but the dream of completing my higher education never truly disappeared.
Now, at the age of 55, I sometimes feel that my chances to pursue higher education either in Indonesia or overseas are very limited. When I look at many of my friends from school and university, I see that they have successfully built their careers and continued their education. Some of them studied abroad in countries such as Australia, the United States, and several European nations through scholarships like LPDP and other international programs.
At times, I feel left behind.
There are moments when regret visits my heart, and I wonder what my life might have been like if I had been able to complete my education. I sometimes think about the opportunities I missed and the dreams that were delayed. These thoughts can be heavy, especially when comparing my journey with others.
However, as I grow older, I am beginning to understand a deeper truth about life.
Life is not always about titles, degrees, or achievements. Life is also about endurance, responsibility, faith, and the courage to keep moving forward even when circumstances are difficult. Not every journey is the same. Some people reach their goals quickly, while others must take longer and more challenging paths.
Despite all the disappointments and regrets, I am still standing today.
I am still alive. I am still learning from life. I am still growing as a person. And most importantly, I am still dreaming.
This 55th birthday is not only a reminder of what I did not achieve, but also a celebration of what I have survived. I have faced challenges, losses, and failures, yet I continue to move forward. I have learned patience, humility, and perseverance through life's experiences.
I may not hold a university degree, but I hold valuable lessons gained through hard work and real-life struggles. I may not have reached all the goals I once dreamed about, but I still have time to create new goals and new meaning in my life.
At 55, I choose not to surrender to regret. Instead, I choose gratitude.
I am grateful for life.
I should also consider myself a thankful man because Allah has blessed me with a good and intellectual wife whom I met in 2004. I married a young student from IKIP Semarang in that same year, and we officially started our married life one year later. Her professional journey has been inspiring to witness. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher at KB-TK Islam Al Azhar Pontianak, and later, in 2008, she successfully passed the Government State Officer test (Pegawai Negeri Sipil).
To make a long story short, she has become a very successful career woman in both education and professional fields. One of her proudest achievements was returning from Japan under the Japan Foundation scholarship for a teacher exchange program for vocational schools in November 2025. She has two different degrees: the first degree in English Studies and the second (postgraduate) degree in Educational Administration.
Her dedication, discipline, and passion for education have always been a source of pride and motivation for me. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for the lessons that shaped me. And I am grateful for the strength to continue dreaming, even at this stage of my life.
I must also express my deep gratitude for my two wonderful children a son and a daughter. My elder son will soon become a university student, and my beloved daughter is currently in Yogyakarta and is planning to continue her Senior High School education in Pontianak. They are the light of my life and the reason I keep striving to be a better father of my whole family.
Today, I realize that I have complete happiness as a man in this world. Having a good, humble, and intelligent wife and lovely children is one of the greatest blessings that Allah SWT has ever given to me. I will never betray this trust, love, and attention from my whole family, and I must remain grateful every day for what Allah has given me.
As I celebrate this birthday, I hold on to the wisdom from the Holy Qur'an that has strengthened my heart during difficult times:
"For indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease." (Al-Inshirah 94:5-6)
With this faith, I pray for good health, peace of mind, and the opportunity to continue learning and contributing to society in whatever way I can. I believe that as long as we are alive, it is never too late to grow, to improve, and to pursue meaningful goals.
This is not the end of my story. This is simply another chapter in my journey.
Happy 55th birthday to me.|
Alhamdulillah for everything that Allah has written in my life.
May the years ahead be filled with hope, strength, wisdom, and new possibilities.
Asep Haryono
Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan
INDONESIA
Today, April 19th, I celebrate my 55th birthday. Reaching this age is both a blessing and a moment of deep reflection. It is a time to look back on my journey the joys, the struggles, the successes, and the regrets and to look forward with hope for the future.
I was born in Jakarta on April 19, 1971. I come from a big family. I have one younger brother, one elder sister, and seven elder brothers. Life in a large family taught me about togetherness, sharing, and resilience from an early age.
Sadly, one of my eldest brothers has passed away, and both of my beloved parents also passed away a few years ago. Their absence is deeply felt, but their values and sacrifices continue to guide my life. Today, our family remains with eight siblings in total, holding on to memories, love, and the responsibility to carry forward our family's legacy.
As I reflect on my life, education has been one of the most important chapters and also one of the deepest regrets I carry in my heart.
I successfully completed my elementary school in 1983, Junior High School in 1986, and Senior High School in 1989. Like many young people at that time, I had dreams of continuing my education and building a better future. However, in 1989, I failed the national state university entrance test. That failure was painful and disappointing, but I refused to give up.
In 1990, I tried again, and by God's grace, I finally passed the national state university entrance test. That moment filled me with hope, pride, and excitement. I began my first year at Tanjungpura University in West Kalimantan, Indonesia, majoring in English. I believed that this was the beginning of a brighter future.
Unfortunately, life had other plans for me.
In 1998, after several years of study, I was forced to drop out of university because I was no longer able to pay the tuition fees. Financial hardship became an obstacle that I could not overcome at that time. Leaving the university without completing my degree was one of the most difficult and heartbreaking decisions of my life. That moment became my first major educational failure, and it is something I have regretted for many years.
Since then, I have continued my life with only a Senior High School certificate. I worked, struggled, and tried to support myself and my family as best as I could. Life moved forward, but the dream of completing my higher education never truly disappeared.
Now, at the age of 55, I sometimes feel that my chances to pursue higher education either in Indonesia or overseas are very limited. When I look at many of my friends from school and university, I see that they have successfully built their careers and continued their education. Some of them studied abroad in countries such as Australia, the United States, and several European nations through scholarships like LPDP and other international programs.
At times, I feel left behind.
There are moments when regret visits my heart, and I wonder what my life might have been like if I had been able to complete my education. I sometimes think about the opportunities I missed and the dreams that were delayed. These thoughts can be heavy, especially when comparing my journey with others.
However, as I grow older, I am beginning to understand a deeper truth about life.
Life is not always about titles, degrees, or achievements. Life is also about endurance, responsibility, faith, and the courage to keep moving forward even when circumstances are difficult. Not every journey is the same. Some people reach their goals quickly, while others must take longer and more challenging paths.
Despite all the disappointments and regrets, I am still standing today.
I am still alive. I am still learning from life. I am still growing as a person. And most importantly, I am still dreaming.
This 55th birthday is not only a reminder of what I did not achieve, but also a celebration of what I have survived. I have faced challenges, losses, and failures, yet I continue to move forward. I have learned patience, humility, and perseverance through life's experiences.
I may not hold a university degree, but I hold valuable lessons gained through hard work and real-life struggles. I may not have reached all the goals I once dreamed about, but I still have time to create new goals and new meaning in my life.
At 55, I choose not to surrender to regret. Instead, I choose gratitude.
I am grateful for life.
I should also consider myself a thankful man because Allah has blessed me with a good and intellectual wife whom I met in 2004. I married a young student from IKIP Semarang in that same year, and we officially started our married life one year later. Her professional journey has been inspiring to witness. She began her career as a kindergarten teacher at KB-TK Islam Al Azhar Pontianak, and later, in 2008, she successfully passed the Government State Officer test (Pegawai Negeri Sipil).
To make a long story short, she has become a very successful career woman in both education and professional fields. One of her proudest achievements was returning from Japan under the Japan Foundation scholarship for a teacher exchange program for vocational schools in November 2025. She has two different degrees: the first degree in English Studies and the second (postgraduate) degree in Educational Administration.
Her dedication, discipline, and passion for education have always been a source of pride and motivation for me. I am grateful for my family. I am grateful for the lessons that shaped me. And I am grateful for the strength to continue dreaming, even at this stage of my life.
I must also express my deep gratitude for my two wonderful children a son and a daughter. My elder son will soon become a university student, and my beloved daughter is currently in Yogyakarta and is planning to continue her Senior High School education in Pontianak. They are the light of my life and the reason I keep striving to be a better father of my whole family.
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This was last year, when I celebrated my 54th birthday at my home. My family gave this anniversary cake to me. How about this year? I am looking forward to their surprise for sure. Wish me luck |
As I celebrate this birthday, I hold on to the wisdom from the Holy Qur'an that has strengthened my heart during difficult times:
"For indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease." (Al-Inshirah 94:5-6)
With this faith, I pray for good health, peace of mind, and the opportunity to continue learning and contributing to society in whatever way I can. I believe that as long as we are alive, it is never too late to grow, to improve, and to pursue meaningful goals.
This is not the end of my story. This is simply another chapter in my journey.
Happy 55th birthday to me.|
Alhamdulillah for everything that Allah has written in my life.
May the years ahead be filled with hope, strength, wisdom, and new possibilities.
Asep Haryono
Kubu Raya, West Kalimantan
INDONESIA
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"





















