Letting Tempo Go

I’m moving on.

Tempo has been an important part of my life, a significant label I proudly say right after my name in every introduction, since March 3rd, 2008. It has strongly defined who I am, how I think, and what my views are today.

Nevertheless, after six years of “education” in Tempo, last month I decided to put a sweet end to it. People keep asking why and where I will go next — is it CNN Indonesia? PR agency? Housewife? — and I grow tired of explaining so here is my I answer.

In a nutshell, I feel like I have outgrown Tempo. Like those potted plants: at one point the plants become too large they can’t fit the pot no more, so we have to put them into larger pots or plant them in the ground. I need new challenges, new environment. So I move on.

But where will I move? To be honest, nowhere or perhaps more accurately, everywhere. Not CNN Indonesia, nor any PR agency, neither will I be a housewife. At least not now. For the time being, let me label myself as a freelancer, who will gladly write, report, or translate English-Bahasa Indonesia (and vice versa) documents for you.

Why don’t I find the next established, “real” job before resigning from Tempo? (damn, these seemingly endless questions, are you all journalists or what? :D) My answer is, well, sometimes enough is enough.

I have a lot to thank to Tempo: for it is the institution that instills high standards of integrity among its workers, hones my journalistic skills, and sharpens my linguistic capabilities (turning into a grammar Nazi is a side effect of it). Tempo is also my stepping stone to get the scholarship, which allows me to taste two wonderful years in Europe. Last but not least, it is also in Tempo that I fell for Yoga 🙂

As for my grudges for the corporation: let me keep it to myself (and my Tempo friends hahaha).

I will always be proud to have Tempo as a significant part of my life.

See you later, Tempo!

With friends of my batch, on the first day in Tempo.