The howling gale, the crash of waves upon the sea, and the high energy swell in the South China Sea cannot restrain the spirit of nationalism of the young people in the Indonesian islands of Natuna.
"Firstly, we, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, vow to recognize one motherland, Indonesia. Secondly, we, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, vow to recognize one nation, the nation of Indonesia. Thirdly, we, the sons and daughters of Indonesia, vow to uphold the language of unity, Indonesian."
The patriotic words written in the Youth Pledge were uttered with utmost confidence by the Natuna children. Stirring emotions for those who hear them.
Indeed, the islands in Natuna District function as a fence of the Indonesian archipelago which serve as the gateway to the country.
The waters of Natuna Islands are portrayed as a vast expanse of Indonesia's yard. The huge quantities of oil and gas reserves, wealth of fish, coral reefs, and other natural resources that the land and sea of Natuna have look like the exquisite plants that beautify the yard.
Like a palace, the waters of Natuna are beautiful courtyards filled with expensive plants. And the young people on the islands are security forces who are at the forefront of the enemy who wants to come to destroy and steal.
Therefore, the youth of Natuna must be tough and have a high sense of nationalism.
Spirit of unity
Fostering the spirit of nationalism in Natuna is not difficult. Parents have passed that sense of nationalism onto their children from an early age.
In fact, the feelings of love to Indonesia among local youth have grown deeper in recent years thanks to the ever-growing attention the central government pays to Natuna, according to Natuna Genre Ambassador Fikri Katriansah.
Truly, President Joko Widodo sets his gaze and affection for Natuna. He makes repeated visits to the district, and has even launched various programs to improve the welfare of coastal residents.
The central and regional governments are eager to make Natuna flourish.
Most recently, the government set Natuna as a digital-based island, or Natuna Digital Island. Of course, it becomes the pride and joy of its people.
Various development efforts pursued by the government also strengthen the motivation of Natuna's young people to empower themselves in order to be more better and more capable to compete with their counterparts from other Indonesian regions.
Fikri, for example. The twelfth grader from High School I Bunguran Timur is very confident that he can win the competition and achieve his dream of pursuing higher education at the University of Riau and obtain a PhD degree.
"Natuna may be the outermost island, seemingly not so up to date, but it does not rule out the possibility that we can be better. We have the motivation to compete further," he said.
Fikri's words sound way wiser than his actual age. There is no hint of inferiority as someone who does not come from a metropolitan city. There is only pride of being a Natuna resident who can do anything and is ready to defend the country.
He thinks that every region in Indonesia is unique, therefore each of the youth also has different set of abilities. Collaboration from all of them actually makes Indonesia stronger.
"We have the same opportunities. Nothing prevents us from competing in big cities, such as the cities in Java and other areas of Sumatra," he affirmed.
Essentially, all citizens do have the same opportunities to progress and develop the country, including those in Natuna.
The central and regional governments provide plenty of opportunities for outstanding children of the Motherland to improve themselves.
Head of Natuna District Wan Siswandi also encouraged all members of young generation in the region to possess good qualities, gather strength together, be enthusiastic, keep moving onwards, and develop their potential to become the best generation in the present and in the future.
During the recent Youth Pledge celebration in Ranai, he appealed to the youth to respond wisely to differences in order to strengthen the unity and integrity of Indonesia.
Governor Ansar Ahmad also motivated the young people of Natuna not to be afraid of competing with their peers from other regions.
Children living on the islands have no reason to be inferior because an evidence of life reveals that they have the abilities that may not be owned by those in big cities.
In terms of intelligence, Natuna's children are obviously so competitive as they consume the best intake of nutritious fresh fish to amp up their intelligence.
What needs to be done is how to keep developing the quality of every person in Natuna. "Thus, please never feel inferior (just) because we live in islands. We are proving that in the future, there will be more young people from Riau islands who are able to contribute to the nation at national level," Ahmad remarked.
Guardians of the border
In the end, life goes on, and the young people are the ones who will carry the legacy on. The youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. What they do will determine the destiny, fate of the nation and state in the future.
As the governor had said, youth is an important driving force for developing the nation's power to enable the 2045 Golden Indonesia vision to come true. Members of Indonesia's young generation are also the reason for the nation's eternal glory.
By having brilliant, enthusiastic, and patriotic young people in Natuna District, there is no need to worry in trusting them to guard the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia's sovereignty.
They do not merely secure and safeguard the country's land and sea border in the forefront but they also keep striving to make Natuna more advanced and prosperous.
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Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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