Reflective Journal Week 6

Name : Indah Pratiwi

Class : 3C

Student ID : 1205030112

Place of Publication : The Jakarta Post, WEEKENDER MAGAZINE

A Personal Matter

By Devi Asmarani

(Narrative Text)

Answer to Critical Questions

• What questions aroused when you read the title "Personal Matter"? What it reminds you?

When I read about the title I suddenly remember about all of my personal problems that come to
my life, because personal matter for me is all of personal things that I have. When I read the text,
I remember about spiritual journey of Marcel Siahaan, Indonesia male singer that I have watched
on youtube, it has the similar story, the difference is Marcel has found his answer and has
decided his religion.

• What is the subject matter or the topic of the text?

The subject matter of the topic is personal matter between identity and family who have different
beliefs.

• Who do you this the writer is?

I have read in the some of websites, Devi Asmarani is Co-founder and Chief Editor of the web
magazine Magdalene.co, she decided to make Magdelene.co because she tired of hearing high
rates of violence against women . Twenty-four years’ experience that encompasses work as print
journalist, editor, copy writer and communication consultant, writing trainer and gender
facilitator. Recipient of 2018 S.K. Trimurti Award, an annual award given by the Alliance of
Independent Journalists Indonesia for works on women’s rights and press freedom. An award-
winning journalist and a versatile writer and editor in English and Indonesian with extensive
experience that ranges from writing and editing stories and reports and knowledge management
on development issues for international agencies to copy writing for some of the country’s top
corporations. Give writing and journalism instruction and workshops. Facilitate gender and
media training to journalists and students. Internationally qualified to teach yoga and published a
book on yoga.

• Is the character "I" in the text the writer herself? Why?

It can be herself, it can be a fictive. Because I read the information about the writer and I found
the relevance between the text and the writer but it’s not 100% valid tho, but in other side the
writer writes about some of fiction, so we still don’t know the text is the writer herself or not.

• What happen to the characters "I" and "sister"?

The character “I” try to find the best religion to her/him, she/he is still trying and trying but
hasn’t decide anything, and the characters “sister” based on the character “I” said, she’s born
again Christian and be religious with her belief but when the sister have big problem in her life,
she rarely pray in the Church anymore.

• Whose voice is being heard in the text? whose voice is not and should be there in the text?

The voice is being heard is the voice of the people who haven’t believed in religion, and the
voice is should be in the text is the voice of the people who have faith in religion.

• what is the connection between the text and the picture attached?

I don’t really get all of symbolizes, but I think I can explain a little connection between the text
and picture, there are the girl as the character “I”, gravel road, two railroads and two escalators,
and the light in top of the both escalators. Gravel road and two railroads it symbolize of living
and learning/the character “I” spiritual journey is not easy, there’s so many obstacles to find the
good one. And two escalators symbolize the character “I” choices, because the girl on the picture
is standing in the middle between two escalators. So, she/he hasn’t choose any of choices but if
she/he finally choose one of it right or left, she/he will find her/him success or the answer of the
struggle of the spiritual journey, the light on the top of two escalators symbolizes her/him
successful.

• How do you feel about the "I" , the "matter" or the "text" ?

I feel amazed about the character “I” is someone who has the difference intellectual intelligence
because in the 9 years old of her/him had mind that not everyone can think, and the “matter” of
the text like something sacred in ourselves, and when I read the text I feel like someone’s
spiritual journey is actually hard.

• What is your final judgment towards the text?

I little disagree with the text because the text can be a trigger for some people to change their
mind about religion, but in other side we can know that there is person who tries hard of making
decision in religion.
• What lessons learned you got from this text?

The lesson that I got from the text is keep living and learning, as long as you're alive, keep
learning, and never stop.

Personal Experience

I’m interesting when I read the text when the character “I” start to tell about her journey to find
the perfect religion for her. But I confused with the purpose of the text, I don’t know for sure
what the writer wants from the readers, but in my opinion the writer wants us to know that for
some people find the religion for them is not easy, some people have their own perspective about
religion.

Reaction and Interpretation

I am amazed by the 9 years old of the character I started to think about the perfect religion for
her, she thought that if there was only one God, then which competing religions would he or she
be inclined to support. When the other 9 years old kids still play with their friends, but she/he
has that mind in 9 years old, even myself never think about that.

Relation to Prior Knowledge

Before I read the text, I have watched the similar story on youtube about the spiritual journey of
Marcel Siahaan, he tried to find the best religion and live around the family which has different
religion, and in the text mention “born again Christian” I know this meaning of the words from
my Christian friend several years ago, she said that when they were born as Christian it’s
actually not as Christian, because their religion is still from their family. In Christian, you will be
a real Christian when you have decided with your mind and faith, not the religion from the
parents. That’s why they do “baptis” around 10-17 years old of them.

Questions

I have no questions

Agree/disagreement on the Judgement

I little disagree with the text because the text can be a trigger for some people to change their
mind about religion, but in other side we can know that there is person who tries hard of making
decision in religion