Nothing has barely changed, yet everything has

Photo by Suzy Hazelwood, Pexels

Today for the first time (-of this year), I opened my LinkedIn app. Many notifications and messages leave unread. The only reason that urges me to open this so-called social media for professional use is to update my list of experiences. Starting this April, I will work alongside the National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES) while pursuing my master's program in Environmental Systems at The University of Tokyo, which I start the last October.

Scrolling through the app, I found many friends and acquaintances had changed, mainly in a good or even outstanding way. Glad to know that their professional roles and career path are doing well. At the same time, I started to look at my own profile and laugh, smirkingly at my About section. Nothing has barely changed through the years, but laughing at your past and own process could be a good signal to improve. So, I decided to rewrite that section as the start while forging myself in this so-called made-up sabbatical leave (only in my mind's definition) phase.

Before

“I completed my bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering, Universitas Islam Indonesia in August 2018 and was honored with a 3.81 out of 4.00 GPA. During my undergraduate study, I was actively involved in several students organizations with leadership positions, participating in international conferences, attending students exchanges, joining volunteering, and compete in research competitions.

In my recent work, I am responsible for assisting in the development of schemes and instruments for implementation of environmental and forestry based standards, and facilitating the formulation and implementation of environmental management standards along with regulators, experts, academics, practitioners, business, NGOs, communities, and related stakeholders.

Recently, I manage to analyze standards and policies updates related to climate change resilience, circular economy, and sustainable consumption and production; cooperated in composing the first edition of Indonesian Sustainable Action Guidelines-which is a document of collaboration between ministries (The Ministry of National Development of Indonesia/Bappenas) and SCP partners support accelerating systemic behavioral changes towards a sustainable lifestyle; and also cooperated with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) experts in composing the first Draft of Indonesia Product Category Rules (PCR) Guidelines based on the LCA implementation which has a significant role for the Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) development in Indonesia beyond.”

After

As an environmental engineer, I have always been fascinated by the interplay between human development and the natural world. My passion for sustainable practices has led me on a journey of discovery, from participating in international conferences and research competitions to volunteering in communities worldwide.

During my undergraduate studies at Universitas Islam Indonesia (UII), I was actively involved in several organizations, where I held leadership positions and honed my skills in teamwork and collaboration. I embraced every opportunity to learn and grow, whether attending student exchanges or competing in research competitions.

In my recent work, I have been privileged to work with regulators, experts, academics, practitioners, business leaders, NGOs, communities, and related stakeholders in developing and implementing environmental standards. I am proud to have played a role in facilitating the formulation of these standards and promoting sustainable practices across a wide range of industries.

My passion for environmental sustainability led me to pursue a master’s in environmental systems at The University of Tokyo. I have immersed myself in the latest research and practices, working alongside experts at Japan’s National Institute of Environmental Studies (NIES).

My journey has been driven by a deep sense of purpose and a desire to impact the world positively. I am committed to using my skills and knowledge to create a better future for all, and I am excited about the opportunities.

As I continue on my journey, I am confident that I will continue to learn and grow, and I am excited to see what the future holds.

As you read in the title of this article, “Nothing has barely changed, yet everything has.” Let me put this short self-reflecting writing to tell you to: spend time putting a bookmark for yourself, a checkpoint to rest for a while, contemplating, going up to the balcony and seeing the ball (dance party) from above. Admiring or even laughing at your most likely fast-paced and self-centred life. Discover the vividness of short-lived but complex human life.

Reference

My LinkedIn profile