Entrepreneurship Is Noble and Honorable Job
The fact today, many university graduates are interested in becoming members of government civil servants (PNS). Most of the 803 (eight hundred and three) candidates of the Directorate of Diploma Program graduates who attended the briefing at Grha Widya Wisuda, on 18 July 2011, showed their interests to be government civil servants. Similar statement was made by Yaslinur, Bogor Agricultural University alumni who was invited as the resource person for the event.
"The fact, most of the university graduates want to be government civil servants and up to now government civil servant is the best choice for them. When I was at the grade school I had idea to be a government civil servants, after over and over, finally I have changed my mind. At that time my mother even encouraged me to be an employee, though I would be accepted as an elementary school teacher only, "he said.
Then Yaslinur thought, if he would be accepted as a primary school teacher, there won’t be any possibility for him to satisfy his family, assisting his younger sisters and brothers. So he decided not to take government civil servants to be his life.
Yaslinur told his experiences how he had changed his ideas for life. When he was pursuing his undergraduate program at Bogor Agricultural University, his uncle who worked in Malaysia informed that he resigned from his jobs, thus, he was unable to provide funding support for him to pay his university expenses. "In fact, his uncle had been the main source of income for his living costs in Bogor. Then I thought over and over, and finally decided to start entrepreneurship. Using my savings as the initial capital, I began to sell socks which I put in a shop in Jakarta. Once a week I get Rp. 20.000,- (twenty thousand Rupiah) profit. At that time, the amount was sufficient enough for a month living expenses, " Yuslinur said.
Such experience had prompted him to look at the other businesses. Starting by supplying steamed rice to warteg (Tegal eating shops) up to establishing bookstores which presently is noted as the Al-Amin’s grocery. Beginning with only 1 (one) employee (in 1991) as his bookstore keeper, now Yaslinur has emplyoed 100 (hundred) employees to his seven business branches with a turnover less than Rp. 2.000.000.000, – (two billion Rupiah).
The location of his first book store and the Moslem costume business was in the 3 x 4 meters small shop. I’ve also started to establish Photocopy service, and also 2 (two) book stores in Jakarta, but both business did not running well. Finally, in 1995, he opened a book store at the Babakan Raya, thank God, this was the beginning of all the Al Amin. In addition, I also developed other business by opening "Tuntas” store, which sells shoes, sandals and bags, and as the distributor of “Bendera” milk for West Bogor area. The turn over as the milk distributors alone amounted to Rp. 170.000.000,- (one hundred and seventy million Rupiah), and the target for the next month will be Rp. 250.000.000, – (two hundred and fifty million Rupiah), "he said
Finally, to be the successful entrepreneur, Yaslinur has satisfied his family. By establishing businesses, his relatives have joined his business and get adequate welfare, and able to generate job opportunities for others. “Entrepreneurship is noble and honorable jobs,” he stated.
Remarks of Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs
In the same occasion, Prof. Yonny Koesmaryono, MS, Vice Chancellor for Academic and Student Affairs, expects that the graduates of the Directorate of Diploma Program will contribute to the nation. "We hope that you will fill the vacansies that are nationally opened and even to be the migrate workers abroad. We sad that only housemaids (PRT) we have exported, actually we expect skilled labours that should be employed abroad. Of course to be employed abroad, prospective skilled labors should get additional soft skills, namely Information Technology (IT) and foreign language. All graduates should be knowledgeable on the IT network, mastering a foreign language rather than English if possible, "he said.
“Meanwhile, the entrepreneur is something to be practiced. Government policy does not fully support the agricultural businesses as it is a risky ones, but they must be developed. The condition is quite alarming for our dairy products, such as meat and milk importation, and the insufficient stocks of eggs for the upcoming Eid holidays. "
"Indeed, these are agricultural commodities, but the graduates in management and accounting are all closely related with them. If any one wants to manage or to practice entrepreneurship, Indonesia will become one of the developed countries in the world, "he said
Moreover, all the University efforts will be useless if the University alumni do not respond them. At least learn from the spirit to live independently. "If you can recruit 50 people or more it will reduce unemployment. I hope you will be the future Yaslinur in the Indonesian economy. Graduating from Bogor Agricultural University is the beginning for them to fight the reality for the advancement of the nation, you and your family. You and your family will suvive after graduation, "he said. (Wied).
