The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and strong determination. These are the keys to achieving success, especially if the work is done with sincerity and the intention of helping. Success is certainly in sight.
Such is the journey of Syaqban, an immigrant from Medan who became an exemplary teacher at an oil palm plantation company in Aceh Singkil.
Sometimes, to survive in an overseas land, it is necessary to sacrifice many things, especially migrating to a village that was not developed at the time.
Living with the economic limitations of his parents is not a complaint. He dared to migrate away from his parents. For him to become someone who excels, he must be able to get out of his comfort zone.
“With determination, knowledge, and morals, 13 years ago, I first came to Aceh Singkil. The important intention was to find halal sustenance, even though at that time I did not know where to live and work, there were no relatives,” said Syaqban.
Singkil is on the west Sumatra route that connects Banda Aceh—Medan and Sibolga. However, the route was more mountainous and needed more development.
With an education diploma in hand, it did not take long for Syaqban to land a job. He was accepted at an oil palm plantation company, one of the people’s livelihoods in Aceh Singkil.
Initially, what made Syaqban able to survive in the overseas land with complete facilities that meet the needs of clothing, food, and shelter was different from the profession based on the background of his undergraduate diploma.
“The first time I worked, there was only a vacancy as a labourer at PT PLB, a palm oil company owned by Astra Group. I intended to seek fortune; as long as it was honest work, I was very grateful,” Syaqban recalled enthusiastically.
PT PLB (Perkebunan Lembah Bhakti) is a palm oil company subsidiary of PT Astra Agro Lestari Tbk (Astra Agro), operating in Aceh Singkil. Syaqban, a Batak immigrant who was born in the village of Napa Horsuk, North Sumatra, recounted his challenging past life. However, he hopes to work in education according to his interests and talents.
As a labourer, Syaqban continued to show enthusiasm and persistence in his work, which got the company’s attention. He was transferred to a better position, but it was still not what he had hoped for.
“For about a year, I was a plantation labourer, and then, thank God, I was transferred to the field to help supervise the foreman; even though I did not know plantations at that time, I just believed in Allah that this was the path for me,” he said.
A Fruitful Initiative
Syaqban’s youthful spirit was in full swing at that time. There were times when he was a foreman’s helper and felt a lot of free time, so he looked for ways to be more productive. Since Syaqban’s primary education is Islam, especially since he is in the western part of Serambi Mekah (Aceh). He looked for opportunities and took the initiative to help one of the schools assisted by PT PLB.
“It was just a whim at first, thinking how my free time could be useful, often passing by and occasionally stopping by the school. I heard there was a shortage of religion teachers then, and I was desperate to go to the principal to propose myself to help,” said Syaqban.
Luckily, Syaqban continued. He was well received by the school and was allowed to fill the vacancy of a religion teacher at the school at that time. The school certainly considered Syaqban’s scientific background and good intentions during the hiring process. However, because there were no vacancies for new teachers back then, Syaqban volunteered as a teacher even when he was yet to be appointed as a permanent teacher.
“My intention was for Lillahitaala to help and share knowledge. I also adjusted the school days and hours to when I finished working in the plantation. And again, Allah rewarded my intention; not long after helping at the school, the PLB management saw it, and I was asked to be the supervisor at the mosque in PT PLB’s plantation block and to become the ustad,” he explained.
In short, Ustadz Syaqban, as he is often called by the PT PLB plantation team, told how his persistence finally paid off. PT PLB considered his productivity in helping schools and being a mosque supervisor a good deed, and he was appointed a permanent employee as an Islamic education teacher at SDN Telaga Bhakti, an assisted school located in the company’s HGU.
“In 2015, I was appointed as a permanent teacher. Amazingly, the community and companies still ask me to be a mosque supervisor because I am close to the association for Islamic spiritual activities,” he adds.
Syaqban, who used to work as a field worker, is now so busy with his activities as an unsung person, especially in the field of religious science, especially in Acehnese society, which is very strict about Islamic law.
Educating Quran Tahfiz to Best Mosque Winners
Islamic religious education teachers are expected to be able to shape students to be ready to face the current era. Indeed, Islamic Religious Education is not just a process of naming moral values to fortify themselves from harmful access to globalization or modernization. However, the most important thing is how the affective or moral values have been instilled.
Adaptive and inspiring is the life motto applied by Syaqban as a teacher and ustadz he is currently living. Prioritizing knowledge and morals is the message he always conveys to his students. In thirteen years as a teacher, he has succeeded in delivering six students who tahfidz Qur’an 30 juz at an early age and who are currently continuing in pesantren education.
Not only that, Syaqban’s liveliness and productivity know no age. Even at a young age, like the beginning of his career, he remains a diligent and persistent person. He is now married and has one child.
Catur Wibowo, PT PLB’s Assistant Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), witnessed his persistence. According to Catur, Ustadz Syaqban is one of the role models for PLB residents. His humble attitude, love of sharing, and high knowledge, of course, led to his success, which was beneficial not only for him but also for the people around him.
“Because they are so active, there are ideas initiated by Ustadz and the teacher, which thankfully resulted in proud achievements,” said Catur.
Thanks to the mushala he built, Catur continued. Along with its idea programs, PT PLB became the defending champion for three consecutive years in the Amaliah Astra Awards event by winning the top three in the Branch Area Musala Category.
“All the programs are wrapped in Islamic knowledge, but the practice is prioritized for social, so that the association community or non-Muslim students can still participate in various programs, for example, alms,” he explained.
Currently, Syaqban’s students have reached hundreds of people from grade 1 to grade 6, the majority of whom are almost 90% children of PT PLB employees. Syaqban enjoys his profession with pride and happiness.
He is grateful to PT PLB, the first place where he made a living, gained experience, and shared knowledge.
PT PLB’s sustainability policy through its CSR program divides it into four pillars, one of which is the education pillar. SDN Telaga Bhakti, the only public school located in the company’s concession, is proof of PT PLB’s contribution.
According to Syaqban, PT PLB routinely assists school facilities and needs, such as school facilities and infrastructure assistance, teacher competency development, and scholarships for outstanding students.
From my initial experience until now, being an educator is also the company’s commitment to developing and empowering human resources and providing opportunities for employees to work according to their passion.
“For me, PT PLB is more than my second home. There have been so many experiences and contributions of PLB in my life. Besides being a place to make a living, here is also a place for me to find a soul mate, hehe,” said Syaqban with a small joke.
While migrating to Aceh Singkil, fate brought him together with his soul mate. His wife also works at PT PLB as a factory clerk. They are blessed with a child who is currently 3.5 years old.
