PR Educates

Showcasing students' works from PR Educates' classes.

[pr-educates-students]

Speech Manuscript: Ever-present Glow: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Preservation

by Khairunnisa Bratandari

Have you ever experienced the feelings of fresh air, the air that doesn’t give you a lump in your  throat for each breath that you take, the one that doesn’t make you feel as if you’re about to pass out for each step that you walk. It sounds like a dream, doesn’t it? But what if I say that it is a dream on the edge of reality, a vision that is within our grasp. 

Dear esteemed judges, distinguished audience, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Khairunnisa Bratandari, from Public Junior High One Cimahi. At this moment, I will be discussing Ever-present Glow: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Preservation. Why, you may ask, well, there is a wide and long explanation for this, but for this moment I have made my utmost effort to highlight the key points for today's explanation. So without further ado, let’s get right into it.

Indonesia, a country full of tall and intricate buildings, a place where natural beauty is at its finest, but even so, I'm sure we are all feeling the effects of climate change now, and it feels dreadful. However, it’s not just Indonesia, climate change is happening everywhere – it’s happening worldwide, right now! What if suddenly everything changes? The sea waters evaporated, the green trees burned down, and the animals stopped running around. Furthermore, with all the huge construction happening everywhere, it sounds like it may just happen suddenly. It may feel like all hope could just tarnish as I said that sentence, but once again, it really is something that is within our grasp, something we can change for the better.

Not to worry, though. Since the 1970s, global cooperation has grown through initiatives such as the IPCC and the Paris Agreement. But what actually is global cooperation? Global cooperation is when countries join together to face worldwide challenges rather than working solo on such big challenges and projects.

Now, we should look at the United Nations (UN), currently, their biggest mission is the SDGs, and may I remind you that Indonesia is part of the SDG project itself, and it is not a small role; we play a significant role in both ASEAN and globally. Not only were we actively involved in shaping the 2030 agenda, but we have also integrated the SDGs into our national development planning system through the National Medium-Term Development Plan. It sounds great, but sometimes it doesn’t always go as planned, but it is life isn’t it? Not everything you plan will go as you want, and it is perfectly normal. In addition to that, there is always something to learn from it. We as a community also should start moving to a better path, a path where the lights are brighter, the waters are flowing with grace, and animals run around with no worries. You don’t have to make a huge leap from your current life; start slowly, use reusable items, finish your food in each meal, and if you can’t finish it, try composting! Not everything has to be done in one go; everything takes effort, and slowly but surely is always better than rushing and failing.

In other words, we can’t let what our government has done go to waste, even as the world we live in might not be in its greatest condition. So, rather than waiting for the future to come to us, let's all come together and find the future we are all hoping to live in, and fight for it together.

[pr-educates-students]

A Research-Based Essay Outline: Ever-present Glow: Balancing Economic Growth and Environmental Preservation

by Khairunnisa Bratandari Introduction: Talking about how Indonesia is a place with high skyscrapers and new industries fueling development, but also home to the third largest tropical rainforest in the world that is slowly disintegrating. Then give a quick saying about how we can still balance both the progress in industries and the glow of nature's light.

P2: Global Context and Commitments

The tension between development and the environment is not unique to Indonesia, as the world has long struggled to address climate change.

Since the 1970s, global cooperation has grown through initiatives such as the IPCC and the Paris Agreement.

Indonesia, together with more than 150 countries, has pledged to cut emissions by 2030 and achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, showing that progress and preservation must be pursued side by side.

P3: Economic development in Indonesia

As industries grow and skyscrapers rise, Indonesia continues to strengthen its economy  to meet the needs of its people.

The nation’s economy has grown about 5% annually in the last decade, with a GDP per capita of USD 4,700 in 2022

By 2045, Indonesia aspires to be a developed country, requiring steady annual growth of 6-7%

A growing population—projected to rise by 20%— further increases demand for jobs, resources, and electricity, making industrial progress both a necessity and a challenge.

P4: Reliance on Fossil Fuels and Rising Emissions

Much of Indonesia's growth is still fueled by fossil energy, with 87.7% of the energy mix coming from coal, oil, and gas.

Low-carbon sources only contribute 12.3%, causing carbon emissions to rise sharply.

Emissions have grown from 160.85 metric tons in 1990 to 692.24 metric tons in 2022.

Shifting toward renewable energy would require USD 600 billion, far beyond the current state budget.

P5: Net Zero Emissions Commitment

As the forests that protect Indonesia shrink, the risk of climate change increases, with 80% of disasters already linked to environmental change.

By 2030, climate impacts could reduce Indonesia’s GDP by up to 3.45%.

To safeguard both its industries and its rainforests, Indonesia has pledged to reduce emissions by 41% by 2030 and achieve net-zero by 2060.

[pr-educates-students]

From Local to Global: Sharing Kampung Cireundeu’s Wisdom Through the Power of English

An essay by Khairunnisa Bratandari In a world that constantly turns to modern solutions for modern problems, Kampung Cireundeu—a traditional Sundanese village in Cimahi, West Java—reminds us that beneath our forgotten heritage lies the true answer to many of today’s pressing issues. Global warming, climate change, food insecurity and sustainability are among the most pressing challenges we face today. Yet, sometimes the solutions aren’t new—they’re already rooted in our traditions. With the help of English, our global language, we can share these stories with the world and show that heritage still matters.

Kampung Cireundeu is best known for its rasi, a rice substitute made from cassava. First introduced during the colonial era when food supplies were uncertain, this innovation was born out of necessity. But the people of Cireundeu didn’t stop using it when times improved—they kept the tradition alive as a symbol of independence, self-reliance, and gratitude to nature. Rasi isn’t just food; it’s a way of life. It teaches us to live sustainably, to value local resources, and to reduce our reliance on imported goods.

Through English—whether in writing, speeches, or social media—our generation has the chance to share this story far and wide. When we celebrate and share our heritage, not only we help preserve it, but we also connect it with the wider world. Kampung Cireundeu isn’t only about food—it’s also home to a rich culture of traditional music and art, such as karinding and sisingaan, that reflect the creativity and soul of the Sundanese people.

By sharing stories like this, not only we protect our culture, but we may also inspire other communities around the world to rediscover their own forgotten traditions and adapt them for a better future. For too long, we’ve been overly captivated by Western Culture—sometimes at the cost of forgetting our own. It’s time we begin to reconnect with our identity, not just for ourselves but for the world that can learn from it.

Let’s share our story. Be proud of it. Hold onto it.

With English, our voices can reach the world. Our story won’t be lost—it will shine brightly among many. Our cultural heritage is not something to hide; it’s something to honor. Now is our time to rise—not by abandoning our roots, but by letting them guide us toward new and hopeful possibilities.

[pr-educates-students]

Describing a Map

The map above illustrates the changes around the city hospital between 2007-2010. For the city hospital itself, there are no significant changes, but the surroundings are a different story.

First, there is a change in transportation stops, Although there used to be a line of bus stops, now they have changed it to a singular bus station. There used to be shared parking space, both the residence of the hospital and the public park in the same place, but now they have been separated and the public parking lot is located at the east of the hospital and the place that was previously used for both the parking space for residence and public has now been replaced and is specifically used for residence parking space. Lastly, there have been two additional roundabouts which are connected to the city road and the ring road around the city hospital, located on the south and the north.

[pr-educates-students]

Literary Analysis: Charlie and The Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl

by Khairunnisa Bratandari Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator by Roald Dahl is a strange but exciting sequel to Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Instead of staying in the factory, the story takes Charlie, Willy Wonka, and his family into space, where they face crazy situations like alien monsters and even a visit to the White House. The book mixes science fiction with humor and shows how adults can sometimes act more foolish than kids. The story itself is full of weird and wild inventions. The story still contains some important messages about family, being kind, and not to do anything without thinking. Roald Dahl uses humor, unusual characters, and science fiction setting in Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator to teach readers the importance of staying humble, being clever, and valuing family. In this analysis, I will explain how Dahl uses funny characters, strange events, and imagination to show these ideas.

One of the ways Dahl shares his messages is by using humor to make adults look silly. A good example of this is the way he describes the President of the United States. Instead of being a serious and strong leader, the President is shown as panicky and confused. When he thinks the Great Glass Elevator is an enemy spaceship, he overreacts and gives silly orders. This shows how adults, even those in charge, can be just as scared and ridiculous as anyone else. Dahl makes fun of people who think they are important, teaching that being in power doesn’t always mean being smart.

Another way Dahl gets his messages across is through the characters and how they deal with problems. The Vermicious Knids, for example, are scary alien creatures that attack the space hotel. While the grown ups panic, Mr Wonka stays calm and uses his creativity to solve the problem. He tricks the knids by flying the elevator away fast enough that they crash and explode. This shows that thinking clearly and using your brain is more useful than just being scared. It also proves how Wonka, even though he’s strange, is clever and helpful.

The space setting and wild inventions in the story help bring out the theme of family. When Charlie’s grandparents take too much Wonka-Vite, they get into serious trouble — one even disappears completely. Even though they were being difficult and selfish, Charlie and Mr. Wonka still worked hard to help them. This shows that family members should support each other, even when things get hard. Also, Charlie stays calm through all the chaos, showing how much he’s grown as a person since the first book

Another interesting part of Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator is how Roald Dahl uses onomatopoeia throughout the story. Words like “crash,” “boom,” “whizz,” and “zap,” appear often when the Elevator moves or when something explodes, making the scenes more exciting. These sound words help readers imagine what is happening and make the story feel alive, especially for children. Since this is a children’s book, the onomatopoeia also adds a fun and playful feeling to the story, helping young readers stay interested while following the action. It shows how Dahl uses language creatively to match the fast and crazy adventures in the book.

In Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Roald Dahl uses silly moments, creative characters, and weird settings to teach important life lessons. He shows that being smart and kind is more important than being powerful or serious. Through all the strange adventures in space, the story reminds us that family, cleverness, and a good heart matter the most. Even though the book is full of fun and chaos, it still leaves readers with strong ideas they can take with them. 

[pr-educates-students]

Shakespeare's Sonnet 18: A Literary Expression by Khairunnisa Bratandari

[pr-educates-students]

The Separation that Brought Back "You": A Short Story

by Khairunnisa Bratandari BOOOM! It’s the day that is feared by everyone, “RUN! RUN! RUNNN!!, TO THE SPACESHIP NOW!!” sadly not all of them made it… But what happened to them?...

19.000 years later

C1: Ughhh~ It’s been years since I last breathed in fresh air, it’s so frustrating.

C2: It is very annoying

C1: Do you know about the rumor that “they” want to go to an empty planet that has been used for research, but they don’t even know what’s even in there.

C2: I KNOW, why are they doing this? Isn’t this just risking the lives of many people on this spaceship?

C1: Yeah I think so too, but maybe they know it’s better than living in this spaceship.

The two of them continued blabbering for hours about how unsafe they think this one experiment is. A few days later an announcement was given to the public, that in around three days the spaceship was going to land on a planet that was thought to be habitable.

Three days later

“Dear citizen of T4 spaceship, we have officially landed on our designated planet. Please stay inside of the spaceship until informed otherwise. Thank you.” The captain announced. 10 soldiers were later deployed to scan the surrounding area, and I, Raynold the captain of unit 207, was one of them. Everything was all fine, the oxygen levels were normal, no pollution around the planet, and most importantly the plants over there were THRIVING. I went around the perimeter with my buddy Jacque just to examine the vegetation that was thriving on this planet. That was our first mistake. I was so mesmerized by the sight of plants around me that I didn’t realize that someone or something was following us, until it was too late… Before I could even react, my body was SLAMMED onto the ground by some unknown creature.

I was then woken up by the sound of whimpering right beside me. It was… Aaron? I was shocked because I remembered I was walking with Jacque, and NOT Aaron. How was he even dragged into this mess?

Aaron: Hey! Don’t just stay there and do nothing, what were you even thinking about?

Raynold: Ah uhm yeah, I was just wondering how did you end up here with me?

Aaron: What, you thought that wimpy friend of yours was going to be here with you? sigh

Raynold: Hey, watch your mouth, remember who you are talking to.

Aaron: chuckles You're so funny captain, do you really think I care about your position? Right now that’s the least of my worries, what I worry about right now is the fact that we are surrounded by a PACK of giant hunting spiders.

As I looked around I also realised that in the distance there were red giant dots, looking our way and I was shocked. “What? Are you scared my dear captain?” Aaron asked, looking down on me. I was so mad at Aaron at that point and I wanted to scold him so bad, but truthfully I was also terrified of the current situation and so I decided to stay silent. HE HAD NO SHAME. He kept on mocking me until I was on the verge of exploding, and only then he decided to keep his mouth shut, but even though he kept his mouth shut I could see an annoying smirk on the side of his face.

I was so terrified at some point that my body was shaking uncontrollably and it turns out Aaron noticed that, and he helped me calm down. It worked, but I still couldn’t get the time where Aaron was being a literal jerk that made my blood BOIL out of my head. After calming myself down for a bit I realised he had managed to take off the handcuff that was on his arms earlier, I whispered under my breath about his handcuff, but then he told me to shut up so that we wouldn’t attract any spiders. He then made a move to also take my handcuff off, and we survived.

Aaron: There you go, I took off your handcuff, you owe me. Well no time to waste, let’s get moving.

Raynold: What? I owe you nothing, you are my subordinate after all.

Aaron: Fineee, but let’s get moving, the spiders are on their way.

Raynold: Let's go.

A few minutes later

Aaron: WATCH OUT, BEHIND YOU!

Raynold: Huh? HUH?

Aaron: Kill the spider in one single movement HEY ARE YOU OK?

Raynold: panting Ye yeah I’m fine, let’s continue our journey.

Aaron: Are you sure? Let me take a look.

Raynold: Fine, go on and check.

I finally gave in and let Aaron check my condition, as I’ve said to him, I was fine. It looks like he was very relieved when he saw that I was all fine, and I sure was a bit shocked, since he always looked like the type to not care about anyone but himself. After a few minutes we continued our journey, and it was tiring. As it turns out we checked our watch, it was technically night time, so we decided to sleep under the nearby tree.

It was all peaceful, until we were woken up by the sudden rustle in the bush behind us. Not lying, my heart was about to jump out of my body. 

Raynold: W…what was that? Aaron, did you hear that?

Aaron: Yes, yes I heard that pretty clearly.

Raynold: How are you not shocked?

Aaron: You can’t react too much to those types of sounds, or it’ll lure them out even more.

Raynold: Y… yeah you’re correct.

Aaron: Well it didn’t look like you acted like that…

Raynold: Shut up, I was asleep ok?

Aaron: Alright alright. We should probably make a move now.

Raynold: Fine let’s go.

I was definitely walking… but I can’t say that I was awake. He continued to walk while I was dragging my foot on the ground. We then came across a cavern on our walk, it sure was humongous, I’m sure that this place could fit the whole plane and its people. While I was writing down and documenting what we had discovered he grabbed my arm and quickly dragged me out of the newly found cavern. I was not fully awake yet so I was unable to question a single thing that he was doing. When we were finally out of the cavern, I realised what was going on.

Raynold: Why are you dragging me!?

Aaron: Shh, they are watching us.

Raynold: stayed silent and did not ask a single question.

Aaron: I think they’re gone already, let’s get away from this place quickly. He said rushingly.

Raynold: Ah… Alright then.

Before we were able to get away from the cavern, a mysterious force sent us flying back to the cavern. I was screaming my throat out, while Aaron was just carefully observing the situation around trying to understand the situation we were in. In the end we ended up in a dark unknown place – it definitely was not unexpected. We were then “greeted” by a four legged creature, but with two arms as well. I was genuinely confused if this creature was a four legged creature or a six legged creature. The creature then introduced himself.

The creature: Well hello there human, we’ve been expecting your visit after that doomsday that happened on earth. 19.000 years ago…

The sentence 19.000 years ago sent a shiver down my spine, I didn’t understand why.

The creature: Let me introduce myself first, I am the duke of the planet’s ruler. I don’t know if you’ve done your research about this place or not before deciding to land on this planet, but I guess you’ve not done a deeper research. Or was it because all the researchers that were sent here 19.000 years ago were supposedly missing, and so you guys don’t have the materials to read through?  The duke said with a smirk.

I was trembling out of fear, while Aaron on the other hand was just silently observing. I was confused, how does something like this not make him tremble even a tad bit? I nudged him and asked how he was so relaxed, and his answer was definitely disappointing. He answered with a slight smug face “because I expected this already”. If my screaming was enabled right there, right then, I know his face would have been blown off by the sound vibration coming from my scream, because who in their right mind expected something like this???

The Duke: You guys seem pretty confused, especially you young man.

Raynold: M me?

The Duke: Who else? The gentleman beside you seems perfectly composed while you are trembling out of fear.

Raynold: Well I’m just a normal human, while he is… a total weirdo.

Aaron: What did you just say about me?

Raynold: Nope, nothing.

The Duke: Don’t quarrel on my property. I don’t mean any harm to the two of you, but that’s just my thoughts, I can’t change the way the higher ups think, so Be careful.

Those were the words you obviously don’t want to hear coming out of something… someone that looks so terrifying, because you now know something worse is coming up… I tried to keep a stone face, but I obviously didn’t manage to keep it that way. I looked at Aaron, and it was definitely not unexpected, he just sits there unfazed with everything going on around the both of us. It sure is annoying, but it’s not like I can do anything about it anyway. I nudged his arm and asked him what we were gonna do now, unsurprisingly he left me hanging. I looked him dead in the eye and that was when he finally answered me with an “I don’t know” I was about to kick his face off right there and then, when I finally got a hold of myself. I looked at him once more with a confused face, but goodness gracious his face wasn’t lying. I was panicking when The Duke finally spoke up again.

The Duke: You guys shall not worry about what I’m going to do to the both of you, but for your own sake young man, you should ask some questions to the fine gentleman beside you.

I was stunned, why would this unknown creature tell me to question my own subordinate in a place like this? I looked at Aaron one last time, but this time he was sweating like a river. I obviously started sweating as well, cause when else do you see this one stone-faced man sweat nervously like this?

Raynold: W what does he mean Aaron?

Aaron: It… it means nothing, it means nothing captain.

The Duke: Don’t you even try to lie Aaron Joo…

Raynold: W why does he know your full name Aaron? You never told him that.

The Duke: Go on and tell him Aaron~

Aaron: FINE FINE I’LL TELL HIM!

Raynold: Aaron…

Aaron: I was one of the researchers that went here 19.000 years ago, I slipped into their base and found out that they were about to throw some “meteors” to earth but the “meteor” was actually a very dangerous bomb designed by them. I was caught red handed by this particular dude, and he gave me two choices : get executed right there or to sacrifice my  team to save the people on earth, and specifically to save you from any disaster. I failed to do that during the doomsday and so I was cursed to live forever until I am able to save you from a tragic death, and it has been 19.000 years.

The Duke: One very nostalgic story from you Aaron~

Raynold: W what does that mean Aaron…

Aaron: It means as such Ray…

Raynold: A and you’ve been doing this for…

Aaron: Yes, 19.000 years

Words couldn’t explain how shocked I was, my mind was a blank sheet of paper with a few noticeable dust on it. I looked at Aaron horrified but also with a  mix of confusion, at that point I was rethinking everything I thought about how my life is. Aaron looked at me with a tired and regretful expression. I definitely isn’t close enough to be able to say “I know how it feels” but I truly know that he is very tired after all those years of trying to save another version of “me” and witnessing my death countless times. If I were him I would’ve given up YEARSSSS AGO.

Raynold: W why did you make that promise? I wasn’t even that close to you. Why didn’t you give up?

Aaron: sigh You really did not remember who I was to you…

Raynold: Huh? What does that mean?

Aaron: I was your “brother” Ray… Your one step brother, the one that met you in the orphanage, the one and only adult figure you had in your mind. I could never let you go and suffer, that’s why I accepted that promise.

Raynold: What?

Aaron: You’ll probably not remember anything anyway.

The Duke: Well I can help with that smirk

Aaron: NOOO

The Duke then released his power and suddenly my head feels like it was shot from every single angle in existence. 

Raynold: AAGHHH WHAT ARE YOU DOINGGGG!!

Aaron: STOP STOP IT DUKE!! 

The Duke: Why should I stop? He needs to know the truth about himself.

Aaron: BUT THAT’S NOT THE WAY

I screamed as every memory of my past life started to appear in my mind. In a gaze I could see Aarons worried face with a smug annoying face from The Duke. Everything, even the tiniest details started to appear back into my memory, it was an excruciating process, nothing about it was enjoyable. Once everything calmed down I managed to finally speak up.

Raynold: W what was that…

Aaron: I’m so sorry Ray… I’m sorry that you have to go through that… he said sobbing

Raynold: I… it’s ok Aaron, I’m ok. If anything I should be the one apologizing to you…

The Duke: maniac laughs There, I brought you guys together again.

Raynold and Aaron: Shut up Duke

Aaron: One shall not disturb the talk of two brothers.

The Duke: Shock What… HOW DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME! GUARDS TAKE THEM

We were then taken by the guards, that is definitely not a human being, to a dark prison underground. They then locked the door and left us to starve.

Raynold: Aaron… Are you alright?

Aaron: I don’t know…

Raynold: Just take it easy, everything is going to be alright.

Aaron: I’m sorry Aaron…

Raynold: No, don’t say sorry, it’s not your fault…

Aaron: It is my fault Ray! I… I shouldn’t have dragged you into a situation like this, you should not be the one hurting, it…  it was only supposed to be me that’s hurting… I should've been the one to save you from hurting, NOT drag you to a place that’ll hurt you! 

I was shocked by the sudden confession. I tried so hard to hold my tears back, but that didn’t budge. Nothing I did could hold my tears back, and it was devastating. Every single thing now has made sense. I understand that Aaron has definitely had a hard time trying to do everything by himself, and is unable to tell the story to anyone, even if he did, I know that no one will trust him. It hurts me with just the thought of him hurting, I can’t imagine how much it hurts him…

Raynold: Aaron… Stop it…It’s truly not your fault…

Aaron: How can you be so sure?

I finally found the courage to look him in the  eye and it was the most painful scenery I’ve ever seen in eternity. I truly didn’t know how to face him at that moment because every beautiful thing had fallen apart, he was my one and only happiness, he was the one that took all the hurtful things from my life, and made it brand new…                                                                                                                                                                                

Raynold: Aaron…

Aaron: But Ray… This was only supposed to be my problem, not yours…                                                         Raynold: But it really isn’t a big deal Aaron, at some point it was going to be revealed anyway. It’s not your fault, nor is it something you should feel like you’ve failed… 

Aaron: But…

Raynold: The opposite way actually, I feel very relaxed now that you’ve told me everything.

Aaron: How…

Whilst we were talking a guard came in to inform us about what was going to happen to us. It sure was pretty surprising, what he told us.

The guard: You, two humans, get ready, we are going to the princess in a bit. Wash your guy’s face and fix up your clothes, make sure that the princess sees you in your best form.

I was shocked, why were we going to the princess? What’s going to happen to us? Are they going to kill us? We reluctantly follow every direction the guard has given us, not to mention he was watching us by the door with a ferocious look in his eyes. We stumbled left and right, not knowing more guards were watching us holding their laughter in.

The guard: Can’t you guys go faster, I'll give you guys two minutes to finish. Hurry up!!!

We quickly fixed our shirts and belongings and came to the door. We were of course scolded for taking too long to fix our clothes. We then followed the  guard to the castle door, while we were walking through the door I glanced above my head for a bit and I saw a sharp portcullis hanging on top, and could not get the thought of it falling onto my body and it ripping me in half out of my head. Fortunately it didn’t fall down, if it does Aaron would just have to go through the same thing all over again in my next life… I didn’t realise I was spacing out while looking up to the portcullis until the guards called out for me.

The Guard: Hey you! Focus on where you are walking!

Raynold: Y… yes, sorry.

The Guard: Good…

We continued walking, and before I even realized we were on the road walking on this unfamiliar road. Everything was faint, nothing felt real, but I know for sure it is the realest thing I've ever thought in a long time. I took a glimpse of Aaron's face and he was terrified, he was sweating like a river going downstream. At that moment my face fell onto the ground, I was terrified, nothing we’ve done together made him sweat this much. I pondered whether he knew what was coming up or not… but from his face, he knew… He knew for sure what was about to happen, and everything started to connect itself… Before I realise it we have arrived at our destination

The Guard: We’re here, don’t do anything disrespectful you two!

Everything seems unreal, nothing is written on my bingo card, it’s weird… I tried to act cool, but it was impossible, even Aaron was sweating out of every pores he has. Before we realised the princess was standing in front of us, with a stern look on her face she said “So this is our next meal, mother?” I was shocked, but Aaron looked the same, still trembling and sweating.

The Queen: Maybe yes, maybe no my child. Let’s just hope they pass our test.

Raynold: What test…

The Queen: Oh darling you don’t have to worry about it, it’ll be painless~

Aaron: You can’t do this to us!

The Queen: Why not darling? You were the one to stumble onto our planet without permission, that’s called trespassing love.

Aaron: But it’s not fair!

???: SILENCE!

A sound echoed across the room stopping everybody on their tracks.

The Queen: Oh love you don’t have to scare them like that, they are our guest and all

The King: But they are true peasants and all!

The Queen: Darling don’t say that. 

The Princess: But mother, father is not wrong, they are peasants and they don’t belong here.

The Queen: My child, they are also a being, they also have their dignity, we should always spare them even just a tiny bit, because we are stronger than them.

Me and Aaron were shaking in fear, I didn’t know what was going to happen, I could imagine nothing. So with the last strand of hope I asked the Queen.

Raynold: Pardon for my intrusion your majesty, but may I ask what you are going to do with me and my brother Aaron?

The Queen: Oh sweet boy what a great question, just to quickly explain it to you, you are like a wine to us. Your blood makes our body tingles in excitement like a wine, your meat is as juicy as a flowing river, and your organs make such a great medicine for the wounded soldiers.

Raynold: What?...

I was so shocked that I couldn’t move a single muscle, and when I say none, I mean none. But Aaron on the other hand was starting to go back to his normal state, like how? When I was still questioning he was all nervous but now that I know, he is back to his normal state? While I was frozen in place Aaron tried to make an agreement with the royal family, I personally didn’t hear a single thing, but I know for sure it was some heated argument. Once I came back to my senses Aaron was lying down on the cold concrete barely breathing with what looks like a hand mark that probably came from an unimaginably hard slap. I tried to scream for Aaron but the words got stuck on the roof of my mouth. When I took another glance at the family, their eyes were glaring at me like a sharp knife. 

Raynold: Wha… what just happened…

The King: That sluggish “brother” of yours is a piece of ****

I paused at his hurtful words about my brother.

Rayold: How dare you say that about my brother…

The King: I'm just telling the truth you know.

Raynold: You…

The King: Just stay still, don’t risk your life for something this stupid.

I felt Aaron's hand tugging on my shirt, I took a glance at his face to see him telling me to not make a fuss out of the situation. It was frustrating to think how he was telling me to shut up, while I had to see him torn up because of that one stupid king. I almost threw my shoe across the room just to get under the king's skin, but fortunately I still had some patience in me and managed to keep my shoes to myself. After a few minutes of extremely awkward silence Aaron finally started to talk again and of course almost started another fight. I could literally not do anything in that situation and decided to just stay still like a broken record player. I was praying that all of that would finish the second I blink, but it obviously didn’t. Just when I thought nothing could go any worse, a strong punch hit the back of my head which made me unconscious for god knows how long. The second I woke up, surprised or not, I was in a dark place. I honestly started to think whether I was in the real world or a fantasy world I used to read as a kid. 

Raynold: Shucks… Where the hell am I…

The silence surrounding me was too loud, everything seemed to be talking to me: the walls, the chains and the… Mosquitoes? I was confused, why is there a mosquito, wasn’t it extinct back when the doomsday happened? Was this really a mosquito, or was it some kind of spy object? God, I don’t know. I think I’m starting to become delusional and maybe even schizophrenic. How come everything makes sense, but it also feels like nothing makes sense at all… Not long after my delusional runt, something tapped my shoulder, and heck I jumped up like a scared dog. It felt like a thorn was stuck on my throat for a few seconds, until I heard a familiar voice, it was… Jacque? WHAT? JACQUE? I was confused… I was on a weird mission with Aaron wasn’t I? How could Jacque be here… At that point I was sure that I’m delusional, nothing I see nor hear are real. Without much time to waste I started looking around and it was different… There was this floating white thing in the sky, and the sound of some kind of transport around me. Without realising I whispered “Where am I?” Jacque looked at me with disbelief and asked me whether I had a concussion from that fall, well dang that added into the confusion. I quickly explained everything to Jacque and fortunately he also answered all my questions. Like those white things in the sky? It’s called cloud. The loud sound of transport? Those are cars. Everything was new and confusing, I couldn’t understand a single thing, but I just knew then and there that my main objective was to find Aaron. Because I know that if he is somewhere out there, he is also searching for me. Without a single thought, I got up on my feet and ran as fast as I could to a secluded area.

[pr-educates-students]

Writing an Imaginary Experience: The US

by Khairunnisa Bratandari

When I went to the US, I was pretty shocked about the places there. First, there was the Golden Gate Bridge. When I first saw the bridge, I was amazed by the physical beauty of that bridge, but after I did a deeper research I found out it was way more than just a beautiful bridge. It was full of history about which, at first, the fastest way to go from San Francisco to Marin County was by a boat and now we can cross the body of water within 3 minutes when there is no traffic. Next, I went to the Walk Of Fame – it was amazing to see how many artists are put down on that one particular sidewalk. After exploring the Walk Of Fame, I decided to go to the Grand Canyon. That place was a beauty of nature – just walking around makes me feel as if I just travelled back in time. It turned out the first people to live there are called the Puebloans and also have been referred to as Anasazi by the archeologist, but they don’t like to be referred to as that because the meaning of “Anasazi” is  "enemy ancestors" or "alien ancestors". Lastly, to relax myself, I went to Disneyland. What else can I say! That place was magical.

[pr-educates-students]

Developing a Thesis Statement: Gadgets

by Khairunnisa Bratandari

The colourful pixels of a gadget and the fun games that they have definitely caught the attention of a lot of children. Each colour sparkles right in front of their eyes, and each movement matches their joyful energy! Who wouldn’t want to enjoy their free time playing on their gadgets? Gadgets are truly a useful object in our lifetime, but what would happen if a joyful and energetic kid is given too much screen time? Also, what would happen if we give the phone in moderation and make sure that they use it for good and useful things?

[pr-educates-students]

Developing a Thesis Statement: Music

by Khairunnisa Bratandari From the relaxing beat of the piano to the heavy metallic beat of the drum, music has always been the universal language that connects people across different cultures and generations. Just like the song “One Love” by Bob Marley that conveys the message of unity and togetherness, music is also known as a tool for unity and peace. Music is a powerful form of expression that can influence people's emotions, bring people together, and help each individual understand themselves and the world around them in a different form. 

[pr-educates-students]

A Movie Review: Rumah Dinas Bapak

Comedy horror, 2024

This movie tells you a story about the past of a boy who moved with his family into his father's rumah dinas, that made him experience some paranormal activities. He and his family were disturbed by the ghost that lingers around his house. Dodit is the main character, he is played by Octavianus Fransiskus.

I love the characters in this movie because they all have an excellent sense of humor that will make you laugh even in the tightest moment. My favorite character is Kasno played by Fajar Nugra. He has the best sense of humor in my opinion. I give the Rumah Dinas Bapak a five stars, you should watch it right after reading this review.

Nisa (13 years old, Indonesia)

[pr-educates-students]

A comic strip by Nisa, as part of PR Educates' Writing Class

[pr-educates-students]

My Love

A poem

Oh my love, I've been onto this feeling forever Hoping that you'll be here beside me right now Imagining you singing here in front of me and just for me But reaching for this love just seem so far So I'll say a little prayer for you to be back here

A poem adapted from Westlife's My Love by Nisa, as a part of PR Educates' English Writing Class

[pr-educates-students]

The Maze of Death: A Story of Survival and Sacrifice

A short story

It was a beautiful afternoon, the sun was shining, the children were playing when suddenly everything went downhill… Hi I’m John and this is the story I nearly escaped death.

I, Johnson and the rest of the group were just having a wonderful afternoon, until a white van appeared and all of us lost our consciousness. We woke up in the middle of nowhere. When we looked around we realised that we were in the middle of a so-called maze. When we were looking around I realised that my twin and some of my friends weren’t with us. “Well that’s weird…” I think to myself  “I’m pretty sure there were more than three of us.” At that moment I realised that we were separated and our only objective was to stay alive until we found our way out.

At this moment we realised that surviving here won’t be easy. There isn’t much to eat, especially with the five of us needing food. The winter is also getting closer, so we don’t have time to grow crops. Because it is a one for all situation, we decided that someone must sacrifice themselves for the rest of us. Some suggest that the youngest should be the one that is sacrificed, but I strongly disagree. Since the youngest has the fullest potential in doing all the physical activities (most of us are above 30 years old). We then decided to take the stupidest person we have, and just cut him up into several pieces. We were very scared to try it at first, but because we didn’t have anything else to eat we decided to take a bite. Turns out it wasn’t that bad, it tasted like pork! And we were all familiar with pork, and it didn’t take us long to get used to the texture and taste.

We were all feeling relaxed, when we realised that this flesh isn’t going to last us for so long and we decided to split our jobs. Because crops may not work, maybe still worth a try, we decided on hunting more than growing crops, because there are only the four of us, we decided to split the team into two groups. The younger will go out hunting and mapping, while the older ones will stay and collect water, keep the fire on and try to grow crops. There was some debate on whether there should only be one person that stays since it’s “less important”, but we agreed on dividing into two, since being alone for a long period of time may ruin mental and physical health, which may lead to DEATH.

Everything was going smoothly until… Arthur suddenly collapsed and wouldn’t respond to anything we did to him. To say we were a bit shocked was an understatement, since we had no medical team anywhere near us and none of us are medical students we couldn’t do anything except pray for the best. Unsurprisingly he didn’t even move a muscle, which means he is dead. We were grieving for him since he is our best runner and hunter. But we were truly wondering what happened to him, since as I’ve said everything was going all smooth.

We were all thinking of all of the possibilities that could cause him to die, when suddenly our second hunter told us that he had eaten a bug on their previous trip, and he thought it was just a regular cricket, and it obviously wasn’t an ordinary cricket since he died. All of a sudden our older gentleman started feeling dizzy and we all are just expecting the worst to come. It has been a whole week, and he was feeling a lot better. We were shocked, since our younger buddy died because of the virus, meanwhile the old man was thriving. We know that the virus can be spread by air, water and literally anything that could spread the virus, since our old man wasn’t near Arthur in any circumstances, since they were always fighting. Since no one got sick after that, we came to the conclusion that the virus only spread when the first host died and it will only come in contact with the person that the previous host hated the most.

A short story by Nisa from PR Educates' English Writing Class

[pr-educates-students]

A New Shopping Centre in Town

Should we build a new shopping centre in the center of the city? Yes, we should, because it will  attract more people into the city and help people by making it easier for people to get essential items. How and why is what we will be talking about now.

Firstly, we will be talking about how it will attract more people and increase the economy. It may not sound like it makes sense, but trust me, it does. Simply, when there is a new shopping centre, which is also considered an attraction for some – people would be curious and obviously want to know what is there. By having this thought we can at least imagine people buying things in the shopping centre and helping the economy around, by simply paying with money.

Secondly, it will be easier for people to buy essential items like groceries. It will also be easier for people to get good quality clothing. For example, mothers who need a good quality formula would not need to go far and risk the baby being hungry. It will also help those people who may not feel comfortable in some clothes because of the stitching or the type of fabric. That type of problem may not occur in some better quality brands.  

By having a new shopping centre, people will feel at ease, knowing that their economy is in good hands. It will also help a lot to those who need good quality items that are nearby and easy to get to.

An essay by Nisa from PR Educates' English Writing Class

[pr-educates-students]

A Crazy Dream

Life is short, so you have to enjoy it to the fullest. Maybe you can try some new food, or maybe go diving until you reach the Titanic. But, for me, life isn’t just about having it as close as you can get to death. It’s about having fun, healing yourself from something, and achieving your dream. “You can dream as high as you want, but you also need to study as much as you can” is something my old man said to me once, and also something everybody should at least hear once in their lifetime. You may think, “Why should I listen to this anonymous writer?”, because I also have dreams and it’s out of the ordinary, like having properties around the world and just having fun riding a motorcycle around the city.  Having properties around the world is not about going back and forth, it's about having easy access everywhere, if you want to go you don’t have to worry since you have your own property there, and you can enjoy it for yourself. You may not use it every day, but you can put it on online sites such as Airbnb, Traveloka and other things to have it up for rent and maybe used for backpackers and other people. You will also get money from this when you are bored of living in one place. Hence, you can just move somewhere else since you have some other properties around the world. If that's too much or too little for you, why not try roaming around the city on a motorcycle? It’s simple – get a motorbike, turn it on, and just go for a ride. It’s a simple thing to do, but it is very enjoyable for some people. Especially when the city is empty. it may not be for everybody, but when you find joy in riding a motorbike, you won’t be able to stop. Maybe go even further: try out for motocross or other motorbike races. So, as you know life is short, and we should not waste our time in this life. Go on an adventure, do something you think is impossible. People may say it’s a waste of time, but if you enjoy your time doing the things that you like, it’s definitely not a waste of time. You also need to listen to your guts while doing these activities rather than listening to other people's opinions. It also doesn't have to be an expensive activity – you can just draw, cycle, cook, and lots of other things as long as it makes you happy.

An essay by Nisa from PR Educates' English Writing Class

[pr-educates-students]

Reducing Exam Stress

We must reduce exam stress for secondary school students. This problem may reduce children’s attention to the exam and it may also make their test scores lower. It may make both the children and parents unhappy and maybe cause the children's stress worse. Parents may also “discipline” their child in an unwanted way.

There are a lot of ways to reduce exam stress, but just as a quick solution, there are three solutions. Firstly, teachers should not put any unnecessary pressure on students, which may include shouting, sudden claps, or just a pen knock. Secondly, it’s not only teachers that should understand better – students should too, one example is by studying before the exam. It doesn’t even have to be a long study, but they should at least understand the basic materials for the exam. Lastly, teachers shouldn’t just give out sudden exams: they may cause more stress, teachers should at least remind their students a day or two before the exams.

Problem-solution paragraphs by Nisa from PR Educates' English Writing Class