ONE WAY (NYC)

 

Two days ago, I watched the film Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens, starring Iqbaal Ramadhan. The movie tells the story of his journey to find his mother in the city that never sleeps a place where people come to chase their dreams, whether it’s to get a better education or to start their careers.

Quoting a line from Frank Sinatra’s song “New York, New York”:
“I want to wake up in a city that never sleeps and find I’m king of the hill, top of the heap. If I make it there, I’ll make it anywhere, it’s up to you…”

This song beautifully captures how New York is a city full of dreams and ambition a place where everyone wants to be the best version of themselves.

But what caught my attention this time about the city that never sleeps was the one-way system. New York implements many one-way streets because it used to have terrible traffic congestion due to its busy and crowded roads filled with people rushing to work. Despite having so many one-way streets, people there still find a thousand ways to reach success and achieve their dreams.

That line reminds me of a quote from Ali & Ratu Ratu Queens, where Iqbaal’s character only had one direction to reach his dream to find his mother yet along the way, he discovered other paths that led him to new dreams.

So even when we feel like we only have one way to reach our goals, it doesn’t mean we should limit ourselves to that one path. Focusing only on one thing we like can make us too comfortable afraid to take risks, stuck in our comfort zone, and unwilling to explore something new. Remember, while we’re fixated on one direction, thousands of others might have chosen different paths and still managed to reach their dreams.

It’s okay to stick to one goal, but when you find yourself stuck, don’t be afraid to take another road even if you don’t know what lies ahead. It might be risky, but at least you’re not standing still. Trying something new doesn’t always mean failure; not daring to try at all is what leads to frustration, boredom, and negativity.

Back in high school, I chose a different major than most of my friends, and many people questioned me my homeroom teacher, even the guidance counselor. I explained that I truly loved this field, and I believed I could study it easily because it was something I was passionate about. I knew myself well enough to understand that choosing something I enjoyed would help me handle challenges better. If I had chosen a different major just to follow others, I probably would’ve ended up frustrated because I couldn’t do my best.

The first step to success is to know yourself  to understand what you like and what you don’t. That’s how you can give your best in whatever you do.

Some people do succeed by following paths chosen for them by others but we often don’t see the struggles they went through, the failures, or the countless attempts they made to finally reach their dreams. Sometimes, other people come into our lives to show us an alternative path another way to move forward when we’re stuck.

Just recently, I met a friend who shared her story of how she got to where she is now. She went through so many struggles to achieve her dreams, and it was actually someone else who helped her find a different way a new place, a new opportunity and now, she’s thriving. She studies, works, and enjoys what she does, even though she once didn’t understand it at all.

That made me realize: focusing on one direction isn’t wrong, but when you feel stuck, please leave your one-way road and explore something new. Learn as much as you can, gain new experiences, and never stop seeking knowledge. You don’t want to regret later that you never tried.

There’s a quote I’ve always loved from Ir. Soekarno:
“Reach your dreams as high as the sky. Even if you fall, you’ll fall among the stars.”

I interpret the “stars” as our experiences — meeting new people, discovering new things, and exploring life itself. Never regret your decisions. Once you make a choice, there’s no turning back. The only thing you can do is work hard to prove that your decision wasn’t wrong. That way, you’ll never regret it.