Dreams at the Fingertips

Rizky was different from most of the children in his village. While his friends played with kites in the fields or fished in the river, Rizky preferred to stay in his small room, eyes glued to the computer screen. The computer wasn’t anything fancy—it was an old hand-me-down from a neighbor. But to Rizky, it was a window into a larger world, one full of limitless possibilities.

From a young age, Rizky had shown an incredible interest in technology. He taught himself, tinkering with simple codes and creating small programs that made him feel like a great scientist. However, his passion was not always understood by those around him. His father, a farmer, often complained about Rizky’s obsession with technology, believing his son would be better off helping in the fields than spending time in front of a flickering screen.

“That computer won’t put food on the table, Rizky,” his father would say one night as they sat together outside their modest home. “We live off this land. Why don’t you learn to be a good farmer instead?”

But Rizky had a different view. “I want to change the world, Dad,” he replied, his eyes shining. “I want to create something that can help many people, just like those tech entrepreneurs out there.”

His father only shook his head, not really understanding what his son meant. But Rizky remained steadfast in his belief. He knew that beneath the simplicity of their lives lay a great potential that he could tap into.

As Rizky grew older, his passion for technology deepened. He delved into programming more seriously, using the slow and limited internet connection in his village to access online tutorials and learning resources. But the challenges weren’t just technological; he also had to endure teasing from his peers. At school, he was often considered odd for choosing complex codes over playing soccer or hanging out at the local coffee shop.

“Rizky the code geek!” his friends would jeer. “What’s the point of learning that stuff in a small village like this?”

The taunts made Rizky feel isolated, but he didn’t let them break his spirit. He knew what he wanted, and he was willing to do whatever it took to achieve it. In his heart, Rizky had a big dream: he wanted to become a tech entrepreneur who was not only successful but also made a significant impact on the world.

One night, while Rizky was working on his latest project—a simple learning app—his mother came and sat beside him. “Rizky, I’m proud of your efforts. But remember, this path won’t be easy. You’ll face many obstacles and might feel like giving up. But I believe if you keep trying, you can make your dream come true.”

His mother’s words gave Rizky new strength. He worked even harder, even on long nights when the electricity would often go out, forcing him to work by the light of a kerosene lamp. Every time the power went out, Rizky felt frustrated, but he didn’t let it stop him. He started saving his pocket money and worked part-time to buy a small generator, so he could continue working when the power was out.

When Rizky entered his final year of high school, he noticed a significant problem in his community. Many children in his village did not have access to quality education, especially in the field of technology. They were far behind the children in big cities who had access to modern schools and devices. Rizky felt compelled to do something about it. He decided to create an online learning platform that could be accessed by children in remote areas, like his village.

However, new challenges quickly arose. Building this platform required funding, and Rizky knew he couldn’t do it alone. With newfound courage, he decided to participate in various startup competitions and pitch events in big cities. Every weekend, he would take long bus rides to the city, carrying his simple proposal, hoping to find an investor interested in his idea.

But reality was harsher than he had imagined. Time after time, his proposals were rejected. Investors would say his idea was too ambitious, too difficult to implement, or even unprofitable. Rizky returned to his village feeling discouraged, but he didn’t let failure stop him. “This is part of the process,” he told himself after each rejection. “I just need one person to believe.”

And finally, luck struck when he least expected it. At one startup competition, a young investor who also came from a remote village heard his presentation. The investor was impressed by Rizky’s passion and the potential of his idea. “I used to be like you,” the investor said. “I want to help you realize your big dream.”

With the funding he received, Rizky worked day and night to build his online learning platform. He didn’t just create the platform; he also involved teachers and experts from various regions to contribute content. Challenges kept coming, from technical issues to distribution difficulties in remote areas. But Rizky never gave up. Every time a problem arose, he faced it calmly and found a solution.

Finally, the platform was successfully launched. In a short time, Rizky’s platform started gaining attention. Children from various regions began using the platform to learn about technology, mathematics, and other subjects that they previously didn’t have access to. Rizky felt overwhelmed with emotion when he saw how the platform he had built with such hard work began to make a real difference.

But that success came at a price. Rizky had to sacrifice many things: time with his family, his teenage years, and even his health. He often stayed up late into the night, neglecting his well-being to ensure the platform ran smoothly. His mother often worried seeing him work tirelessly, but she also knew this was the path Rizky had chosen.

Years passed, and Rizky’s platform grew rapidly. He began receiving invitations to speak at various technology conferences, and his name became known as one of the most influential young tech entrepreneurs. However, this success did not satisfy Rizky. He knew there was still much work to be done, many regions yet to be reached, and many children still without access to quality education.

Rizky continued to innovate, expanding the reach of his platform, and finding ways to make technology more accessible to everyone, especially those in remote areas. He also started establishing training centers in various villages, where children could learn firsthand about technology and programming.

One day, when Rizky returned to his village after a long journey, he met a little boy sitting in front of his house, holding an old tablet. The boy excitedly showed him the app he was learning from, and how delighted Rizky was when he realized it was one of the apps from his platform.

“I want to be like you, Rizky,” the boy said, his eyes full of hope. “I want to create something that can help many people.”

Hearing this, Rizky smiled. He saw himself in that boy, with a big dream and a desire to bring about change. And at that moment, he knew all the sacrifices and hard work had been worth it. Rizky had succeeded in making his dream come true—not just for himself, but for everyone who had ever dreamed big with their fingertips.

THE END