ABOUT

Out of million possibilities, you're here. Hello!

I'm Bethari. Well, Bethari Bintang Oktavia it is.

Along the journey, nicknames were made. Butsi, Beti, Betita, Bonnie, Bibit, Bebeth... they are 'okay' (and I too am totally okay being called that way) but honestly, I love my name a bit too much. Bethari in Sanskrit means angel - wishful that I embody one (God, please?).

I started this blog at 2012, when I was still in high school. What's so important for a 14 year-old girl to pour things out and write things down? I mean, what could it be about? But now that I am 25, this blog is a token I treasure forever as it has witnessed my growth over the years. I learned that writings are one powerful tool to untangle my scattered thoughts. Looking back, I can finally say that things start to make sense when I try connecting the dots. Some might get a bit too personal, but for now I let them be. People are deep waters, I only show what I want to show. Some of my principles remain, some of perspectives evolve.

I grow.

I'm always blown away by the idea of freezing certain moments. My biggest fear was once oblivion - being forgotten (now not anymore). Don't get me started on what's so essential for people to remember me. Honestly.. I don't know. I guess I'm just an old soul - it just feels nice to have people remember you, no? I always knew that what we had would eventually fade away. Why not capture? Yes photos exist, but words.... I love words. I may not be the best writers, but I love me some good copywriting because when pictures don't do justice, words do. They move us.

So I write.

About my life, my feelings, my experiences, my views, my stance, my family, my friends, my ex-boyfriends (ugh I wrote about them too much during college now I kinda regret it), my family, my job. About places I've been to, people I've met, experience I've lived, learnings I've got. I am a mosaic of them and I'm never not grateful for that.

By the time I write this, I currently am working at leading FMCG company in Sales/Marketing team. However, just to let you know, I can't get unbothered talking about issues close to my heart. I came from engineering background and work in marketing field but somehow my heart goes to social issues & impacts. Hopeful to have an ample time in my life sharpening my knowledge on that one, some time later (fingers crossed). I'm a proud Surabayan, a courageous girl at heart. I love where the challenges are. That's why I moved from my hometown, to study at Bandung, to work at Jakarta, and to work from anywhere now that it is pandemic. I hope to have enough time to explore Indonesia and the world before I die. I'll regret if not.

I am a big advocate of education, women empowerment, and youth development.

I am here because someone before me opened the gate for me, and I want to open the gates to others to so they can build the privileges of their own. I dream of a land of equal opportunities for all. I believe that (good quality of) education and position of power & influence should be equal & accessible to all citizens. I do wish to leave good marks on this earth. Outside work, I do volunteering teaching kids at Cibubur via Halaman Pertama and helping youth achieve maximum potential via PCMI Jatim. On Fridays, I talk issues I care about via podcast called 'Our Friday Night' with a dear friend. Would mean a lot to me if you give it a listen!

Oh, I also love walking (I do 10,000 steps a day). I love hiking (I've hiked 3/10 highest peaks in Indonesia), I love Podcasts (pandemic made me) and currently learning ukulele (Taylor Swift's power) so I can sing & dance on my own without the instrumental version from YouTube. I shares my views a lot on my instagram, tagging them with #BethariGoldenWays, #BethariHikes, #BethariTravels and #BethariReads. Well I am loud, just hoping that it's a meaningful loud ☺

I am one message away through bethari.oktavia@gmail.com. You know, just in case.

Ok, this gets a bit too long now. While you're still on it...

Thank you for being here!

(Yes you made it to my last sentence!)