Pancasila Lessons from a Toothbrush

JurnalPost.com - I once lost a toothbrush when I was still a new student at a pesantren (Islamic boarding school). It sounds trivial, perhaps even too simple to be a story. However, for me, that small event became one of the experiences that helped me begin to understand the meaning of living together in a boarding school environment.

When I first entered the boarding school, I brought many habits from home. One of them was the habit of managing personal belongings. The difference was that at the boarding school, there was no longer a mother to remind me or help me find things when I forgot where I put them.

A senior in my room once warned me that losing or swapping items is something that can happen. The large number of students makes it easy for items to move around. Furthermore, some students are still learning to respect and look after other people's belongings.

One morning, when I was about to shower, I found that my toiletries were no longer in their original place. After searching in several corners, I found some of the items lying on the floor, specifically in the corner of the bathroom hallway.

However, after checking them one by one, there was one item missing: my toothbrush.

I started to feel annoyed. Various prejudices arose in my mind. I then asked several friends who were around the area. At that time, I suspected that someone might have taken it.

Because I was still curious, I told the room senior about the incident. I did not intend to find out who took the item. I just wanted to convey what I had just experienced.

His response was very relaxed.

"Hahaha... relax, Kang, that's a valuable experience. Just keep your soap in the room. Don't put it on the shelf in front of the bathroom. Mine is safe because most students are hesitant to mess with my things."

He then explained that items placed on the shelf in front of the bathroom are indeed easier to knock over or move. After hearing his explanation, I considered the matter closed.

However, it turned out the story was not over yet.

Honesty That Came Unasked

In the afternoon, when I returned from school, a senior student around 18 years old approached me.

He explained that the previous night, he had been tidying up the shelf where the toiletries were kept. At that time, my soap, which was originally on the top shelf, was moved to the bottom. As a result, the toiletries became easier to knock over and fall.

After explaining the incident, he said something simple, but it left a lasting impression on my memory.

"Forgive me, Kang."

He did not stop there; he also brought a new toothbrush as a form of compensation. He asked me to let go of the incident.

I was actually surprised.

Not because I got a new toothbrush. In fact, I refused his offer because I had already bought a replacement toothbrush and did not need it anymore.

The thing that impressed me was his courage to come forward himself and explain what actually happened.

No one accused him. No one was specifically looking for who should be held responsible. I myself did not know how the toiletries could have moved.

He could have chosen to remain silent. If he had, I might never have known the truth.

However, he chose to come, admit his involvement, apologize, and offer compensation.

For me, who was still a new student at the time, that attitude was a surprising experience that also provided a valuable lesson.

I began to understand that life in a boarding school has its own way of dealing with problems.

Mistakes do not always have to end with finding who is most to blame. There is room to provide explanations, admit mistakes, apologize, and resolve issues amicably.

Learning to Withhold Prejudice and Understand Tabayun

From that event, I also began to realize a shortcoming in myself, which was being too quick to draw conclusions.

When I found out my toothbrush was missing, the first thought that appeared was the suspicion that someone had taken it.

In fact, the reality was not necessarily so.

Items that are not found do not always mean someone deliberately took them. It could be that the item moved because it was knocked over, fell, or for other reasons we do not yet know.

That experience made me understand more about the importance of tabayun, which is seeking clarity or verifying the truth of information before taking a stance.

When facing something that does not meet expectations, we need to learn to restrain ourselves before drawing conclusions.

We need to ask, seek clarity, and give others the opportunity to explain the actual situation.

That attitude might sound simple. However, in communal life, the ability to withhold prejudice can help prevent larger misunderstandings.

Imagine if at that time I had immediately accused someone of taking my toothbrush. A small issue that could have been resolved well might have escalated into a fight.

From that incident, I learned that not all problems must be answered with anger. Sometimes, we just need to be patient and give an opportunity for the situation to become clearer.

Finding Pancasila Values in Boarding School Life

When remembering that incident, I was reminded of what we have known as the values of Pancasila.

Pancasila often appears in the form of rote memorization. We know its five principles, answer questions about their meanings, and study them through books or teacher explanations in the classroom.

However, the more I thought about that experience, the more I realized that the values of Pancasila are actually very close to daily life.

Those values can be found in simple actions, including when someone dares to admit a mistake and take responsibility for their actions.

The attitude of the senior student who came to apologize reminded me of the humanitarian values contained in the second principle, namely Just and Civilized Humanity.

Respecting others is not enough to be done only through kind words. That attitude is also reflected in the willingness to admit mistakes, protect the rights of others, and take responsibility when our actions cause harm.

In that event, the senior student did not wait until someone reprimanded him. He came of his own volition.

For me, that action is a simple example of how humanitarian values can be realized through daily behavior.

In addition, the experience also reminded me of the fourth principle of Pancasila, namely Democracy Guided by the Inner Wisdom in the Deliberation/Representation.

Deliberation is not just something discussed in Pancasila Education lessons or applied in organizational meetings.

In daily life, the spirit of deliberation can also be reflected in the willingness to listen to explanations, consider the situation wisely, and seek solutions without imposing one's will.

When facing problems, we should not be in a hurry to determine who is wrong before understanding what actually happened.

That spirit is in line with the value of deliberation which is part of the foundation of national life as stated in the Preamble to the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

I do not mean to say that the incident of the lost toothbrush is an example of formal deliberation. However, the way the issue was resolved shows the importance of communication, openness, and mutual respect.

Those are the values that are also needed in society.

Education Does Not Always Come from the Classroom

I am not saying that life in a boarding school always runs perfectly. Every environment certainly has its own problems and challenges.

I myself am still learning, including in understanding how to behave when facing unpleasant situations.

However, from a small incident that started with the loss of a toothbrush, I gained a lesson I never imagined when I first entered the boarding school.

I learned that honesty requires courage. Admitting mistakes is not something to be feared, but part of the responsibility toward others.

I also learned that prejudice that arises too quickly can make us misunderstand a situation.

It turns out that education does not always come in the form of lessons written on a blackboard, school assignments, or teacher explanations in front of the class.

Sometimes, education actually arrives through simple experiences that make us pause, think, and view things from a different perspective.

That morning, I lost a toothbrush. However, from that incident, I gained a valuable experience about honesty, responsibility, the importance of tabayun, and the courage to apologize.

That experience also taught me that the values of Pancasila do not always have to be understood through large and complicated discussions.

Its values can start from small things, such as respecting other people's belongings, admitting mistakes, listening to explanations, and not being in a hurry to accuse someone.

In the end, I increasingly understand that Pancasila is not enough just to be memorized. Its values will be more meaningful when we try to make them part of our attitude and way of living together.

Author Biography

Muhammad Husnul Huda is a student of the Distance Education Program (PJJ) for Islamic Religious Education at UIN Siber Syekh Nurjati Cirebon (UIN SSC). The author resides in Sukolilo, Pati Regency, Central Java. He has an interest in education, boarding school life, and social and religious experiences that are closely related to daily life.