herding cattle this afternoon

Unlike most students who start the day by reading a book or looking at the lecture schedule, this young man, who is often called Luki, immediately rushes to the grass field near his campus after dawn.

Wearing boots, complete with a sickle in his hand, Luki rode his motorbike towards the field where he tied up the cows he was grazing.

To those around him, Luki is known as a cowherd. He has been caring for and herding the livestock for more than 4 years.

Not one or two cows, almost 30 cows are cared for by Luki every day. Luki's busy life increases every time before and after Eid al-Adha.

Starting from moving cows, giving them food, drinking, and even bathing the cows belonging to lecturers on the Hotumesse campus. It was this intense interaction with the cows that made Luki get to know the characters of the fauna one by one.

Luki's story of herding sacrificial cows on the Unpatti campus began in 2018, when he was in the fifth semester of studying at the Faculty of Mathematics and Science (MIPA).

This job came from an Unpatti lecturer who was looking for work to herd his cows. Luki was then introduced by a friend to the lecturer.

Initially, the cows being grazed could be counted on the fingers of one hand. Over time, the cows increased in number. However, at that time the previous shepherd returned to his village. Luki was accepted to work as a shepherd and was entrusted with looking after dozens of cows.

"Initially it was from a friend who introduced me to the lecturer. Because there were more and more cows, while those on guard went home, the lecturer finally contacted me to look after the cows," he said.

Since then, every morning and evening, Luki pulls the cows to a field with fresh grass to feed them on the Unpatti campus.

Luki admitted that he felt proud in the first few weeks when he started herding cows on the Unpatti campus.

Moreover, Luki is also known as a MIPA Biology student who is quite prominent among his classmates.

However, after getting used to the job, Luki lost his pride and shame. The important thing is that he can pay for his own living needs and tuition fees in Ambon City, which is far from his parents.

"At first there was a sense of shame and prestige, especially if you were wearing cow-pull shorts and passing by a group of students," he said.

He can get rid of shyness. Moreover, studying while looking for work - not just expecting money from parents - is now a necessity when he is in his final semester.

According to Luki, no special skills are needed to herd the cows every day.

The reason is, the cows are relatively tame and he really knows the character of each cow he cares for.

There is no need for special skills because these cows are not wild cows, they just have different owners, so they just have to adapt to the characteristics of the cows.

As long as he loves his job, according to Luki, that person will enjoy every routine work they do.

"If we do something we love, we will enjoy the work every day," he said.

From herding the cows, Luki is paid from IDR 100 thousand to IDR 150 thousand every week. This amount is in addition to the daily food allowance provided by the cow owner.

Because he was considered to have done good work, he was even rewarded with a used motorbike by the cow owner.

The wages received are used to meet daily needs, tuition fees, some are saved, and sent to their parents in the village.

Approaching Eid al-Adha 2023, demand for sacrificial cows is increasing and Luki also gets a share of every cow sold.

One cow is priced from IDR 7 million to IDR 17 million, depending on age, weight and size. This price may change on Eid al-Adha

Even though he is a Christian, Luki admits that herding cows - including cows for sacrifice - is fun and can show tolerance towards others.

Ulis Batlayeri, his childhood friend, revealed that Luki had always been diligent in his village in Latdalam Village, Tanimbar Islands Regency.

"He has loved working since he was little. He is the most diligent when asked to work. Whatever the job," said Ulis Batlayeri.

Not only that, in lectures, Luki is known as an active final semester student and the most prominent in his class.

The science and knowledge of Biology received at college is quite helpful for Luki in caring for the cows.

Because he is active on campus, almost all students from the last 5 years at the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Unpatti, know Luki.

According to his supervisor, Luki is a humorous, communicative and responsive student in lectures.

"The child is very active and likes to make his friends laugh," said La Idi, Unpatti MIPA lecturer.

Luki, who is active as a member of the Unpatti Student Regiment (Menwa), is also known as an outstanding fighter. He once represented Maluku at the 2019 National Student Sports Week (POMNas) in Jakarta.

Thanks to his persistence, Luki is just one step away from graduating at the Blue Campus.