Have you ever stopped to calculate the actual volume of waste you produce in a single day? For Winda Wirjani, a mathematics teacher at SMP Negeri 2 Kuta, numbers are more than just symbols on a whiteboard, they are a wake-up call for the environment.

In an insightful session with Coco Social Fund, Winda shared her unique perspective on why math is essential for environmentalism, the “focus crisis” facing Gen Z, and why the simple act of bengong (daydreaming or being still) might just save our mental health.

The Mathematics of Waste

As a math teacher, Winda views the world through the lens of logic. Her environmental journey began with a simple calculation. “I look at one cup of coffee and one wrap of rice. I see the waste it produces,” she says. “Then I multiply that by the 1,500 students at my school. Where does all that waste go?”

By bringing numbers into the conversation, she makes the invisible visible. She believes that if 1,500 students are educated to sort their waste at home, the ripple effect on Bali’s ecosystem would be massive. For her, math isn’t just about formulas; it’s a tool for survival.

Gen Z and the “Short Content” Trap

One of the most profound challenges Winda faces in the classroom is the dwindling attention span of the younger generation. Influenced by short-form social media content, many students struggle to stay focused on a single task for long periods.

Her unconventional solution? Mindfulness through “Bengong.“ While “bengong” is often seen as being idle or lazy, Winda reframes it as a vital practice of presence. “Children today don’t have time to just sit and be still because they are always on their phones. ‘Bengong’ allows us to be in the present moment—to hear the music, the sound of a blender, or the wind. It trains the brain to focus again.”

Digital Pacifiers: A Warning to Parents

Winda doesn’t shy away from the hard truths of modern parenting. She notes a worrying trend of “special needs” cases arising not from birth, but from extreme gadget dependency at a young age.

“Some parents are proud that their toddlers can use WhatsApp or find games on their own. But at that age, children should be learning to pour water, tie their shoes, and communicate face-to-face,” she warns. She urges parents to stop using phones as digital pacifiers and to reclaim their role as the primary educators of their children’s character.

The “Perfect Teacher” Myth

In a world of viral videos and instant judgment, Winda advocates for a more human view of educators. She admits that teachers are not perfect and are often struggling to adapt to rapid technological shifts like AI and coding while managing 40 different personalities in a single classroom.

She is also a big believer in “personal branding” for teachers. By being active and “cool” on social media, she aims to build a bridge of trust with her students. “I want them to believe in me. When they see me as a professional who understands their world, they are much more likely to catch the lessons I teach in class.”

A Message to the Youth: Don’t Underestimate Yourself

To the students who claim to “hate math” or feel they aren’t “smart enough,” Winda has a powerful message:

“My children, never underestimate what is inside of you. It’s not that you can’t do it; it’s just that you haven’t tried yet. Try first, and you will be shocked to see that you are much more capable than you ever imagined.”

Looking Forward

Winda is eagerly awaiting the completion of the Coco Learning Center in Cepaka. She sees it as a beacon of hope where business, education, and environment intersect. Through her collaboration with Coco Social Fund, she hopes to show her students that caring for the environment isn’t just a hobby, it’s a “cool,” viable, and urgent mission for the next generation.