A chapter of my life is officially over. I just got home from Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School's Secondary 2 OLE camp at the MOE Adventure Campsite in Changi. I had planned to stay tonight to see them complete their campfire...unfortunately I couldn't. As I say, a chapter of my life has closed...it's time to start a new one.
Goodbyes are never easy. During my "short" career as a teacher (spanning from September 2004 to now), I have learnt many many things from the people I've met...teachers, staffs and students especially. I have had many short stints in schools....Woodlands Ring Sec (contract), Yusof Ishak Sec (IM), Juying Sec (IS), Woodlands Sec (TP 1 - yes I had a short stint there last year) Outram Sec (EL) and most recently, Ahmad Ibrahim Sec (TP2). Throughout my stints, there has only been 2 classes that have touched me...2 that I will never forget.
First, it's 2N7 of Woodlands Ring Sec. I had them as my form class. They were the ones that made me decide that teaching was what I wanted to do. Mind you, 2N7 was not an easy class. Yet somehow, they opened up to me and we bonded well. We played and learnt together...as a teacher as well as a student. If there's one thing I am very proud of, it is when my 2N7 had an English debate in the library with a sec 2 express class. No one, not even the judges gave us an outside chance of winning. Even though we still lost, I'm very proud of the effort that we put in. In fact, they even threw me a farewell party at the school canteen and I received many many gifts from them. The feelings and thoughts may not be mutual but I'll NEVER forget my 2N7 of WRS 2004. I guess that's how the wind blows. Ever since them, I told myself to never ever get emotionally attached to my students. I guess I was just a passing phase in their life. I always pray for the best for every single one of you for your coming GCE N levels.
Yup...I never felt the sadness that I had since I left WRS in 2004 until.............today.
Before my final day at AISS, I gave my word to Mr Tan Boon Seng that I'll drop by to the sec 2 OLE. Thinking that I will be posted back to AISS, I felt that I could contribute more. Little did I know that my final posting would end up at Woodlands Sec. Regardless of, I still decided that I should drop by...
Honestly, I only drop by the campsite for one reason...2E4. The second class that I'll never forget. I thought I had learnt my lesson...once bitten, twice shy. I always tell myself "Don't get emotionally attached to a class". It has worked in Yusof Ishak, Juying, Outram, Woodlands...not at AI. My heart broke after taking this picture with them.........
Thank you 2E4 for all the wonderful memories and experiences that you have shared. I truly appreciate every single minute of my experience with you.A tribute to 2E4...
The first time I met 2E4 - Ms Zuraida introduced me to the class. 38 pairs of eyes pierced through me. Each pair wondering and questioning me. I grabbed a chair and sat right next to a guy with "cool" glasses...(later did I know that his name is Izmil). I observed and started to learn their names one by one as Ms Zuraida called out their names. By the end of the lesson, I had 6 names on my list...Douglas, Eileen, Izmil, Riyan, Jason (Ho) and Sara.
The second day, I sat at the same spot...next to Izmil. Douglas kept on turning his head to look behind (at me). I nodded my head as if asking him what he wants. He quickly looked forward. Next moment, Ms Zuraida mentioned "I do not want to see any of you combing your hair or looking in the mirror to adjust your hair. You can do this during your recess". I knew who she was talking to...one of the 3 girls seating in the last row (the column that's in line with the teacher's table). One particular girl in the centre pointed her middle finger once Ms Zuraida faced the front. Wow! I was shocked and surprised. I wanted to scold her there and then...but decided to give her a chance. After all, Ms Zuraida was teaching and I didn't want to make a fuss. A very feisty character I thought. She needs to learn how to respect. I learnt her name...Ong Wei Wen.
As day by day goes by, I felt comfortable with 2E4. VERY active class that needs to be engaged with activities at all time. I watched them play soccer during their PE lessons from afar. A very close knitted bunch indeed...except for a couple of outcasts. The camaraderie was strong. By the end of week 3, I knew all their names by heart. Some names I called very often, (mostly because they were often not on task) while others like Yu Hern, Lewis, Linus, Annie and Quraisha...were seldom called. By the following week, I had given nicknames to most of them...none that they knew of. I had the "Sorority girls" also known as my "Little Devils", the jocks made up of the sports boys, the "arty-farty", "kampung girls" and the rest.
I try to get them interested in my lessons Not an easy feat. Difficult sometimes...I have students who tried to hide her earphone (Feon) so that I will not see it and I have students doing their mother tongue (Liang Ying) while I'm teaching English. A very interesting class indeed. Occasionally, I get individual who "tore" his classmates uniform (Yu Hern and Izmil)...boy who had diffculty with his zippers (Mustaqim)...girls and boys "SMSing" during my lesson (Eileen and Jason), Sara who doesn't want to sit with Izmil cause Izmil always "bully her", kampung girls who always talk in malay (Siti, Muslihah and Quraisha), "sorority girls" combing their hair and fringes (Cheryl, Sandi, Weiwen, Eileen, Feon), "blur like sotong" Tobias always having no idea on what he needs to do and my personal favorite...talking about everything else that's under the sun other than the topic that I've given (Sandi, Feon, Jason Ho, Tobias). haha.
In spite of this, I grew fond of them. They made my stay in Ahmad Ibrahim F-U-N. I'm always looking forward to seeing them.
As weeks pass by, I realized that my time with them had come to an end. The moment I knew that I was posted to Woodlands Sec, I was dejected. It will be over in no time. And guess what, it ended this evening. It was nice to see them enjoying themselves. Even though I couldn't be with them throughout (though I so much wanted to), I'm ecstatic to see their happy faces. I hope this will be a learning experience for some. I hope that I have not only value added their lives with academic components but also the values of life. If they did, I'm happy..... 2E4 certainly have educated me in more ways that others. I will miss my 2E4.........
Cherios,
RuDy
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