SMKSS Fantasy

It’s been 3 months I’ve been teaching as a temporary teacher in my own secondary school, SMKSS…a lot of things happened in this three months that will ensure this will be a very interesting n memorable moment in my part of life.

Remembering the first day I started teaching in SMKSS…the first class I met was 1A10…full Chinese…so I started speaking Chinese with them…introducing myself in Chinese, make them introduce in Chinese n I started speaking Chinese to them even when I’m teaching…I will automatically get to my nerves to translate my teachings in BM previously into Chinese in order they can understand my teaching…

1A11 is where most the elites are here…they study hard, listen carefully, paying full attention to what I teach…although there are some Malays there…but they, too are considered good ones. At least they pass up homework as I requested. Nurul Nadiah…one of the most hardworking ones in class. Besides, Shuh Jing, Kit Mun, Li Xin, Joo Yee, Nadiah, Amalina and lot more of them in this class are the question makers in this class…they will immediately shoot theirs hands above once they don’t understand or they can’t get the picture. And that’s another lesson I learn from their braveness on bombarding teachers with questions: never keep a question to yourself…besides, they’re inquisitive manner made me really feel like really teaching n talking to students instead of “walls”.

Their serious attitude in learning new things made me realize how important teachers are…it exceeds the understanding during my student hood…for I’m standing on the different angle, looking things in different angle…I started to understand y teachers r so harsh on us…n I found out that I soon know how to read a teacher’s expressions the moment i saw pn Tan and pn Wong saw our STPM results and also after I told Mr. Lim that I didn’t do good in Chemistry…the disappointing look on these teachers who at first taught us at their best effort and ending up seeing our results go bad…I feel very, indeed, very sorry…

1A5 disappointed me most…at first when I stepped in that class, I knew it’s a weak class…but then I still hope that I can change them. I know they’re lazy, I know they’re weak…but I still try my best as a temporary teacher to get them to the right way…they keep themselves busy on other unknown stuff instead of doing my homeworks even I shouted at them, punished them, threatened them, treat them in soft manner…I keep trying n trying…hoping b4 I leave at least I can change a bit of them. After the first term exam…after I’ve calculated the total marks, I feel very disappointed with most of them…n I start getting tired with them…tired of their laziness, tired of their inagressiveness in studying…I’m jus like wasting efforts on them…and on this point, I started to understand why some great teachers like Miss Kok is considering of giving up…I teach for those who wanted to listen n tried to understand my teachings, and I answer those post questions at me…for those who doesn’t even bother to listen…I don’t give a damn…it is a complete disappointment

To me, 1A8 is very unique or daring is the better word. Most of the students hesitates or getting shy for answering a new teacher’s question. They are the first class who dares to talk to me at the very beginning of the semester …which is when I’m still hanging a fierce face whenever I get in a class. I still remember…the very first day I entered the class…the introduction session where I force every student to introduce themselves…they answered my questions daringly, without a second doubt surprises me…especially Nikki Wong who answered : I look at “yucky stuffs” on the net…n god knows what was that “yucky stuffs” she was mentioning =_= But then in the later days,
they got closer to me than any other classes’ students did and in my whole term of servicing at SMKSS, 1A8 is the class where I can relax while teaching. They are the ones who start scolding me for heavy fines and complaining me around to other teachers for the heavy punishment I set upon them when I started pn. Lim’s method of force-memorizing of all moral values and definitions. And the best part is, they still keep complaining to Chi Mun along the three months whenever she enters their class while on the other hand, they still pass up the punishments I gave them…here, I thank those who obeyed me. To tell the truth, I’ve got very high expectations on this class…but most of them end up averagely. In the other hand, I was glad that they really made the effort to memorize the moral values and definitions I gave them…indeed, I knew they’ve done they’re best to strive…so I didn’t blame them for not hard working.

6/Apr/2006
This is the day where my fantastic journey in SMKSS ends. I reached school as usual, thinking of what I should teach today, how am I gonna speak in class in order to let my students understands me…it’s a normal day…not until when I reach my seat where I saw Mr. Aziz talking with another stranger. I thought he was jus a promoter or some kind of it…and when I left my bag in my seat, Mr. Aziz spoke: Ivan, ini guru baru, dating untuk ganti kamu…the first thing in my mind was: it must be next week at least…but then when I asked, Mr. Aziz told me the new teacher, Mr. Azhar is starting his duty today……I was stunned for a while and kept quiet, took my stuff n go for my moral panitia meeting…my last meeting…
After my meeting, I went to the office to sign in…I met Mr. Azhar who asked whether he’s going in to the class…I, who deeply in my heart hoped he’d vaporize told him I’m going in the classes first…when I was at the entrance of the main office, I met Miss Ng who told me to hand over everything to Mr. Azhar ASAP and he’s gonna take over all my classes immediately. So I started hunting him around the school, found him, explain every class’ behavior, handing over my files, record books and stuffs to him.
At that moment, only my mind starts working again…when I realized I haven’t got my lunch, it was almost 2. after my lunch, I quickly rush to The Store to get 10 packs of Ferero Rochare which is a present for good result students in 1A8, rush back. To school…I was driving in 60 to 80 km/h…and now when I’m typing here I’m amazed how I reached school safely.
When I finally got into 1A8 class which I borrowed previously my own period from Mr. Azhar, I tried to fill my face with happy look as usual. I can see their surprised when announced that is gonna be my last time stepping into their classroom as a teacher. And then, I called out those who got good grades out…rewarded them with the Ferero Rochare I bought just now. The next moment I know, was pert of the girls start weeping…especially those who are closest to me, weeping furiously especially Ai DI, my assistant in the class. At that moment, I don’t know what I should say to comfort them…I really do not how to do it…I’m out of words to comfort them for I feel the same deep in my heart.


The next day goes the same…after I gave out the presents to my assistances and good scorers, I heard news that some of the 1A11 weep which later I was told the truth that actually most of 1A11 weep for my leaving.
When I was leaving Black G before recess, one of the 1A11 student slipped me a letter. During recess, when I was enjoying my last cup of iced coffee as a teacher, Lee Yang Sheng from 1A8 came in and gave me a letter…inside written the words of thank you n he even wrote a song lyric for me to sing…then came Ai Di with 1A8 class monitor, giving me another letter. And after recess, came Li Xin, Joo Yee, and two other hard working girls…they wanted to say farewell…my heart sunken…I don’t feel like leaving them at all!! Before they left, I called them back to take a photo as a memorable moment of ours.



To my students, thanks for giving some very important lessons in my life, you all made me realize something that I haven’t been even trying to understand all the while. All of you has formed another part of my miraculous life. I thank for the letters some of u gave me, and the tears some of u fell for my leaving…that shows how u all appreciated my efforts of teaching u all which is…priceless!!