FROM my Form Six English Literature, I remembered a poem by John Keats, Ode on a Grecian Urn.
Keats saw the art on the urn as something that captured a single period of time. The picture on the urn will never change and will never leave.
Just like what is in my mind. All the memories of my school students whom I have taught are frozen in time.
I started my teaching career in January 1983 in Langkap, Perak. I was just 24 years old. I retired in March 2017 in Port Klang and am now in my 60s.
During those 33 years of my teaching career, I have served in three government schools in Perak and Selangor.
The memories of those thousands of students I have taught are still fresh in my mind. I cannot remember most of their names but their young, energetic faces are still frozen in my mind.
I often wondered how they are and where they are now. I kept reminding myself these students I have taught back in 1983 in Form 3, 4 and 5 are now in their 50s. The last batch of my students in Form 5 in 2017 are now in their 20s or early 30s. Most of them must have become parents themselves with some being grandparents by now.
One student I will never forget is Hui Qi (2015). She wanted to take Geography in her SPM examinations as an extra subject. It was not offered in her class.
I discouraged her and told her to concentrate on her other eight subjects instead. Moreover, she had to work after school to help support her family. Why burden herself with an extra subject which was not even taught in her class?
But after her few attempts to convince me and seeing how interested she was in Geography, I finally agreed to coach her whenever we both had time in school.
I made her promise to do well in the subject. In the end, when she obtained her SPM results, she scored an A in Geography.
I remember another student, Saraswathy, who took Geography for SPM in 1988. She is now an English Language teacher.
Every year we never failed to wish each other "Happy Teachers' Day".
What touched me the most was she once said in her message to me, "I will never forget you, teacher."
Once back in 2004, I boarded an express bus from Kuala Lumpur to Klang.
As I was climbing up the fleet of steps up the bus, I heard a voice calling me "cikgu".
Looking up, I recognised the bus driver – my student from Telok Datuk, Banting. Feeling a little embarrassed because other bus passengers were turning their heads to look at me, I smiled and felt so proud of him. He was not hesitant to acknowledge me and asked me how I was. He came from one of the weaker classes of students but he has done well for himself.
Not forgetting another student, Edwina (2014). I was her class teacher.
She used to complain to me how strict her father was towards her. Her father did not allow her to have a handphone unlike her other classmates.
I advised her to have patience as her father must have reasons for doing so.
If I were to meet her today, I would like to ask her where is the roti canai she promised to bring for me from her father's restaurant. She is now a qualified lawyer. I remember a student, Deepa (2007) who gave me her atlas after SPM.
"For remembrance, teacher," she said.
Li Yan (2003) who donated her Geography reference books and wrote me a heartfelt letter which I have kept until today.
Then, there was Siti Shuhada R. (1984), who sent me her photo with the notes: "Semoga cikgu berbahagia hingga ke akhir perjuangan." (May you find happiness until the very end)
Thank you to Noor Haslinda (2001) who sent me Chinese New Year cards and even invited me to her wedding.
Thanks also to Thavamani L (2005) who said "Thank you teacher for two years teaching me wonderful subject Geography." (These are her exact wordings from her card to me.)
Two students who never failed to visit me for Chinese New Year are Sze Yie and Yasini (2001).
I remember all the field trips and outings with Qian Qian (2006) and the school Tourism Club.
We organised trips to Cameron Highlands, Port Dickson, Pulau Pangkor, Malacca, explored Gua Tempurung, harvested paddy in Sekinchan and even to the Meteorological station in Sepang.
Students were always so excited and enthusiastic when we organised field trips and "hands-on" lessons out of the classrooms.
I remembered my Geography treasure hunt which made the students run to every corner of the school using compasses and maps to search for clues.
Some students may not have become professionals with high paying jobs but as long as they are hard-working, honest and law-bidding Malaysians, we as educators have achieved our goal.
There are so many students I still can remember but I cannot mention them all here.All students hold immense longing memories in me just like the pictures on the urn in John Keats' poem. I may grow old, glaciers and ice may melt away but these students will always "freeze" in my mind for many years to come.
People said to feel rich, just think of the things that money cannot buy. These memories indeed made me feel rich and grateful.
