Thangamary (standing, third from right), Kalaichelvi (standing, third from left) and their schoolmates at the Pudu English Secondary School Class of 1980 reunion. — Photo courtesy of REUBEN LIU
Reunion prelude brings up happy memories of yesteryear
PRESERVING the bonds of friendship cultivated in school is a tough task, especially as students go their separate ways on their quest to climb the career ladder.
But some school alumni associations such as the Pudu English Secondary School Old Girls Association (Pesoga) have made it their raison d’etre to keep friendships alive in whichever way possible.
Pesoga adviser Suzan Kuah said the association’s main objective was to maintain sisterhood among all former students.
“We also build ties between the current students and old girls so that we older ones can give the girls any help they may require,’’ said Kuah, who is from the Class of 1980.
One way to strengthen ties, she said, was to organise fun events like the one planned for this Saturday (Nov 18) at The Federal Kuala Lumpur, from 3pm to 8pm.
“The event dubbed Miss PESS 2023/2024 is a platform for current students to showcase their talents to their ‘older sisters’ in the Pesoga alumni,” said Kuah.
As part of Pesoga’s initiatives to bring former students together, Kuah’s Class of 1980 from Pudu English Secondary School (PESS) also had a joint 60th birthday party recently.
The event attended by about 100 people provided a trip down memory lane.
Most guests had not met each other since they left the school which was renamed SMK (P) Pudu in the early 1980s after it was elevated to a Grade A school.
The excitement was intense as the old girls, some already grandmothers, journeyed back in time and became fun-loving teenage girls again.
Besides catching up, the former PESS students sang and danced to their hearts’ content.
Social worker Chang Yuen Ching said she had not met any of her school friends since 1980.
“This 60th joint birthday party was an opportunity for me to reconnect with them.
“I was amazed that nothing much had really changed as most of them had the same body language and same style of speaking just like when we were teens,” she added.
As for retiree Thangamary Sinnappan, the reunion brought back sweet memories.
“I am meeting some of my school friends after nearly 40 years.
“I also met my classmate who sat beside me in Form Four and we shared many pleasant memories,” added Thangamary.
Joanne Yew reckons that the party was like a grand 60th birthday present.
“Meeting school friends gave me a beautiful feeling, which reminded me of the happiness we shared while growing up.”
Yew said she and her childhood friends reminisced about many things including their favourite and most feared teachers, their childhood movie idols and the games they used to play.
“I left the event wondering when our next get-together would be,” she added.
Retired teacher M. Kalaichelvi was also moved by the event.
Kalaichelvi said she joined the secondary school after completing Standard Six in a Tamil school.
“I was a timid and shy girl who could hardly speak any English then.
“However, the teachers guided me to pick up the language and I became an English teacher.”
Meanwhile, organising committee member Kuah said the gathering was the best birthday present.
“As my friends walked in, it was like we were back in 1980 even though some of us had not met for more than 40 years.
“While we hugged and reconnected, we also felt the absence of some of our friends who have since died,” she said.
Kuah hopes that more old girls will attend the Miss PESS 2023/2024 event.
Those interested in attending can call Kuah at 012-295 9109 or Marcia Chan at 016-380 1536 or Diana Phang at 016-228 1793.
