Ask anyone in corporate finance how they entered the field, and they will usually speak of numbers, an analytical mindset or strategic planning.
My story is far simpler and more personal. I am an accountant today because a dedicated teacher chose to invest her time, money and heart in a girl who scored a devastating 12% in her Form Three school Mathematics exam.
It all started in 2009, when I was in Form One. I was 13 and the school sports field was my entire world. Teacher Malarveli Veeriah had just joined SMK Meru, Klang, and I wanted to earn her respect as an athlete.
The following year, during the annual sports season, I crossed the finish line first – a full minute ahead of the others in our 800m race. “Good” – that was all a beaming Teacher Malarveli said.
But that single word of praise changed the course of my school life. From that morning onwards, an unspoken bond formed between us. Every afternoon after school, she would kindly drop me off near my home.
One day, she noticed that my mood was subdued. I looked down, softly sharing how I had failed my Mathematics paper. She looked at me in utter disbelief and said, “12% over 100%?” I nodded, explaining that I could not grasp what was being taught in class.
She asked about my Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah (UPSR) results, and when I shared that I had scored 4As and 3Bs, she shook her head firmly.
“Your UPSR results were good – it is a terrible waste to give up now.”
Without skipping a beat, she made a decision that would change my life. She offered to tutor me during her free time, even purchasing exercise books for me with her own money.
At first, I was slow and deeply discouraged, yet she never raised her voice. Day after day, week after week, she sat beside me, guiding me patiently until the numbers began to make sense.
Her dedication helped me score an A in the Penilaian Menengah Rendah Mathematics paper. It unlocked the door for me to enter the Accounts stream in Form Four, which formed the foundation for my tertiary education and career today.
Teacher Malarveli was overjoyed. “See? Just three months of studying together and you scored an A. I will buy more practice books for you. Keep doing the exercises, and you will excel in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia,” she said.
True to her word, she gifted me an entire set of reference books, before transferring back to her hometown in Penang. I tried to hide my tears so she wouldn’t worry.
I finished Form Five and when the time came to apply for my tertiary education, I chose a polytechnic in Penang. The day my flight landed, Teacher Malarveli was waiting at the arrivals gate with arms wide open. She loaded my bags into her car, drove me to campus, helped me settle in and ensured that I was safe.
Over the years, her maternal care never waned. On my birthday in August 2015, she treated me to a meal and gifted me a watch that I cherish to this day. Long after I completed my diploma, our bond remains unbroken.
Teacher Malarveli still calls me on my birthday. In a world where people often drift apart, it is a rare blessing to have an educator who continues to care for a student almost two decades on.
Where I saw failure and a closed door, she saw a student worth helping. She showed me what was possible beyond a test score.
Teacher Malarveli celebrated her birthday on Aug 17 and while words can never fully express my gratitude, I want to share how a kind educator can really change a student’s life.
Every milestone I have achieved was sparked by her quiet sacrifice and unwavering belief in me. I am working as an accountant and pursuing my degree today because she chose to care. Thank you, Teacher.
KULA RAMESH
Selangor
