This year’s Teachers’ Day celebration is the best so far for me. I got connected to two former teachers who taught me at St Elizabeth’s Convent School (now SMK St Elizabeth) in Sibu.
In the Whatsapp group that I shared with my classmates, I wished my friends who are or were teachers a Happy Teachers’ Day on May 16. Then I thought about my English teachers in high school who have made me what I am today. Thanks to their encouragement and hard work, they had ensured that I was proficient in the English language.
I am now working in a newspaper because of my English skills. The overwhelming gratitude I felt towards these teachers – there are three of them – prompted me to put on record in the WhatsApp group my heartfelt thanks to them What happened after that was beyond my expectation. A friend kindly sent my message to one of the teachers, Madam Teo, who taught me English in Form Two.
I remember the pages and pages of grammar homework I had to do after each lesson in school. At that time, I found the task mentally taxing. While my family members were sleeping soundly in their beds, I sat under a yellow lamp and had to crack my head thinking of the correct words and sentences to write in order to fill the blanks in the pages.
Madam Teo was firm, strict but kind. Because she was kind and understanding, I did not mind the hard work. A few days after I posted my Teachers’ Day message of thanks and gratitude in the WhatsApp group, someone unknown to me sent me this message: “Madam Teo informed me to give you this special message.
“Thank you to my student for appreciating me. From: Teacher Madam Teo.” Another English teacher I thanked was Miss Philomena Wong (now Mrs Philomena Ho). Her younger sister, Josepha was my classmate and schoolmate, I was surprised when I received a message from Philomena through another kind classmate, Florence. I was astonished to learn that Josepha had forwarded my message of thanks to her elder sister.
Philomena, who now lives in Canada, replied in her message: “ I am so honoured to be remembered on Teachers’ Day. Must say thinking back to those good old days brings back happy memories. I have only seen a couple of you since I left for Canada.
Learned from Josepha most of you are no longer in Sibu.” Philomena taught me English in Form Three. Because she had freshly graduated from overseas, she was very open-minded and encouraged us to be creative and logical in our English essays.
All my life, I have never attended English tuition classes. In primary school, my command of English was average. I did not get to appreciate the Secret Seven books and the Famous Five books by Enid Blyton, an English children’s writer whose books were among the world’s best sellers since the 1930s, until I was in Primary Five. Then I went to St Elizabeth’s Convent School and met Madam Teo first, then, Philomena Wong and lastly, Maria Dris and my whole world changed for the better. They were good English teachers who ignited my love for the English language and instil a love of learning new English words in me. In high school, I read many English books including the Mills and Boon romance books.
Philomena gave marks to the essays my classmates and I wrote and many a times, I scored eight out of the full 10 marks. Mind you then, I was clueless about what I wanted to be in life. Until then, I had not met a journalist in my life and never dreamed of becoming a journalist. Needless to say, the three teachers made a big difference in my young life.
If I had not met them, my command of English would have remained average and I would not be what I am today. If I had not met them, I would not have scored good grades in English for my Sarawak Junior Certificate, my Senior Cambridge Certificate and my Higher School Certificate. Teachers’ Day is a special day to appreciate teachers and the special work they do.
According to Teaching org, a great teacher is one a student remembers and cherishes forever. Teachers have long-lasting impacts on the lives of their students, and the greatest teachers inspire students toward greatness. I remember Madam Teo, Philomena Wong and Maria Dris as great English teachers who inspired me to greatness and boosted my self-confidence.
I will remember and cherish them forever If I had the opportunity and were less shy, I would probably have thanked them personally years ago. Still I believe, it is better late than never.
To Madam Teo, Philomena Wong and Maria Dris, I have this to say: “Thank you, teachers, for giving me the opportunity to be grateful this year. To each and everyone of you, Madam, I give you my love!”
