Last day at EVSS.

Assalamualaikum....

Surprisingly, my last day at EVSS was a sad episode for me, sadder than when i had to leave the madrasah.

The great losses that I felt when i left the madrasah were; the morning doas and recitation of the quran during assembly, the segregation between males and females, the weekly sermons which i had to judge, the semi-arabic environment and of course my students.

At EVSS however, i only miss my colleagues and students and 'something' which i myself cannot fathom. 'Something' which mysteriously crept within me that made me think of them the following week. Something which made me just want to make a surprise visit on them.

Was it because of the series of unfortunate incidents that happened to me while i was at madrasah which makes me feel quite detached from it? was it the warmth which i received from EVSS which makes me feel like i had always been part of them?

I remember the well-wishes i received from my EVSS colleagues on my last day of school (not that i didn't receive any at the madrasah) Some of the teachers even made the effort to make sure i visit them on my last day so they could say some last words of advice to me. I am indeed touched by this gesture of theirs and at this point of time, just writing about them can make me tear.

Mdm Shah, Mrs Walcott and Ms Teo all told me to come to them so they could have a short talk with me. Mrs Walcott even shared with me her resources and told me to bring my thumbdrive along. Ms Teo, my CT and Mdm Shah - not even my CT, just a teacher whom I observed- sat down with me and asked me about my experience teaching and what i had learnt through that short stint. They also shared with me their past experiences and told me some words of advice.

Aren't I fortunate to be surrounded by warm people like them? Besides them, how can i ever forget my co-form teacher, Ms Ayesha and the group of teachers who sat around me, Faith, Yanzhi and Wei Qin. Faith handed to me her entire file of resources and told me to photocopy whatever i wanted. She and the rest also never fail to tickle me when i'm at the staff room with their corny jokes and their constant bickerings at each other. Indeed, this was one of those that i miss from EVSS.

Ms Ayesha on the otherhand, had been a fabulous mentor to me. Seeing how organised she was and how firm yet fun she was with 208, I feel like I've learnt a great deal from her on how to be an efficient form-teacher.

Last but not least, will be my students. My 208, 502 and 301.

Had to teach 502 (normal acad) during my first period. Isn't it ironic that my first time teaching them was on my last day of school. This is life. Nevertheless, despite knowing that that was my last day of school, they still gave me their full attention and class management was definitely not a problem. Even 'notorious' boys like Gopi and Naran paid attention and was very involved in the class discussion. Naran said the sweetest thing before i left. He said 'Teacher, don't forget me.' (This is what makes teaching all worthwhile. When you have touched a kid's life)

Next will be my 208. The entire class presented me with a vanguard sheet full of personal messages telling me how they'll miss me and they wish for me to come back. Isn't that sweet. But the sweetest had to be the message from Huda - this girl who's going through some family problems. She thanked me for the advice i gave her and she said, she will forever remember it. This term, i did notice slight changes in her and I am really glad she's making the effort to mend her ways. I really pray to Allah that her parents will not go through the divorce and that her father will stop womanising. It is of course tough to see your own father bringing other women back home. If i had been the daughter (na'zubillah), i think i would have done something really nasty to my father and those women.

This wraps up my stint at EVSS. In all, the experience was indeed satisfying and it makes me feel that I've made the right choice of becoming a teacher. No, teaching is not a career for me, it is a means for me to do my part to the society and May Allah guide me on how to be an influential teacher who imparts beneficial knowledge to others.

Its All in Allah's name....