My dearest students,
Congratulations on the success of our first ever Spectra Sports Meet! As I walked up and down the benches taking photographs, I noticed how our runners showed respect for each other at the end of each race. I saw our student photographers earnestly carrying out their duties under the blazing sun. I loved how all of us cheered and clapped for our fellow Spectrans, especially for the runner who fell and hobbled her way to the finishing line. As I stood up and cheered with all of you, my heart felt like it was going to burst, with pride and joy.
When I first made a decision to join Spectra, honestly I didn’t know what I was going to be in for. I had no experience with teaching Normal Technical students and people kept asking why I wanted to come to Spectra from RI. All I had was the belief my teachers taught me – that I could do anything if I set my heart to it. I wanted to pass that belief on to my students so they could be better people leading better lives with brighter futures when they leave Spectra.
In my first year, people said I got a typical NT class for a form class. Many of my students were loud and bursting with energy in every lesson. It was like being part of a ‘Tom and Jerry’ episode every day. Each time we agreed on something and closed a case, the next day it seemed like someone pressed the computer reset button and the same thing happened all over again, just in a slightly different way. I tried everything that I could but nothing seemed to work. Yet, as the days went by, I felt the changes in myself, in the class and in our relationship.
Like peeling off the layers in an onion, we slowly opened up and allowed each other to see right inside our hearts. We learnt to show respect and care for each other. I learnt that the loud screams of “Ms Teo!” across the canteen, the shy smiles when our eyes meet in the corridor and you asking people to keep quiet when I am talking, are ways that you show respect. I learnt that you hovering around me when I eat in the canteen and trying to follow me into the staff room to raid my sweet store are ways that you show affection for me.
When you went on a school trip to Malacca without me and came back with small snacks, gifts and lots of stories for me, my heart just melted. When you got into trouble and I was there for you, you quietly said, “Sorry, Ms Teo”, and I felt your sincerity. When I lost my cool in class, I apologized and you just quietly nodded. We forgave each other’s mistakes but we never forgot the lessons in life that we learnt together. You never said out loud that I was your best teacher ever. You complained that I scold and nag a lot, but you kept the notes I wrote and put up the photographs of our class birthday celebrations, our class outings and photographs that I sent to the class on your Instagram, Snapchat and Facebook.
This is my third year in Spectra. I have a new form class, many more classes for English and CCE and I am still learning from all of you. I learnt that it takes time to get to know my students but once we have established our relationships, our connections last for a long time. I learnt when to nag, when to “relak” and not to judge. I learnt to be patient and slowly dig deep to uncover the reasons behind the “bad” behavior I see in class. I learnt to respond appropriately instead of react adversely to situations that arise. I learnt to listen and just be there when you need someone. I learnt to do home visits and make friends with your parents so we could work together to help you come to school and enjoy learning. I learnt that you like to say that you want to “lepak” but when I say that this is serious and we need to get things done, you will do your part and we will do it together. I love seeing the serious side of you and how you try your best to complete the task. We learnt to take up new responsibilities and be there for each other.
There were times I thought I was a failure as a teacher, when I couldn’t get through to you no matter how hard I tried. However, I have also learnt that it is ok to fail. We learn from our mistakes and we do it better the next time. The important thing is to be resilient and not to give up. Yesterday I called because you did not come to school. Today I called again, you still did not come, and tomorrow, I will call again.
Everything that I have learnt to do, I learnt because I care and because I believe in you. I believe that you can do anything that you want to do, if you set your heart on it. I believe that each of us has a lot of potential energy inside us that is waiting for us to use for greater good. I believe that we can use this potential to overcome all the obstacles that we face and help others too. I believe that each of us is special and we have our part to play in creating a brighter future for everyone in Singapore and possibly the world. As the successors of the future, you will live to see SG100 and what that future will be like, depends on you.
I write this letter with a heart filled with gratitude. I am very thankful to have met you here and now. On this journey in Spectra with all of you, I grew and I became a better person and teacher too. May all of you have the courage, wisdom, strength and high life condition to overcome all the obstacles in your life and help others too. Together we can make this world a better place.
Yours Truly,
Ms Teo Siew Kuang
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