Goodbye For Now

The past week has been a difficult one for me, as it always is at this time of the year. It used to be much harder but eversince I started teaching Forms 4 and 5 a few years ago, it meant that it didn't have to be 'goodbye forever' after Form 3. Saying 'goodbye' to the graduating classes at the end of this month, however, will be forever, and very hard indeed.

I walked into my Form 5 class today with a cloud hovering over me. I had already said my momentary 'goodbyes' to two Form 3 classes and I had to face another later at night. Nevertheless, I tried to be my usual upbeat self. Being a teacher, it's important that I maintain my professionalism no matter rain or shine. For me, being such an emotional person, it's always a very difficult thing to do - but I do it nevertheless.

So, to see faces half asleep (or perhaps half-awake), quiet, unresponsive and worst of all, not showing any sort of enthusiasm for my class, it kills me. Really, it does. And to think, this is going to be our last month together. I try to understand what they might be going through - exams, family problems, relationship problems, friendship problems, lack of sleep, sick... I don't know; but I try to make excuses for their behaviour. I try to forgive them. I try to not get angry or worse than that, disappointed. Afterall, I try my best to come up with new creative ideas to make learning interesting and fun, such as today's 'Court in Session' for literature. I really hope this is just a one-off. If this is how it's going to be for our last month together, then, it would make no difference to kill me now.

Are my lessons becoming boring? Are they losing trust in my unconventional learning methods? I really don't know...


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Now that I've got that out of my heart, I want to dedicate this space to my bubbly, wonderful and crazy Form 3 bunch. You guys continue to make me feel younger than I really should. As if hanging out with 17-year-olds isn't making me young enough, you guys continue to turn back the clock on my youth. Ahh... I'm so going to miss you guys! Until next year and all the best for your PMR! You can do it! I believe in you...


The first 'goodbye' - Alam Gemilang Form 3 Class of 2009

The second 'goodbye' - Mega Yakin Form 3 Class of 2009

The third 'goodbye' - Seri Wawasan Form 3 Class of 2009