Bubbly JPA - 07 Students

It was a year ago that I started this blog, right after the trial examination when so many worried students asking me about practical examinations: - How would it be and who will be invigilating the actual examinations? It was set up hoping to calm you down and I am glad that it did. How time flies.
It was as though not long ago that you all lined up in MPH to collect your student handbook on 2nd July 2007. So obediently lined up in rows and only dare to whisper, not talking, let alone talking aloud. Not much of impressions then as you were just as raw as any other intake students.
Later, when divided into classes, I was assigned to teach Physics to JPA1 and JPA2 classes. You are still “fresh” from school then - when I asked a question, you would stand up and answer and would not sit down if I didn’t ask you to do so. I guess the impression of me then was stern and unfriendly. During my lessons, many think that I victimize you by asking you more frequent than the others. Some of you were making faces behind my back, but not to me, it was to your friends. Some of you have to “air your tongue” occasionally. Nowadays you are more interested in the pattern of the wood grains on your table than my questions.
JPA1 were the high-brows, you prefer to seek out the answers yourselves before you decided to ask me. Even then, it is far in-between. JPA2 were, shall I say more passionate and more expressive then. Later, when JPA3 was dissolved and joined the two Physics classes that I have, the class population swelled.
Towards the end of 1st semester, students started to seek my help in Physics, but you are strictly business. You were not at ease to talk to me on other matters.
Then came the 2nd semester and some of you started to come to me and talked to me, not only on academic but other things as well. Some will just “baby talk” to me. You are like my children when they were in primary school. They will talk to me when they came back from school. Just talk about the school, the teachers, their friends, their school bus. They just talk and talk and talk but didn’t’ expect responds from me. Some of you will talk to me on your ambitions, your “dreams”, your worries and shared with me your happiness. You even seek my help when you have stomach-ache, tooth-ache and sore throat. I offered help wherever and whenever I can. Mind mine, messages came in even in the wee hours of the night. You somehow replace the vacant space left behind by my children who have since found their own world. I started to grow fond of the JPA students. I started to treat you like my own children. Sometimes I might forget that you were not my “real” children, I might have said things that might have offended you. If that’s the case, I am sorry. But you are not telling me!
The third semester was a hectic one because of the massive unit 4 and unit 5 you have to sit for at the end of the semester. The teachers are working hard and rush to finish the syllabi and the students are working equally hard to get ready for the examinations. I gave extra classes to ease the pace, but that didn’t go down well with some of you. Nevertheless, I continued with the extra classes. I started to see some tired faces and tensions were high then.
At the start of the 4th semester (the final semester), some of you came to my house to “bai nien”. The BBQ party was a nice one, there were laughers all round. The laughter that were missing from this house for a long time already. As I mingled from one small group to another, I looked at those still innocent faces and listen to those laughers that came out straight from the hearts, with no pretends. I bid farewell to all silently and wish you all the best. I will miss you for a long time.
Through the two years, I taught you Physics principles and learn from you some bad habits. I learnt to use those words such as leh, mah, loh, wor and the “harno”. I learnt to use and like the sms using the hand phone, and latter the msn. I used to enjoy talking to you through sms, only to know latter that I actually annoyed some. Sorry.
I like to watch war movies in my younger days, especially those involved dog-fights and the paratroopers. Every time before the mission, the commander-in-chief will brief his pilots and concluded the briefing with “Gentlemen, it’s a pleasure serving with you” and salute. He said this because he didn’t know whether he will see them again.

Well, the A-Level programme for the JPA 07 is coming to an end and, I have this to say to you too :-- “Ladies and young men, it’s a pleasure to have you in my Physics class”.


“We make them cry those who care for us
We cry for those who never care for us
And
We care for those who will never cry for us”

This is the truth of life, it’s strange but true. Once you realize this, it’s never too late to change.

Adios and bon voyage

No promisses : Tiada janji : Mei2 you3 cheng2 nuo4