3 comments:

Funn Lim said...

To tell you the truth, I was never a bright or excellent student throughout school. As I got older I became more withdrawn. In my own opinion I thought I was a recluse and kept to myself. After I left secondary school, I realised strangely many remembered me (because of my size I suppose) eventhough I don't remember them, mostly because they were from different classes. In primary school I was quite a show off, I was talkative, I spent my class KFC, etc but in secondary school I thought I was anonymous but not quite so. Frankly I can't even remember my classmates' names. Can't remember my teachers. Nothing memorable but nothing bad. I didn't do anything or not do anything to make my school years bad or good. Just normal. Now that I am working I miss my school years. They were carefree in the sense zero responsiblity. Rm60 per month and I could still save thousands and now I earn thousands I can't even save RM60. Strange huh?

Anyway a funny story. Years later, as in a few years back my friends and I sat down for a chat. 3 closest friends (only friends actually), one of who I have known since primary school and went to the same secondary school. We were talking abt our past and how we met. I always assumed I met then in Form 2 because that was how I remember, sitting at the canteen and just striking up conversation over TVB stuff. We bonded. And that time canteen is like own class own tables so interestingly I think 2 of us was in same class, the other 2 in different classes, where one of them remained in different class throughout 5 years. So I was saying how we met in form 2 and I asked them "Eh where were you in form 1?" and they said Form something. I forgot my own form number but actually it was the same number as I was. And I was like "EH! We were in the same class???". I knew 1 was in the same class with me, since she sat next row. The other two was like "Yeah lar, we were same class, we were at the opposite end, we knew you but never talked to you for the whole year and you never looked our way too!!!"

Until now I can still remember the story. Imagine that; 1 year and my head never turned to look at the opposite end and I absolutely did not know they were in the same class. My friend in the next row, who is Chong Wai Peng in my Facebook friends could remember everybody. Either I am not bothered or I have bad memory. Either way I grew up to be someone with the least desired social skills. I can't make small talk with strangers. Back in primary school I was very talkative, in secondary I began to shut into my own world although I must have been quite ok since most people remember me, name in full and could pronounce it perfectly.

Pearl try to look back to your school days more intently. You will be surprised to know perhaps they were the best years of your life.

1:49 AM  

Funn Lim said...

By the way I was not in the best school or best class. Malaysia did not have that system of smart class although everybody thinks science stream students are the smartest. I always laughed at them because they were the only 2 classes that had to float around since they don't have their own permanent classes so to me they were not cool. I was never in the smart class, in fact not so smart class since I never tried hard to be smart. However teachers often sit me with less well achieved students, at the back of the class. So I was the one who had to carry textbooks (bloody heavy even by today's standards since the books hardly changed), reminded my partner about projects, stuff which I didn't mind actually. Our teachers never looked down on me, one even asked me if I had family problems when my grades were down and I rudely answered "No just plain lazy". I think she was shocked to hear that. But I was never rude, never outspoken. Teachers treated us rather fairly, I suppose they were boring, not excited with their jobs but overall ok as people. Primary school was bad though. I had one Indian teacher using chalks to scratch my perfectly flawless face, with some temporary scars for some weeks! Another loved to pinched the hands of those who can't answer questions, like roll your skin around and around and pinch. Since I was big sized, imagine her fun at doing that. I don't remember most teachers, but these I remember. Secondary school I remember a very arrogant teacher who taught her class to pronounce signature as "Sign-nature" and Seoul and "See-yol". What can I do? I just laughed at her stupidity. One teacher I particularly remember had polio (now I know it is polio, since watching Glittering Days it hit me), she was very pretty, walked very strangely and we were not close. But I remember one time in class she looked at me, pointed at my legs and told me to close them and sit properly. She emphasises on being ladylike.

The rest I can't remember. I remember less about my classmates and even less my schoolmates.

But I suppose your country is different, emphasising so much on academic excellence which is the same obsession with Chinese schools. I was in Malay school which was far more relaxed. hence why I am not so successful. I would have wished I have gone to a chinese school. Could be a doctor by now.

1:58 AM  

Studenteacher said...

I wasn't exactly the best student to enter my secondary school (what with the failing grades and quiet character) but I have met teachers who cared for me . There was one teacher who was willing to give us remedial lessons even though he was no longer teaching our class. By contrast, as I blossomed to become one of the top students in my school, I don't exactly meet nice teachers.

For every person which appears to be not so nice, there are alot of other nice people out there.

1:11 PM  

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