HALL of FAME….

Today my post is dedicated to every student that I was privileged to teach in Xinmin since 2009. I was in the Hall of XMSS 12 hours ago and the principal announced, “Xinmin, we are back to band ONE!!!!” Man, everyone was elated! A tinge of pride gushed through the whole graduating batch of 2011. We’ve done it, we’ve pushed Xinmin to the pinnacle once again.

And there I was, standing at the back of my hall, witnessing the moment. Right in front of me were all the 2011 graduating students, awaiting eagerly for their results. in the middle of the hall were the 2012 graduating students, witnessing the scene of what they would be personally experiencing next year and of course, right at the back, were the 2010 graduating students coming back to their alumnus school to lend their support. Wow, I told myself, this is what the Xinmin Spirit is all about. I mean, the 2010 batch was so excited and proud of their juniors, achieving the feat which they did not and instead of being jealous of them, the 2010 batch, in their array of JC uniforms, cheered together with their juniors, is that school spirit or what??=]

As I saw this beautiful scene unfold in front of my eyes, nostalgia overwhelmed me and thus I want to take this chance to thank all my students who have given me such precious memories, so here goes:

Classes 301, 302, 303 and 305 of 2008:

Though i only taught you all only for a term of 2008, but you peeps help set the foundations of my teaching, the times spent with you all gave me the encouragement to want to embark on this teaching journey, by now, you guys should have finished your A levels and waiting for your results.. Whatever the results are, continue to excel in your future endeavours!

Class 107 of 2009:

Man, this must be the cutest class I have ever taught! You all were my first sec1 class and we had so much fun, watching funny videos, role-playing ancient history, dancing in the class etc… Now most of you should be in secondary 4!!! When I first taught u all, most of the guys were shorter than me but now, hmmmm… 107, I really love u all lots, u all have shown me what it means to be bubbly and living life simply and happily… Try your best for your N levels this year and do well k!!!!

Class 201,202,203,205 of 2009:

These 4 classes played a special significance in my life because no 1: You all are the people that I first taught Singapore history to and we had a great time exploring the history of Singapore, learning about things not just in the textbook but OUTSIDE the textbook… From teaching you all in secondary 2, I could see the level of inquiry thinking that u all have, always asking interesting questions in class. And no 2: Many of you, I would continue teaching for 3 years all the way to 2011!!!

Class 308, 309, 310 of 2009:

Hey, you all must have guessed that I have forgotten that I have taught u all before, no way man!! Seriously, by no chance, that you all did so well for this year O levels (50.8% qualified for JCs!!!) was due to fluke. I will always remember the great memories we had in the 3N camp in bintan, kayaking, climbing coconut trees, obstacle course, jumping off the boat into the sea etc… Thanks for all the fun memories guys and gals, jiayou for your future quests k!!!

Class 301, 302, 306 of 2009 aka 401,402,406 of 2010:

What can I say? I loved you all lots!! you all were my first O levels graduating batch, the ‘guinea pigs’… 2 years of sweat, tears and laughter, thanks people for helping me to become a better teacher through all the class discussions and of course, outside-of-class discussions too=]

301, you are such a lovely bunch. I remembered throughout your upper secondary years, you all were always ‘criticised’ for not living up to the ‘true’ standards of what a 301/401 class should be, but guess what? That is what I loved about your class: You all got character! I missed the jokes we had about India (Parag??!) or relationships etc and the life stories we shared with one another… It seems like it was only yesterday when we were still having lessons, haha…

302, my first form class!!! Do u still all remember what we did on the first day?? I played this circle game ice-breaker thingy??? Anyway, thanks guys, girls for the 2 years of memories! The first outing that we had at ECP where I booked a pit so far that you all had to walk miles to the pit (So sorry!) to the soccer games we had to the intellectual discussions we had in class to the endless fighting-for-marks post-assessments sessions, wow, what a journey of 2 years hey

306! Where have you all been? i have not seen many of you around since you all graduated!! Oh well, I guess many of you must be busy with you own stuff in your various schools; whatever it is, thanks for everything… I will always remember ur class as the one where the projector always breaks down and the guys and girls seated separately most of the time!!

Anyway, for most of you, I reckon you are into your second year of JC/Poly.. 2012 has just started, I just want to wish u all the best and make 2012 the best yr of your life yet:)

Class 106 and 207 of 2011,

Guys and gals, every single one of you will always have a special place in my heart. In 2010, I have only been teaching upper secondary and given the chance to teach the lower secondary students in 2011, it was such a refreshing experience. Being able to bring you out on a field trip to the civic district is one of the highlights of 2011. Though I can’t teach you all anymore in Xinmin, all of you continue to focus and do your very best k=]

Class 408 and 410 of 2011,

Wow… These 2 classes have such strong personalities! 410, you guys really really gave me a great time as your form teacher in 2010 but really, seeing the transformation in all of you, becoming mature young men and women really warms my heart yah…

408, we have 1 great year of fun!! I really enjoyed coming to your class. Your sunshine personality really cheers me up lots… Thanks for your enthusiasm and printing of your class tee for me… I really appreciate that gesture:)

408,4010, I am really so proud of your N levels results. Now 2012 is the year where u all are going to take the O levels. How I wish I could guide you all still but due to personal reasons, I can’t but whatever it is, I know that you all have the ability to do well k, believe in yourselves yah:)

Class 301, 303, 305 of 2010 aka 401,403,4o5 of 2011,

what can I say? For most of you, i have the privilege to teach you for 3 years!!! Can u believe that??? Words fail me when I am writing this message to you all. Countless memories; endless jokes, discussions about life, politics, economics, history, social studies… U name it, we must have talked about it… People, thank you so so much for every memory you have given to me yah. Bringing Xinmin to band 1 is throughly your credit yeah and no one can take that away from you…

403, you know, when i first taught you in 2010, I was thinking to myself: Oh man, this class is so darn serious!!It seems that they will never laugh at any of my jokes but what a change!! We had so much fun laughing and laughing in 2011 that i can’t even remember whether I actually taught SS to you all at all!!! (OOps!) Thanks peeps=]

405, you are an awesome awesome class! I like it that many of you are trend-setters, that you have opinions of your own and are not afraid to voice them out and discuss about them…. not to mention that half the year of secondary 4, we are learning SS in an non-air con classroom!! Thanks to all the ‘wonderful’ guys yah!

401, I really love u all…. Mr Tan wants to take this chance to say sorry to you all for not being able to be the form teacher I ought to be to you all… But you are such a wonderful bunch, operating in self-pilot mode so many times. I think you are the class that I poured out my innermost feelings and thoughts too last year yah, you will always hold a special place in my heart.

Wow, this is it, people… My students, past and present, today when I was in the hall, I saw most of you there. Your faces, the memories we have all rushed me by… U know what? I am humbled by every single one of you all… You all taught me how to be a better teacher and most of all, a better person….

I want to end this note by saying that today I was in the HALL of FAME: Every single boy or girl seated in the hall earlier is destined to do something significant, regardless of your results,I believe with ALL my heart that ALL of you has the potential for greatness yah… So as u set forth in your future journeys, continue to shine, to excel, to have a ZEST for life!!

And remember, this world is not lacking in rich men or smart men, this world is looking for good men; so friends, continue to make a positive difference in your journeys k… Keep in touch!