Building a solid foundation
Teachers and alumni share how Kuen Cheng High School has played a big part in their lives. >
SOME of her best memories were created during her time as a secondary school student in Kuen Cheng High School.
Describing her experience in the Independent Chinese school as unforgettable, Leong Wai Yee, 42, reminisced about the past.
“One of my best memories at my second home was the hard work we put in as members of the brass band.
“We spent a lot of time and effort on our practices to ensure we would put on good performances,” said Leong who graduated in 1994.
She always felt a strong connection with her alma mater and decided to become a biology teacher in 2001 after graduating from Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University.
Fast forward to the present, she is now head of the school’s Academic Department.
“I’m always proud of Kuen Cheng. It is my second home, where my teachers have become my colleagues. It is a strange but nice feeling.
“The school has always emphasised on the Chinese idiom yin shui si yuan. It means being grateful and appreciative towards the blessings that we have,” said the alumni, adding that she has learnt some valuable lessons from the school and its people.
Leong hopes the school will continue moving towards achievements in all aspects, as well as to celebrate more anniversaries in the years ahead.
Second home
Coming from a fully English-speaking background, Celeste Ho Wing Sum, 18, has spent her entire school life in Kuen Cheng.
The school-leaver attended Kuen Cheng’s kindergarten, SJKC Kuen Cheng (1), and graduated from Kuen Cheng High School with a Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) certificate last year.
“I grew up with Kuen Cheng all these years. My life has been devoted to the school, which nurtured and taught me skills and gave me many experiences.
“It’s 110th anniversary is a huge milestone,” said Ho, a state athlete who will be representing Malaysia in race walking in the Malaysia Games (Sukma) later this year.
She said one of her favourite memories was when she and her friends gathered together to study before the SPM.
She said her dedicated teachers and principal Gooi Swee Gaik are part of her valuable experiences at the school.
“My teachers always went the extra mile for me as I would be absent from school for between one to two months to train for race walking.
“I struggled a bit as my Mandarin isn’t strong but they would stay back after school or meet with me during weekends to tutor me and made sure I understood my lessons,” said Ho, who is a now a student helper in the school.
She advised her younger “brothers and sisters” to be thankful for the good facilities and helpful teachers at Kuen Cheng.
Kuen Cheng was also a second home to Ng Siew Hoo, 19, his younger twin brother and youngest sister, 15.
The twins, who enrolled in 2012 and graduated last year, both stayed in the dorms throughout their time at the school.
Ng said he was proud to be an alumni of a school that is celebrating many achievements.
“Kuen Cheng helped me grow up and be independent. It taught me how to be a person, a good friend.
“The school also built my solid foundation in Physics thanks to my passionate teacher,” said the school-leaver who will attend China’s Shanghai Jiao Tong University in September.
He added that his form teacher Foo Ming Choong contributed in making his time in Kuen Cheng a priceless experience.
Describing Foo as a “guardian angel”, Ng said he was helpful, adding that the students could always count on him.
Sharing the same sentiment, Lai Kah Hin, 19, who also graduated last year, said good teachers and friends made Kuen Cheng a memorable place.
“My class teacher Mr Foo always guided us through our problems. He would always tell us to think about the bigger picture and repercussions before deciding on anything,” said Lai, adding that he is proud to be part of the Kuen Cheng family.
Lai, a self-proclaimed former introvert, said he made some life-long friends here.
“My best memories of Kuen Cheng are the friends I made there,” said the school-leaver who will be enrolling at the Beijing Institute of Technology, China in September.
A family found
Law Seok Mooi took her first job as a teacher in Kuen Cheng 28 years ago and has not looked back since.
“I fell in love with Kuen Cheng on the first day.
“I enjoy my job, this is the reason why I am still here after so many years.
“It was students who gave us teachers our best memories. The old girls opened up to us as well as they loved, respected and trusted us,” said the 54-year-old who believes she will stay on until retirement.
Law shared she sometimes reminisced about the time when the school was an allgirls institution.
“I am always happy when the old girls drop by to visit and when they achieve success in work and life,” she said, adding that Kuen Cheng is a family where students and teachers learn together.
When Kuen Cheng became a co-ed school in 2008, teachers had to adapt and change their teaching methods to accommodate the male students, Law explained.
“Teachers are constantly learning together with our students. When the environment changed, we learned and changed too because we love and are committed to our jobs.
Law hoped Kuen Cheng would continue to produce well-rounded graduates.
Like Law, Chemistry teacher Foo Ming Choong, 37, has been teaching in Kuen Cheng for the past 11 years.
“The best part about my job here is the support I get from fellow colleagues,” he shared.
He also credited his students’ enthusiasm for education in making his job a memorable one.
“I still remember how nervous I was on my first day many years ago, but I came to enjoy my job.
“My happiest moments would be when my students manage to achieve results that aren’t too bad,” said the passionate teacher.