‘Many teachers leave indelible marks on us’
LAWAS: There is a saying that says ‘behind every successful individual, there is a great mentor, known as teacher’.
As we celebrate Teachers’ Day on Monday, some of us want to reflect and remember our former teachers who have helped mould us to become what we are today.
A former election candidate, Elia Bit, 33, recalled how a few teachers who had helped her prepare for her future, especially in public speaking which is very beneficial to her when she ran her political campaign in the 2016 state election.
“Many teachers from my secondary school have indeed impacted my life in ways I never imagined before.
“I remember my principal at SMK Bakong, Marcus Raja, who trained me in public speaking. He had asked me to deliver a speech for the first time in front of more than a 1,000 students and over 70 teachers at the time.
She said she was very nervous at first as she had never had an experience speaking in public before, but with Marcus’ guidance and motivation, she managed to deliver her speech.
“Public speaking and self confidence have helped me with my speeches in many places that I went to in the past and all of that was made possible because of Mr Marcus,” said Elia.
She also recalled another great mentor, MutangLawai, who also taught at SMK Bakong, and who had prayed for her.
Elia said teachers are not only educators but they are also their spiritual mentors.
“Mr Mutang, who was also our Inter-School Christian Fellowship (ISCF) teacher at the time prayed for me and advised me to always do the right things when decisions are too delicate to make,” she said.
Former educationist Marcus Hugo MatuLejau, 62, also recalled having a teacher who had great impact on his life.
He said his former teacher. Joseph Belulok Dian, who taught him at SK Long Aton in Tinjar, Baram was responsible in guiding and nurturing him in the early years of his education that has brought him into what he is today.
“I am indeed grateful that
I was under such a dedicated and caring teacher who took his duties to educate the ‘kampung’ children not only as a job but a vocation.
“His commitment was displayed in his enthusiasm to teach the poor children under very challenging environment; poor infrastructure and lacking of teaching materials,” he recalled.
Marcus added that Joseph also had to be creative and resourceful to make learning for his pupils meaningful and interesting.
“He has influenced me somehow in my mission, values and views on life,” he added.
Dr Ravivarma Rao Panirselvam, a mental health professional, remembered a lecturer who had played an important role in his success.
“I remember the time when I was in medical school, this lecturer has helped me with my self confidence.
“I was just starting medical school, and we had our first assessment where I thought I did not do well when in fact I did quiet okay,” he said.
Dr Ravi said the lecturer, Dr Rajesh was his mentor who guided him throughout his university days until he graduated and became a doctor.
Each one of us, regardless of what we have become or achieved today, whether we succeed or not, we all have crossed path with teachers who have left indelible marks on us, mostly good ones that we continue to remember and cherish even after they passed on, he said.