PMR

School will reopen in 12 days. *sigh*

Just when you thought that you can get used to having a relaxing and mundane life, the real world comes knocking back.

Yesterday (22-12-10), SMKTM teachers had their 1st meeting for the 2011 school session. This 1st meeting is also the most important because we will get to know what responsibilities we'll be assigned to next year and which classes we'll be teaching.

Most of what I am put in-charge-of aren't so bad except for BSMM (the Red Cross Society). I mean, what do I know about providing medical aid except for perhaps how to apply a band-aid?

Though the tasks given were fair (everyone got an equal share), I still feel a bit scared. Can I do the jobs well? Will I survive another year of teaching? Belum apa2 lagi dah kecut perut...

Anyway, yesterday's anxiety was somewhat subdued by today's excitement; The PMR results were announced this morning (23-12-2010)!

The PMR slips arrived at around 11am. The class teachers took around 30 minutes to sort them out. The slips needed to be clipped together with the candidates' PEKA certs and a handout detailing the Form 4 elective subjects.

By the time we, the class teachers, went to the hall, it was already packed. The students sat on the floor while their parents were anxiously waiting at the sides. Tables for the class teachers were arranged at both sides of the hall.

Before the students can collect their slips, our Penolong Kanan announced the school's result. Our overall pass percentage increased but the number of straight-A students took a dip. The pass percentage for most subjects (including English) also increased! :)

The students clapped wildly at the good news. Then, our principal gave out the slips to the 67 straight-A students. Loud applause and cheers accompanied each name but you could see some faces grew more and more anxious with each passing name.

After the ceremony was over, the class teachers started to hand out the rest of the slips. A few of my students cried upon seeing theirs. And no, they weren't tears of happiness. I was at a lost of what to do. Tried to comfort them but what could I have said?

After the slips were handed out, I finally got to mingle with my students. Absence does make the heart grow fonder and after weeks of not seeing them, I was surprised at how much I had missed those brats :p

They thanked me and gave me a hug/shook my hand. Chatted with them a bit. I asked them what they plan to do next year; whether they want to move to SBP/MRSM/Teknik or stay put at Melawati. The students also have to seriously start thinking about the electives that they want to take next year and whether or not they are eligible for the stream that they've opted for.

I felt bad about a few students who would've gotten straight As if it weren't for English. N told me that it wasn't my fault; "Memang saya yang tak buat kerja Teacher". But I felt bad nonetheless like I had failed them somehow...

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Congrats to all who did well. We are all very proud of you. But those who didn't, do not be so devastated. You still have a long journey ahead of you. Learn from this experience so that SPM will be a different story altogether.

I like this article published in The Star 3 years ago.

A small stop in the journey

Comment by SOO EWE JIN

The Star Online

Friday December 28, 2007

The results for the PMR are out today. Sometimes we forget that the Form 3 students come from the length and breadth of the country.

Not every student will have the privilege of being ferried to the school in a nice car, accompanied by an equally anxious parent, to see how many As will show up on that slip of paper. Not every student will have the privilege of being featured in the newspapers or TV station jumping for joy. Or being interviewed about their study techniques or the rewards that await them.

The majority of the PMR students, if you put things in their proper perspective, will quietly collect their results and prepare for Form 4. Some may not even be able to collect their results because of the floods, but life still goes on.

The obsession with As is primarily an urban phenomenon. It used to be crucial only at the pre-university stage, but over the years has crept downwards so that even 12-year-old children sitting for the UPSR are subjected to unnecessary tension.

I am reminded today by what my Form 3 teacher advised all of us in her message in our class magazine.

She wrote:

Put in total dedication in your studies,

Pursue learning with real interest

It is such spirit which will carry you

Far deep into fields of knowledge

Be humble in your achievements

The truly great man is never puffed up

Rather he stands in awe

In realisation that there's still so much

To know which is beyond him

Never be discouraged by failure

Not all are born great

But many achieve greatness

Through sheer industry, determination and perseverance

School time is also the time to build up

Precious, meaningful, lasting relationships

Be interested in the world around you

Be intelligently informed

Don't develop into scientific recluses

Remember sports, music, literature and the arts

Have much to offer to help build you up into well-balanced individuals

Able to understand, know, enjoy, better

The world you are living in

This teacher has touched many lives. She has helped produce her fair share of multiple-A students but she also knew that the ordinary students without the As can go on to lead meaningful, rich lives, if they are well-rounded caring individuals who recognise that results are not the be-all and end-all of the school journey.

To all students taking the PMR results today, by all means rejoice in your distinctions, but do not despair over your credits and passes.

Life is a journey, and the PMR is just a little stop along the way for you to pause and reflect, and to move on.

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