I’ve never been a fan of Ronan Keating though I do not really mind a few songs of his but from his latest album, “Songs for my mother”, there is this song that, in my opinion, is not really that great but I love the very beautiful and meaningful wordings that go like this:
Live your life to the full
With a lifetime of smiles
Made us know right from wrong
Always knowing a lie
You made us be tough
But never too rough
Rise above what you said
Never easily led.
And one day we’ll all sing along
‘Cause this is your song
We wrote it for you
It won’t take all day
Just a minute or two
You were a friend
Walk with you till the end
And one day we’ll all sing along
‘Cause this is your song
So I’ll try and go on
Loving all that we know
Through the hardest of times
You put on a show
You made us stand tall
When all around us would fall
Even when you were alone
You believed you could fly
And one day we’ll all sing along
‘Cause this is your song
We wrote it for you
It won’t take all day
Just a minute or two
You were a friend
Walk with you to the end
And one day we’ll all sing along
‘Cause this is your song
And one day we’ll all sing along
‘Cause this is your song
We wrote it for you
It’ll take all our lives
Just to help us get through
You were our friend
Walk with you to the end
And one day we’ll all sing along
‘Cause this is your song
I can imagine how touching it would be if students were to sing that to their teacher, and talking about students, a few of my former ones asked me out for dinner the other day. There was Xavier (right) and he brought Nicholas (left) from Kuching along. We met Nicholas in 2006 at the state-level Inter-school Parliamentary-style English Language Debate Competition in Limbang…
Incidentally, Nicholas won an award and RM1,000 from Majlis Peperiksaan Malaysia for his excellent results in the STPM Examination and will be going to Cambridge on a scholarship to do medicine while Xavier had secured a scholarship for excellent SPM students.
Also joining us at the dinner that night were Teck Ang (left) and Lawrence (right). They were in my debating team during those days prior to my retirement…
…together with Bernard who scored straights A1s in the SPM Examination last year and is now studying in the states and Gabriel who was unable to join us that night. Gab is presently in Form 4 and was a straight-A scorer as well in the PMR Examination last year.
I brought along the fish that Kpenyu gave me and had it steamed, Teochew-style…
Gosh! It was really very very nice and could rival any of the freshwater fish, including the expensive ones from Kapit. Another plus point in its favour was there were none of those tiny bones that were typical of the river fishes. Everyone enjoyed that and thanks, boys, for the delightful dinner. I certainly look forward to doing that again sometime, someday…
Comments on: "This is your song…" (20)
you must feel so good to have students like that right?
Yes, of course…but in time, I guess the feeling will no longer be so strong and I’ll just fade away as someone that they use to love, that’s the way life goes…
you must feel so good to have students like that successful like that right?
and the best part is they didn’t forget u..
That’s the greatest reward for any teacher – to see the students shine and become successful in their lives – greater than any awards, monetary rewards, and to expect nothing in return…
nice steam fish. drooling now. so nice that your students still come back to you and go for dinner. must be feeling great as the students are grateful to have a nice teacher like you.
What about you? Do you still keep in touch with your teachers or is it a case of “out of sight, out of mind”? Well, I also have students who would pretend they do not know me when we meet – probably they hold some grudge against me for having scolded them at one time or another…or maybe they just do not have any social skills.
Great bunch of young men you have there..BUT the horrible truth is that the system do not reward people like this. Hopefully..as time passes they will not regret for having chosen this path instead of the other one in measuring ” SUCCESS”…very very sad if you know what I mean
My students should be ready to face the world. I always tell them that it’s a mad paper chase but at the end of the day, it is who they are that will make the difference – not how excellent their academic achievement may be. I always go beyond just teaching my students the subject and guide them through the realities of life – they know what they want and work towards their goals. Sad but true, many mindless ones these days will just follow the tide (or their parents’ wishes) blindly; I would like to believe that MY students are way above that.
Aiyo..only 4 comments ..so I say some more la.
At this age young people think they can change the World. Am sure that when they have struggled for years in futher studies and when thet come back and see their classmates(not all) they will be wondering why they had not put their brains to better use. eg..be a Kangtautant instead of Consultant and practice Kautimty instead of quality..etc
Don’t worry…I would have prepared them for that. But unfortunately, many will just struggle to get excellent academic results and end up becoming robots that do not have a mind of their own – the result of parents and teachers placing too much emphasis on exams and neglecting to teach them about life and its (harsh) realities. I hope yours does not fall into that mold…
Talking about secondary school, mine was actually one of the most conducive in the Johor state. Most of the teachers really taught their stuff well and there were nearly nil gang fights in the school. Looking back after I graduated, I would say it’s a blessing that I got to study there. But when I was still there I remembered that my classmates complained about the school so much I’m just amazed now. Is it the school that is really so deficient or is it a state of the mind?
Having said that, nothing beats a teacher as real life itself.
Just wondering…but why have you opted to take up distance-learning instead of going full-time, be it locally or overseas? It will need really strong discipline to try and do it off-campus…
Nicholas is my friend, Jace’s son! So, he got the scholarship to Cambridge! Yay!
Very nice boy. Think he said something about his parents being from Sarikei or something. He’s here visiting his grandparents who stay next to where my aunt (my commentors, Stella and Pollie’s mum) used to live… Small world!
I like the words in the song. Very meaningful. Ronan does have a few great numbers. You must be one proud teacher huh!
Ya, I love the lyrics…and yes, I am indeed glad to feel appreciated. Are you a teacher too?
Looking forward to a collaboration with your blog, sir. LOL! I hope you allow… I’m still
thinking of the subject i should focus on.
What? Collaboration? No, thanks…you can stick to your own blog – whatever it’s called, I can’t remember already. Died a natural death already? Well, you can always bring it back to life! Hahahahahaha!!!
Ya, Nicholas’s dad was from Sarikei – my next door’s neighbour. Nick’s mum was my classmate in Sibu. And Nick’s uncle (mum’s brother) is one of my reporters in Sibu!
It’s indeed a small world.
They’re really blessed – such a good and filial son (How many will come to Sibu and stay with their grandparents, nobody else in the house for so many weeks?) and so good at his studies some more.
Met some of my ex-teachers before, apparently they’re still going strong and having moved on to greater things in life. It would seem like I’d have to ask them for a treat instead! Well, at least it’s a consolation they’re not left in the dark
Wow! You have such enterprising teachers? Too bad I’m not like that and have not “moved on to greater things in life”.
Well you’re not that different from them. A group of them (one is a retired Guru Pakar), collaborated together to set up a tuition centre. Another is now teaching at a university, some have become headmasters in other schools, etc. See, now I have to ask them to treat me right?
I was reading your replies above and I heartily agree that exams can never define a person. Education systems are akin to feeding milk to babies. One has to discover for him/herself what kind of person s/he wants to be.
Ya, there’s big money in running a tuition centre, but I just can’t be bothered. When one becomes money-oriented, one loses one’s spirit and soul.
Exams are no doubt important but the truly great teachers are the ones who are always there to guide them to find who they are, what they are doing and where they are going…not just to rush and finish the syllabus, as in many cases that I had seen!
Well, lets hope they make good use of their scholarships. I know of a JPA scholar doing medicine in London and then came back and gave up his medical career to do business. On the other hand, i also know of those who paid for their own medical degrees and are now super dedicated doctors working in the interiors of Sarawak. Moral of the story is that they should really know what they want in life. And not doing it just because mom/dad wants it or because it’s considered “prestigious”.
Your friend, top student St3, is one good example. So outstanding that she went on and on until she got her PhD. Last time I met her dad. I heard she’s in KL doing some sales job because she said she could not imagine herself in a long white coat cooped up in a lab for the rest of her life. Sad that she did not think of it or nobody counselled her before she embarked on her further studies…
Like I said, it all boils down to the individual though securing a scholarship would mean a load of the parents’ shoulders. I never had a degree…and I gave lectures to people with Masters and PhDs and I can dare say that I was not as boring as most, if not all of them!!! Gundot, wanna verify that?
The dad must be very humble and playing down his daughter’s achievement. She’s actually an investment banker making really big bucks and driving a mercedes in KL. Hahah.
Ah well, at least it’s still “sales” but in the banking sector…and that has nothing to do with what she was studying. Does she use her Dr title like the typical Malaysian?
Not sure. but that just reminded me, better book my flight to Solo to buy the “Datukship”. hahahah
Haiz…I don’t think I can afford one. My only hope is to wait for the time-based upgrading to datukship with a small “d”! Hahahahaha!!!
Hey…your slot is the only one people pay attention to. (Do I get tian mee ngu?) Don’t want to miss your jokes maybe. Oophs there goes my tian mee ngu!
Ehem! Ehem! Takes a bow!….See, KNB!!! I wasn’t lying, never mind what the attraction was. So…are you coming to Sibu, Gundot? Dianpainngu…special for you!!! LOL!!!
Too bad I was never a straight a student
But it does not mean that you will be less successful. I was not even a graduate…but I would like to believe that I was very successful as a teacher and teacher-trainer…
again???? I dont really like the fish but i like the jokes…Hahahahah.anyway hope WTA will be the one hosting next time…ahhahaha….I’ll be back in July…And sir dont worry, there will always be a next time,we are still young….
You’re not a seafood person like me; when I sea food, I eat! LOL!!! But hey! Fish is good for you – Omega 3! Anyway, next time don’t be shy – just order what you wanna eat. Ya…we can go out again when you come back in July – you’re all young, I’m not!
Life is nothing without song…
So let’s all sing…
[...] went out for tea one afternoon with Lawrence, one of the debaters in the school team under my charge and guidance during those years when I was [...]