Meeting old students

The counselling lecturers of Unimas. Left: Rizal, Fatahyah, Salmah, Normazlina, me, Amalia, Jamayah and Edris

I packed a red and blue baju kurung for Kuching trip to teach cross-culture counselling to my now ex-students in Unimas on 11 and 12 Oct 08. I also picked 2 pair of pants and 3 blouses as spares in case I need extra clothing for my 3 days stay in Kuching. I had 2 days full-time teaching - on Saturday and Sunday. I look forward to be in Kuching again to see the fresh faces of my ex-counselling students who are in their final year now. I missed them.

I recieved a lot of messages through email, friendster and yahoo messenger from them, sending their love and I missed-you messages. I do appreciate that. I realized they meant it and hence my travel to Kuching to talk to them about their preparation for internship and to reminise past days. I am glad that I am surrounded with much fondness from my students though I was a very strict and temperamental lecturer. I hated late comers to my classes and those who were late were forwarned that the door would be locked. I meant it. I have done it to a few students and they learnt a lesson from it. So I had very peaceful class most of the time. Students were ready for lectures when I entered the class.

So this time it's going to be preparing them to meet different clients when they do their internship. Like my ex-students before this, mistakes were made and sometimes repeated but I hope they learnt through their mistakes and not to repeat them when they work. I enjoyed the full 2 days with them and hope they enjoyed it too.

It was quite a surprise for me when I was informed that they were having farewell dinner for the final year students that Saturday night and had changed the date to accomodate my coming. I was honoured. The theme of the night was RED. I was thrilled for I had decided not to wear the red baju for class. I must have some inkling of the RED night or otherwise why wouldn't I wear the baju on Saturday itself? I had held it in my hand but changed my mind at the last minute. The same thing happened when I was packing. I had removed the red baju from the bag and at the last minute shoved it inside again. Red wasn't my favourite colour and I seldom wear red. So with a relief I wore the flaming red baju kurung to the dinner. I was in tune with their program.

As it was a formal dinner, the students dressed to their teeth - formal, attractive and stylish. I hardly recognised some of them. Suddenly they grew into such beautiful and graceful ladies and the guys looked matured and distinguished. Well. I said these are the future officers, politicians, businessmen/women and leaders of the clountry. I pray they will be model citizens and bring the country to its height without prejudice. I hope I have taught them enough about racial prejudice and the danger it presents when it is encouraged. I hope they practice respect and tolerance as we have discussed in our class and through the role-model that I practiced - loving all my students regardless of their race.

I thank also the young counselling lecturers who still keep in touch with me even though I have retired. I missed them as much as they missed me. So thank you Salmah, Samsiah and Mazlina for taking trouble to arrange my coming. To Fatahyah, Jamayah, Amalia, Rizal, Razali and Azah, good luck in your PhDs. Welcome back Mazlina and Edris. Finish your Masters quickly and come back to teach to Sazliza, Nora and Lin who are overseas.

To those students of mine, my prayer for your success is always in my heart and I love all of you with much fond memories. Good luck my dears and wish you all the best.