It was a bright Monday morning, and my hands were shaking like hell. I was so nerveous, thinking of how to even start to say hello to my students. I was assigned to teach KN5, which I didn't really care of what class i'm being put in. For me, whichever was the same.
8.45a.m, us all teachers started to pace to our classes. I greeted the students, and they seemed so excited to see me. I quickly let them do inquiries about my personal data. And the most question they were eager to know the answer was about my marriage status. The boys heaved a relieve sigh when I said I'm not yet married, but then changed when I told them I'm engaged. “Hancur hatiku.....,” one sang openly. I laughed. (That time, I still was not engaged. Pure white lies to keep the students stop asking for my phone number)
The students somehow knew that I was nerveous, so they soothed my nerveousness by giving me a choir performance. They sang me a patriotic song which they're gonna perform that coming Wednesday. I found myself getting excited to start my lesson. They really did their part in breaking the ice with their new teacher superbly well, and how I'm grateful for that.
During the lunch time, I realised that I already have that enthusiasm to really give my students knowledges on the task given by the PLKN. My subject to teach were Kebudayaan, Keagamaan and Peranan Lelaki dan Perempuan. I gave my class lots of group activities and to show that I appreciate their little piece of work, I would ask them to put whatever they have done on the wall. At the end of the weekday I was there, my class wall has no more space to put anything. Boy, was I proud of them. They showed their commitments in finishing whatever tasks I asked them to do. Yes, for sure not all students were that cooperative. Some just sat and stared at the wall, or lying on the floor (daydreaming??), but I guess I have tried my very best to make my class entertaining. I basically enjoyed teaching them. Everyday I woke up filled with teaching spirit. It was weird. I stopped thinking about the wages that I'm going to get for doing this. I kinda look forward to enter the class everything there's a break. We played lots of games too as an intervene, to keep them awake, basically.heheheh.
Well, I think I did my part well to the class when on the Thursday that week, many of my students begged me to still be teaching them. You see, I was appointed as one of the committee for our final day's performance. I held important tasks like helping my fellow colleague, Cikgu Flora, to assign students as Emcees as well as helping the Director, Cikgu Bryan, to pick background songs. My KN5, they had to co-joint group with other classes, which they loathed. I remember telling them to be more considerate, and that I have other things to do. “Cikgu tak suka kami ke? Kami akan buat lebih baik dalam aktiviti kelas. Tapi Cikgu ajarlah kelas kami. Kami tak nak masuk kelas lain.” I felt so sorry for them. So I told them to just bear it for a while, and that they're supposed to be happy because they can learn together with their fellow friends from other classes. It ain't that easy job to persuade them though.
We had our Reflection Activity on the last day of my teaching day. I asked them to summarise on what they have learnt. I asked them too to list out their comments about me. It was all about the positive! Some even commented about my car. The comment I like most was about my punctuality, which was damn true! Man, I was blushing like hell! Hahahhaaa... All in all, I had a splendid time with my students. I love most when they did Activity “ Marriage customs of different races”. The Camp Mejar (retired) went to my class, just simply, coincidentally during the presentation, and I can tell that he too was entertained. Phew! Thank God.
On the final day, Wira and Wirawati involved did a two-thumbs- up performance. Me and my colleagues were overwhelmed with happy feelings. They did better than expected. It was worth every late night we sacrificed to make it works. We heard that the Camp Commandan enjoyed the performance very much, and we're grateful for that. I was in-charge doing audio control system ( the background music and effects) at the back, so I didn't get the chance to see the actings. When us all look back at the video captured by Cikgu Flora, I almost shedded some tears. My KN5 held few important roles on stage, like the Tun Abdul Rahman role where Wira Mohammad played that part. This student was kinda quite when he was in class, and it came to my surprise when he approached me few days earlier, “Cikgu, saya nak berlakon.” He became Tun Abdul Rahman!! How cool is that?! :)
I went to send printed photos to my KN5 class monitor the other day. He was happy to see me. He told me all students had been missing me. I told him to ask them to drop me a letter, replies guaranteed! :) I don't know whether they will remember me after this, but I sure will cherish all the memories I built with them in my heart. Thanks to all the Wira and Wirawati of Kem PLKN Junaco Park, Siri 3 Kumpulan 6 2009, ESPECIALLY KN5, you guys gave me one heck of a good experience. I will do this again in the future, if given another chance! :)
