Week 20 - Once Upon an Ending...

 Monday - 25th September 2023

We are finally reaching at the end. I am mostly feeling excited, sad, and overwhelmed since I'll be leaving my friends, colleagues, students and the school by the end of the week.  When I entered the staff room, a lot of teachers wished us and cheered us up. I went to the assembly with a heavy heart since that'd be the last time we joined them. I almost teared up when I heard 1 Topez kids shouting and cheering for me, so I refused to make eye contacts with them which was the opposite of what I usually do during our weekly assembly. I used to look at them one by one and when they did not pay attention to the person talking at the front, I'll call them out. Ahh..I am really going to miss that!

I did an interesting activity with 1 Ruby today. I asked them to write a letter to fill into the time capsule which is mainly about what they wanted to let the person they'd become in the future to know.

Tuesday -  26th September 2023

I  had a relief class with 5 Form 2 classes today. It was tiring and hard to control as they kept on messing with me and some even tried to skip it and go to recess early. I already reminded them several times using the microphone but they still had a hard time listening to my instruction.

My class with 1 Ruby was a little gloomy than usual. The were several students who were absent and thee were sitting like jellies on the table. They asked me if I had to leave them and even begged me to continue teaching them English.

On my way to the staff room, I bumped into 2 Berlian kids. They were shocked to learn about me leaving the school this weekend. I was touched, okay! We really had a good bond though I never teach them any subjects personally.

Wednesday - 27th September 2023

I was so excited for this day to come. It was my last day joining Kadet JPJ meeting and I don't think I'll ever get to join one as the organisation is still new and exclusive to a few schools in Malaysia. Since Cikgu Shazila and Cikgu Fauzi went to Kadet JPJ camp in Bukit Lagong, the meeting was conducted successfully by Cikgu Amalina and me. We started off the meeting with Ikrar recitation. We also picked three candidates that were fitted to be the commander to lead the marching activity. Harith from 2 Delima were selected by majority as his voice was clear and strong enough to give commands to the rest of them. We taught them Kawas Kaki Statik which only includes rehatkan diri, senangkan diri, gerak kaki kekanan, kekiri, hadapan and kebelakang. It may sound easy but it took them two hours to get the  basic formation right.

I had a class with 1 Topez too during the first two periods. The kids were so excited to showcase their talents and perform their sketch they had been preparing since last week. I used the online wheel of names to decide which groups to start first. However, right before the 4th group's turn came, Cikgu Ann from UBK came and called out six names of 1 Topez kids and instructed them to the counsellor room. I was taken aback since she didn't enlighten me or  even asked my permission to take the kids away. I was flustered by her action and decided to brush my feelings away. I chose PEACE.

Later that evening, I met 1 Intan kids and held our class in front of the meeting room (their class was under temporary construction). It was my last time teaching them, and probably my last time to ever teach Maths in high school (I HOPE SO). I asked them to complete several question before we started our farewell session. I gave them the chocolate I custom-made for the classes I taught.

Thursday - 28th September 2023

~~Public holiday~~

Friday - 29th September 2023

It is the final day, and the time had finally come! It felt so surreal to experience this as I didn't know I could end up getting so attached with the people of SEPERMAI. I met a few students who came earlier just to meet me as our class got cancelled due to Perarakkan dan Ceramah Maulidur Rasul organised by Panitia Agama Islam. I had a relief class with 1 Mutiara and 1 Nilam at the hall during the 3rd period. The kids were bidding me goodbyes and it felt so good to hear that though I never teach their classes before. I went straight to 1 Ruby class afterwards. I said a few words, gave the chocolates and took some photos with them. 

The situation in the staff room were getting hectic as we came. The teachers arranged a potluck and there were a lot of foods to eat. I had a few sipped of orange juice and ate Mi Kari. My tears were at the edge of bursting when Cikgu Rahaya came and hugged me. She wished me with a long speech and I couldn't help but to feel overwhelmed and touched. I've received a lot fo presents and wishing cards from the teachers and also my students. Since my class with 1 Topez got cancelled, Ummu offered me to join her 3-period class so that I could properly bid my students goodbye. I spent a good one hour and half talking to them for the last time. I tried my very best to not cry when I delivered my farewell speech. The kids, even the boys went all teary when I said I saw the potentials in them and prayed for many good things to happen to them as they wished. The girls hugged me like they didn't want to let go of me and been repeating the same words, "Nobody could replace you!" and " I love learning English because of you." AHHHHHH...These kids really got me crying and the next thing I knew, the whole class  ended up crying as well 😭 

I also met 2 Berlian and 2 Topez kids I am closed with at the hall, right before they left for Perarakan Maulidur Rasul. I gave them the chocolates and almost spilled my tears when Jibril and Rayyan delivered their short farewell speech to me. What breaks my heart more was the time when we came back again to the staff room, the teachers prepared us a farewell cake and almost everyone thanked us for our five months service in the school. We ended up crying together and it felt so wrong to finally clear my desk empty again.

SEPERMAI, YOU'LL BE MISSED!