Twenty years ago, there was a group of people that got up early in the morning, and went to school. And for the very first time, they were called teachers. Ten years ago, there was a group of people that got on buses, trains, cars, motorbikes, bicycles and even on boat rides and on their feet to get to school. And again, for the very first time, they were called teachers. What went on in their minds? Were they nervous? Excited? Full of anticipation? What were their dreams? Did they say, “I’m going to change the world”, or did they say, “Well, here’s to day one of a dead end job”?
As I boarded the bus heading towards day one of Kem SKORlah, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Where are they now? What happened to them along the way? Are they jaded by the system? Do they still have the fire they had twenty years ago? Did they ever have a fire, a burning desire to change the world?”
And as I wondered, I caught myself being self-righteous. Who am I to say that the teachers ten and twenty years ago didn’t have big dreams? My thoughts were only focused on teachers I encountered that didn’t care about their students or the art of teaching, but what about the teachers out there that care just as much as we do, even till today? After all, there must have been teachers we encountered that made an impact on us, that made us who we are today, that made it possible for all of us to be here and call ourselves “teachers”.
What will happen to us in the first week? In our first six months? What will happen at the end of our two years? Can we look back and say, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith?
Yesterday during our PSP guide group meeting, Mandi asked us to reflect on a powerful moment we experienced throughout PSP. For me, it was the day our B.Ed. friends were told that they couldn't journey on with us. Anyone outside our organization might say, “It’s just six people, what’s the big deal?”. And in any other organization, it may have been six people affected, and seventy others sympathizing at the side. But what I saw that Friday was a decision that affected 78 fellows – fellows united by a single cause, united by the bonds built over the first five weeks. But in the midst of all the hurt and disappointment, I also saw strength, courage, love, support and passion.
Well passion is a tricky thing. And passion can often be misdirected. Some fellows started asking: Why should we care about a system that doesn’t seem to care? Why should we stay on when we can be dropped at any time?
But I say, it is precisely because of the broken system that we should care even more. After all, this is why we are all here – to affect change. Come what may, we have to continue this fight. To quote Kevin Tham (one of the 2015 candidates that couldn't join us today):
“I'm very frustrated and upset, but I most certainly do not regret my decision to join the mission. The challenges we face now only further convince me that there are many areas of our education system that needs improvement. In fact, this is only the beginning of more challenges to come in the Fellowship. After all, isn't that the reason TFM exists? We (Candidates, Fellows, Alumni and Staff) come together to work closely with MOE and other stakeholders to bridge gaps so that our children can have an excellent system for their education.”
Ladies and gentlemen,
This IS the reason to fight harder. Let us wear the names of our fallen comrades on our sleeves as we move closer and closer to the battlefield next year. And let us remind ourselves of why we are doing this. It is for a cause greater than us. We no longer fight for ourselves. We now fight for our brothers, our sisters, our sons and daughters. We fight for all the generations to come after us. We fight for education in Malaysia, and we fight for Malaysia.
Let us never forget the tears we've cried, nor wrongly channel the hurt and frustrations experienced. Instead, let us rise again and again from each and every upset and disappointment. The harder the battle gets, the stronger we have to become. Because we have a mission greater than ourselves.
Friends,
There will be battles, I assure you this. You will try your best, but some students won't care. Their parents may not care. The teachers in your school may be jaded, and some have already thrown in the towel. Yes, there will be battles, one after another. Life will be tough. We will win some, and we may lose some. But there will also be comrades. The ones standing right next to you. Friendships and relationships that have been forged through joy and laughter, through tears and hardships. Yes, there will be comrades, riding alongside us to achieve our mission, to end education inequity. There will be battles, and there will be comrades. And in this fight, we will not be alone.
It is no coincidence that we are here, from all over the country, from different walks of life.
For such a time as this, we have all been gathered together, united by cause, united by vision, and united by mission. For such a time as this, welcome to the movement.
