In the midst of the goings and comings, the heavy workload and the highly stressful lifestyle, it is easy to become jaded and forget the reason or real motivation behind what you are doing. You just work, day in day out until it comes to a point when you have become numb and jaded. You thought you have forgotten how to feel.
Then last night, at a class gathering with your ex-students, the form class you had & loved for 2 whole years... You remember...
He was just standing there, looking as if he didn't have a care in this world, looking all cool and determined as he got ready to display his prowess in pool in front of his ex classmates. As you gazed at this young man, he seemed familar yet unfamiliar at the same time. You signalled to him over to have a chat. 'How's life?' you asked. The only generic and safe question to start a conversation with. That cool facade immediately broke into this sheepish childish grin and at that moment, that adult-looking face transformed and it was as if he was back in Sec 3 again, as if you have travelled back in time and nothing has changed. He was 15 all over again, having been asked to see his form teacher of 2 years, being asked the same question that she used to love so much "how's the last physics/A maths/etc test?'. He stood there, and with a grin, dutifully (with a hint of pride)reported his grades. Then you both smiled at each other.
For that decent grades means he remembers the promise he has made, that he remembers both the heartache and headache he has caused in the past, that he remembers he has promised to prove all those who have looked down on him wrong , that he remembers he has promised to rein himself in a bit more for your sake and bring in the good grades that will make you proud, that will make his family proud (he did just that for his O levels, didn't he?).
Then you ventured further and asked of the other things that mattered, the issues which used to torment him, the issues you have tried to help him surmount and conquer. He flashed a devilish grin and nodded his head, signalling that all are fine now. Then the both of you continue to sit there, in comfortable silence as you smiled quietly to yourself, relieved with the knowledge that he is now a much happier person. Then he got up, transformed back into this suave adult/boy and proceeded to charm everyone else with his excellent pool moves.
You sat there and everything that happened during those two years when you were his teacher flashed through your head. The past seem surreal now but as you looked around, at this group of boys and girls who were laughing at some old joke that all of you used to share, there was this warm fuzzy feeling that enveloped you. You laughed too. All the little boys and girls whom you used to mother and still love so much have all grown up. You remember them when they were only 13, barely reaching your shoulder and now they tower over you at 180 cm. You remember them when they were at their least confident, when they were their childish and nerdy selves and now they have changed so much that you could barely even recognise them on Orchard Road. However as the exterior changes, all of you know, deep inside, something important will still remain the same.
And then you are glad that you are a teacher. That you have been privileged to be given the honour to play a part in these people's lives. And truth be told, your life has become so much more enriched and meaningful because of them.