DAY 1368-1385

May 31 - Jun 17


1) This week, I was shocked to hear about the passing of my A-Levels Biology teacher, Mrs. Jeyaleela. Ever the eloquent orator, we were constantly reminded of her wit and sarcastic humour, in addition to her fountain of knowledge. She used to dole out snippets of extra information brought over from Form 6 (STPM). For instance, I recall fondly her explanation of the Michaelis-Menten kinetic equations, as well as the Meselsen-Stahl experiment of semiconservative replication of DNA. More than that, I remember her chastising me for being too "anthropocentric" in the field of genetics; and for her suggestion to convert D-glucose (dextrorotatory) to L-glucose (levorotatory) so that we could eat as much as we wanted without putting on weight. Of course, she had it all figured out - a 10% royalty for her idea once we had patented the non-absorbable form of sugar! On a personal note, I owe it to her for my excellent results in Biology, and for her glowing recommendation letter she wrote me when I left Tenby. My only regret is not being able to meet up with her during the Tenby Alumni Reunion last year. Rest in peace, Mrs. Jeya - you are sorely missed.

2) Since the last blog post, I have been quite preoccupied with my research. As the deadline for my thesis submission draws closer, the pressure mounts for me to finish analysing data and hopefully have something noteworthy to present. As it stands right now, I don't have a lot of interesting data to present, but I certainly have learnt a lot in terms of statistical analysis. Back in medical school, I did not really pay too much attention in stats class and instead chose to study to pass my exams. Only after conducting my own research have I realised the importance of good statistical acumen in guiding research output. Hopefully, I will be able to meet the deadline and finish my masters in time.

3) These past few days, I have noticed more food stalls sprouting up where I live. It is a welcome sight to see small businesses slowly but surely reopening, as it means more food options for me. From this Monday onwards, Transport for London (TfL) has made it compulsory to wear masks (or some form of facial covering) when using public transport. That is good news, as masks have been shown to be really effective in preventing the transmission of the virus. As it is, I've bought myself a reusable mask (KN95) for outdoors use, although I've not used public transport since before the lockdown began. Furthermore, I've heard news that those returning to Malaysia will no longer be required to quarantine for two weeks - instead they will undergo a rapid test and be allowed to self-isolate at home if the test is negative (with further monitoring for two weeks). This is obviously welcome news, as it means we won't need to fork out an additional RM1000+ for half the cost of quarantine at a hotel for two weeks.

4) This year has been a real doozy for us. Hopefully, the next half of the year will see a return to the "new" normal, as countries aim to bounce back from economic standstill. Until then, take care, stay safe, and stay healthy. Thanks very much for tuning in, and have a nice day. Cheers!

This was one of Mrs. Jeya's little brain teasers - what does the above diagram show?

My Stint as a Teacher!

The past nine months have been agony for me. Waiting for a reply from my applications to do medicine was mentally draining, and to top it all off, I was bored out of my wits! Seeing this, my dad recommended that I seek out a part time job. As most of my friends were already working either part time or full, I decided that I would look for one as well.

As I was desperately searching, a good friend of mine informed me of a job vacancy as a temporary teacher at SMJK Ave Maria Convent (AMC), Ipoh. It turned out that the present Chemistry teacher was on maternity leave and would be off for three months. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. And so without much hesitation, I agreed to it.

After a simple interview with the principal, Ms Liew, I was approved and began work the very next day! Thus began my first real "job" as a Chemistry teacher at AMC. I was in charge of five classes - four Form 4 and one Form 5 class.

The five classes that I taught

Teaching Chemistry to secondary students has taught me a great deal of things. Firstly, it made me aware of how complex the role of a teacher is. As a teacher, you not only have to know the syllabus inside out, but you also have to be able to disseminate information in a way that the students can understand and follow easily. Not to mention different students learn at different rates; some are more self-motivated than others. Some go for tuition classes while some don't. All of this made teaching a very challenging, but altogether rewarding, affair.

Secondly, I learnt how to be friendly and inviting, while still being assertive. It is a constant juggle for teachers to be kind and accommodating to their students, yet commanding respect and obedience when needed. This is especially true during the many experiments that we had, where safety comes first. Suffice to say, I've learnt how to control a large crowd and to capture their attention so that they are focused on my lesson.

Thirdly, I improved my social communication skills. Prior to teaching, I was a rather quiet and withdrawn person, who didn't socialise very well. But when I came to AMC, I was amazed by how friendly and open the fellow teachers were towards me. They chatted with me, asked me where I came from, and some even offered me food! This essentially got rid of my fear to mingle, and I started talking animatedly with them. The more friends I made, the more welcome I felt at AMC, and this gave me extra motivation to do my best.

Lastly, I learnt how to manage my time efficiently. I had to take time off to prepare notes and experiments for my students, while also dedicating enough time to revise on anatomy and physiology, as I prepared for my admission interview for medicine. I fondly recall the sheer amount of pressure on me to finish marking five classes' worth of examinations papers, so that I could key in the marks in time. While I would be lying if I said it wasn't stressful, all the hard work eventually paid off. I became adept at spending time wisely, and learnt not to procrastinate in life.

After three months, I had to stop teaching as I am leaving soon for Ireland, to pursue my studies as a medical student. Although it was but for three months, the lessons learnt, as well as the memories made, will likely follow me for the rest of my life. It was a great experience overall, and I look forward to more of the same in the future!

With Ms. Liew Swee Fong, 

Principal of SMJK Ave Maria Convent, Ipoh 

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