LIAP #02: Life is a Project – Full Boarding School

This story is dedicated to my late teacher, Cikgu Zakaria Omar, who was my Standard Six class teacher in 1964. His personal project was to ensure his top three students were selected to attend a full boarding school—a great privilege at the time. Back then, there were only two such schools for students from Sekolah Kebangsaan (national-type schools where the medium of instruction was Malay): SDAR and STAR.

Cikgu Zakaria selected two boys and one girl, and I was fortunate to be one of them. He organized weekend tuition classes to prepare us for the entrance exams. As a 12-year-old boy, I hated these sessions. I would have much rather been outside playing with my friends. But Cikgu Zakaria had a vision. He wanted us to attend better schools in town because our kampung schools in the 1960s lacked resources—qualified teachers, proper teaching materials, and opportunities. He pushed us to study hard for a brighter future, something I was too young and naive to fully understand at the time.

In my kampung, the only educated people were the teachers. Malaysia had just gained independence (Merdeka) from the British in 1957, and the spirit of Merdeka still burned strongly in their hearts. As a kampung boy, I had no real understanding of what Merdeka meant. In 1963, I heard on the radio about President Sukarno of Indonesia launching Konfrontasi against Malaysia after Malaya (Persekutuan Tanah Melayu) became Malaysia. These were turbulent times, but my world was much smaller—focused on school, play, and the occasional radio broadcast.

In December 1964, I received a letter from SDAR instructing me to report to the school in Tanjung Malim, Perak, on January 9, 1965. Ten boys from Kelantan were admitted to SDAR that year, and I was one of them—the only one from Bachok. Alhamdulillah, I had made it.

Cikgu Zakaria was overjoyed. His project had succeeded. My father was proud, but my mother and I had mixed feelings. Leaving my family to live in a boarding school with strangers was daunting. Little did I know that these strangers would later become some of my closest friends. Such is life—full of unexpected turns and blessings.

To cut a long story short, in 1973, I was awarded a government scholarship (JPA Scholar) to pursue a three-year civil engineering degree at Sheffield University in England. In June 1976, I returned home with a B.Eng (Hons.) and was offered a job at JKR HQ in Kuala Lumpur. I visited Cikgu Zakaria at his home (he had since retired) to share my success. He was immensely proud and told the entire village that I had been his student at SK Beris, Bachok, in 1964. I thanked him for his unwavering belief in me and his tireless efforts to ensure my success.

Our successes are never truly our own. They are the result of the collective efforts of our parents, teachers, and others who have guided and supported us along the way. To everyone who played a part in my journey, thank you. All praises belong to Allah for His mercy and blessings. To Cikgu Zakaria, may Allah bless your soul and place you among the righteous (solihin).

This is the story of a teacher’s personal project—a project driven by the goal of giving his students better opportunities to succeed in life. Now, it is my turn to pay it forward.

Lessons Learned from This Story

1. The Power of a Teacher’s Vision: Teachers like Cikgu Zakaria can change lives by believing in their students and pushing them to achieve their potential, even when the students themselves may not see it.

2. Hard Work and Sacrifice Pay Off: Success often requires sacrifices, whether it’s giving up playtime as a child or leaving home to pursue education.

3. Gratitude and Humility: Our achievements are rarely ours alone. Acknowledge and appreciate those who have supported and guided you along the way.

4. Education as a Gateway: Education opens doors to opportunities that can transform lives, especially for those from underprivileged backgrounds.

5. Paying It Forward:Success comes with a responsibility to give back and help others achieve their dreams, just as Cikgu Zakaria did for his students.

6. Adaptability and Resilience: Life is full of changes and challenges. Embracing new environments and building relationships with strangers can lead to lifelong friendships and growth.

This story is a testament to the impact one dedicated teacher can have on a student’s life—and how that impact can ripple through generations.