School holidays are finally here! If you’re a student, this is probably your favourite time of the year. But before you start letting your hair down, let’s not forget our teachers who have worked very hard to educate and disciple the next generation. For three particular individuals, 2015 is an exceptionally significant year as they’ve been awarded the Most Caring Teacher Award:
The Most Caring Teacher Award is one that’s awarded by each individual school. Students and teachers of the school nominate the recipients of the award, which serves to affirm and encourage the teachers. What’s so interesting about them, you may ask. These three individuals are teachers at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' Secondary School (PLMGSS). This year, the school gave out five awards, and our very own FCBC members took three out of the five. What’s more interesting is their relationship with each other. Hwee Hwee was Lay Leng’s student, and Melissa Choo was Lay Leng’s cell member. All three of them are serving as youth leaders.
“Ms Gan especially impacted my life and helped me find my faith in God. Hence, I was inspired to be a teacher just like her! I also hope to help youths find their faith, identity and acceptance in their lives.” - Hwee Hwee, Lay Leng's former student
“Lay Leng is one who disciplines with love. She always seeks to love the person and at the same time, help the person grow and become a better person. Her gentleness and persevering love is an inspiration to me!” - Melissa Choo, Lay Leng’s former cell member
As we talked to the trio, it was amazing to hear just how powerful one’s influence can be on another. And how this positive impact would eventually spur on passion and dedication towards the noble profession of teaching.
Tell us something interesting about yourself.
Hwee Hwee: I’m allergic to kiwi. The inside of my ears will itch if I eat it!
Lay Leng: I’ve tweaked the known English proverb “Practise makes perfect” to “Practise makes permanent”. I picked this up from one of TOUCH’s service-learning courses. My students tend to remember this and this proverb serves as my unique connection with them.
Melissa: I love ‘cold’ witty jokes and coming up with alternative answers to riddles!
How long have you been in the teaching profession? What inspired you to become a teacher?
Hwee Hwee: I’ve been teaching for seven and a half years. When I was a student in PLMGSS, I saw many teachers who were former students come back to serve alongside their teachers, and it felt good to be part of this big PLMGSS family. In addition, there were teachers who significantly impacted my life – Ms Gan especially, who helped me find my faith in God. Hence, I was inspired to be a teacher just like her! I also hope to help youths find their faith, identity and acceptance in their lives.
Lay Leng: I was trained as a primary school teacher and worked in retail before God amazingly paved a way for me to be equipped as a secondary school teacher. He also strategically placed me in my Alma Matar, PLMGSS, a place that has given me the greatest gift – my relationship with God. 2015 marked my 20 years of service in PLMGSS! Both of my parents were teachers and I had very dedicated teachers who taught me when I was young and they inspired me to be a teacher. I believe God has called me to be a teacher as He has given me passion in my work, as well as a sense of purpose and compassion for the next generation.
Melissa: I’ve been teaching for six years. God is the One who called me to teach and to keep on teaching. He knows the struggles I face and He never fails to speak to me! He uses His Word, the people around me and even handwritten notes from students to encourage me whenever I feel down.
What are some challenges you face as an educator, and how do you overcome them?
Hwee Hwee: Personally, I struggle with time management, reaching a consensus with parents and helping students to build strong moral values. Time management is a challenge because in addition to our regular scope of lesson preparation, setting and marking of assessments, co-curricular activity management and other administrative matters, a teacher sometimes has additional duties like event management or even discipline or counseling of students. It is therefore important to keep track of what we need to do and tackle the urgent and important matters first. Seeking help or delegating tasks to other co-workers who can help is important to keep ourselves from getting overwhelmed and burnt out. When working with parents, I’ve learnt to be a listener because they have their struggles and frustrations too. It is important to assure the parents that we are here to support them and we have a common purpose – to help their child learn and grow. Teenagers nowadays have their own opinions and are easily influenced by their peers or social media, therefore, we need to help them process their thoughts, weigh their options and differentiate right from wrong.
Lay Leng: I have some students who struggle with emotional or familial challenges. In the process of shaping and transforming their lives, I sometimes feel disappointed when I see them failing to make the right choices one too many times. In spite of that, I find strength in God to accept and love them. I constantly remind myself to remember my initial calling by God and the purpose for entering the teaching profession. Ultimately, it is not by my own might or power, but only by God. I just need to avail myself, and always be ready as an empty vessel to be used by God.
Melissa: It's always a challenge to manage church ministry, teaching, and family commitments with the limited time I have! Being an impatient person, my heart often turns cold towards people or issues that cannot be resolved promptly. It’s only then that I realise I need to fix my eyes on Him, the Author and Perfector of my faith. By doing so, it helps me to continue to love Him, as well my students. My strong relationship with God has allowed me to have the strength to love even when it’s difficult and in turn, fulfil His purpose for me in school. Whenever I’m discouraged, I cling on to God’s promise in John 15:5 (NIV), “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
What’s significant about life at FCBC?
Hwee Hwee: Growing up in YouthNet since Secondary Three has helped me to learn a lot about God and myself. I have also learned how to manage various situations in life. Through the YouthNet camps, Encounter Weekends and various church events, I’ve learned to listen to God who is now my Advisor and Confidante, and grown to be stronger in my values and convictions. I remember at one of the YouthNet camps when I was younger, we went through a structured experience where we were blindfolded and had to go through a series of stations. I remember kneeing and crawling through a path scattered with green beans to experience the pain Jesus went through, and through a trust fall, I learned to place my trust in God. It was truly a memorable experience!
Lay Leng: The “Bao”! Senior Pastor Lawrence Khong shared that story during one of his sermons and it resonated in my heart. I agree that personal ownership of what’s entrusted to us is very important. It’s a form of trust and responsibility that we need to honour. I was so inspired that I even shared the story to my colleagues at one of our meetings!
Melissa: As a teacher, I’ve faced many ups and downs. Through it all, God never fails to speak and encourage me through His word and my FCBC family. There were times when I needed direction and prayers would always be present and timely to provide me with the guidance I needed. Simple messages of encouragement from my spiritual family helped me through those difficult times. These experience reinforced my belief that it’s God’s calling for me to be a teacher. Recently, God used Pastor Roland’s sermon on “Beyond Expectations” to remind me that the more unqualified I feel, the more I am qualified by Him. I know this is God’s word to me, for the new season ahead where I’ll take on new roles and classes.
Any words of encouragement for young and aspiring teachers?
Hwee Hwee: Teaching is a calling, not an occupation. When you receive God’s calling, you can remain anchored come what may, knowing that He will not forsake you. God will grant us the strength and power to get through them, just like how He used Moses to part the Red Sea for the Israelites to cross. If He brings you to this calling of teaching, He will bring you through it!
Lay Leng: Like what Hwee Hwee has said, teaching has to be a calling. When you trust that God is the One who brought you into the profession, you’ll have faith that He will be the One to bring you through any challenges you may face. Pastor Yolanda Lim taught me to pray for a mission statement at the beginning of my teaching career. Mine’s to be a light. Whenever I face challenges, I am reminded that light shines brightest when there’s darkness. That is my purpose and calling, to be a light to those around me. I know this can only be done when I am connected to the source of all light, Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.
Melissa: You are not alone. God is our best teacher and the perfect father. He is also our Jehovah Jireh – He will definitely provide all your needs and will never leave you nor forsake you!