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| Cempaka Damansara. Photo credits: lumenstudet.blogspot.com |
That all obviously changed very quickly on
Friday night. I was relaxing after dinner, enjoying some Splinter Cell (a great
game!), when I received a call from Encik Raphael. He sounded worried and
confused at the same time, asking me if Damansara campus was on fire. The
immediate image that appeared in my mind was a small fire, something trivial
that wasn't a cause for concern. I looked out the window of my house which, I
think a lot of Cempakans realize from many of Dato' Freida's tweets, has a
perfect view of the campus. The image I saw will stay with me forever - bright
and blazing. The next few minutes was a blur as I ran to get the keys, jumped
into the car and sped to the school. The rest has already been well documented
on Twitter, Facebook and our own Schoology.
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| After the fire. Photo credits: The Star |
As you know, a few days after the fire,
myself, along with other teachers were in Cempaka Damansara helping to move
equipment. Moving from class to class, seeing them empty and bare left a
bittersweet feeling with me. I walked the corridors I have always always walked
since 1990 - then as an incredibly cute and fat 5 year old. I recalled all the
memories: my tadika days at the canteen level of the primary wing; Standard 2
taught by Ms Choo at the office level; Standard 6 with Mrs Goh at the IT level
(which was an old fashioned library back then); Form 1 with Puan Rahimah at the
hall level secondary wing; Form 3 with the all star team of Puan Aimi, Puan
Sapura and Puan Jamaliah at the link bridge classrooms (no link bridge then
either); Form 5 with Cik Zainab, Ms Sandra and of course Mr Sheat next to the
IT Centre. Not forgetting my principal then at Form 5, as yours is now, Puan
Farah.
On moving day, everyone was involved
including the cleaners, gardeners, volunteer students, teachers, principals and
even Dato Freida herself - truly a family affair. Yes it was tough, and I am
quite sore and have cuts in some places but it was absolutely worth it. How can
I justify not helping? My job as a teacher is to ensure you have your education
with everything within my power. Right now, besides our Cempaka@Home, I can do
that with my two bare hands. And every desk we moved from Cempaka Damansara,
meant one more student's education continues. I am truly proud and honoured to
be with your other teachers, shoulder to shoulder, working together to ensure
your continued education.
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| Teachers, staff, management and students helping to move tables and chairs. Photo credit: lumenstudet.blogspot.com |
As time passed and called me to move on, I
felt the pain of saying a slow goodbye to a very dear friend. It's true that we
were already planning to move in 2014, but this was sudden and unexpected. The
move had to be hastened to get school up and running again, but maybe I wasn't
ready to say goodbye yet. Cempaka Damansara, I've learnt over the last few
days, means more to me than I ever realised.
This is where I grew up, in every sense of
the phrase. I was always among the earliest to school, and would stay back late
most of the time (I walked to and from school). School holidays were spent
working in the school bookmart, family dinners listening to my parents
discussing school matters. More recently during my summer holidays from
university, I interned in various departments of the school. This was my
childhood.
Yes, my parents were extremely busy running
the school, and except during the later years of my school life, my older
brothers were at university. Yet, I never ever begrudged them that, how could
I? A whole school raised me! A school, created for myself and my brothers that
has since evolved into an institution of learning that serves other children.
That is perhaps the most important lesson I learnt from my parents - that our
place on this Earth is to be of service to others, to make others' lives
better. I truly believe that these values are absolutely core to being a
Cempakan.
I love Cempaka. I care for the school. I
hurt when it hurts. I know some will think it is ridiculous. How can one love a
building or an organization? Of course you can't. I love the teachers that
taught me and raised me like I love my own parents. I love all of you students
like my younger siblings (not my children okay... I am not that old…). It may
not always seem very obvious with me and my prickly nature sometimes, but it is
true!
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| Serve others before yourself. Photo credits: Cempaka Group of Schools Facebook page |
Furthermore, let's not forget Cempaka
Cheras, who greeted Cempaka Damansara's call for help with open arms. As a
proud alumni of both campuses, I was incredibly touched by the teachers and
students of Cheras Campus who helped to unload equipment from Damansara without
complaints but instead with warm smiles and open hearts. Once again, they
embody the values of Cempaka - being of service to others.
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| The large Cempakan family. Photo credits: Cempaka Group of School's Facebook Page |
We are a family together. We triumph
together, we hurt together, and we persevere together.
I know this is not goodbye for good to
Cempaka Damansara, but perhaps it is more of a "see you soon". We
will be back, stronger than ever. #CempakaBoleh
At the end of the day, Cempaka isn't an organisation. It's a family. Although I wasn't there for long, I am grateful to be proud of such a wonderful family. Thank you, Cempaka. I love you.
Love always,
DancerGal Sheryl!
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