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The Smile That Still Flares

Upon hearing the grievous news that Miss Shyamala would be leaving English College after an 18-year-long period of teaching, Editor Euan Thum led the BOD members of LDDS 2014 to pen a heart-felt appreaciation letter for the teacher:


You turned your head and drove off in a scarlet Cerato, miles and miles away from us, never looked back as you stepped into a new chapter of your life……

  18 years have gone by and it was a period when EC was blessed by your bubbly disposition and pearls of wisdom. Now that we have just lost another rose, a ravishingly blossomed one this time. Many couldn’t accept this fact, this nightmare to be real. The tears that dropped, the silence that prevailed in classes and halls, had deeply affected everyone.
  It is definitely true to say that you are not just a teacher, but a sage, a parent and the law. You are like a lighthouse that shines through the darkness and guides us to the right path in life. We know handling the boys was not an easy task; nevertheless, your contribution had brought up a number of successful personalities not just excellent in academics but also in every single aspect that a leader requires.
  The first time I heard you speak, I was really taken back as I had never experienced such a scene where a teacher could be so influential as to spark the confidence and self belief in a student. You were gentle and caring like a mother who devotes all her love, time and care to her family; yet you could also be a strict and disciplined father who would never allow his child to stray to the wrong path. I would say that getting your praise was as hard as conquering Mt. Everest yet we couldn’t skip the risk of being pushed towards the challengers you set ahead. Indeed you showed no mercy to build us up into great men.
  You were like a gardener too, one who held a lot of passion, patience and strength; and we are the seedlings, being nurtured to grow into big shady trees which are beneficial to the vast world. Without you, we would never have gained so much knowledge and boldness. Every single time we had any doubt, we will conclude to “ask Miss Shyamala”, assuming that you would know everything. Your leaving had left us random questions as we don’t know where to refer anymore. It was undeniable that you told us we are always welcomed to call you, but whenever your name was uttered, it really did bring some spooky shivers down our spines somehow…
  And all those advices you gave, still crystal clear in our minds, were like flawless rose petals falling down in pieces into our lives, just to form us the perfect structures. Now, it is still your enchanting smile that ignites the fireworks in us. We could not argue to make you stay but we could present you with our warmest prayers, hoping you to continue shining in success on the next page of your journey.

  Hereby, we merely say: ‘Thank you for every bit of your guidance all this while, we wish you ALL THE BEST.’

By,
Euan Thum,
Collaborated with half of the LDDS BOD ’14:
Shiddarthan Kaler,
Eric Lai,
George Dylan,
Joshua Lee,
Chua Ming Yuan,
Vimalan V. Thangarajah,
and Arvind Vinod.
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