April 19, 2024
What a whirlwind of a day! The Stellar International School academic team did a fantastic job organizing so many events in such a short period. Yesterday, I finished signing all the report cards for Term 1. This morning, the school buzzed with excitement during our school-wide Raya celebrations. Student emcees led the festivities, which included performances, dances, a fashion show, and even piano pieces. I felt privileged to be invited by Ms. Nurul to deliver the opening speech. I briefly shared a special anecdote about my puasa experience in Yogyakarta with UTM professors. The atmosphere was truly festive, and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it.
Right after the Hari Raya celebrations, we held our international day, a major event for our school. This year, booths representing India, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Sweden, Russia, South Korea, China, and Mongolia showcased their cultures and cuisine. Everyone was thrilled to explore the booths and try the food.
Following that, I met with a private equity investor from Hong Kong. He aimed to understand Stellar, its operations, and growth trajectory. In turn, I learned valuable insights from his statistics-based forecasts about certain industries in China. After adjourning for lunch, I discussed the conversation with Joshua and explained my responses and questions.
As it was the last day of Term 1, our VP, Ms. Anne, arranged a reflection session for the academic team. While the session started 30 minutes late and felt rushed due to scheduling hiccups, it offered a valuable opportunity. We witnessed Melissa Yup’s engaging glee club lesson. The students’ enthusiastic participation and Melissa’s ability to instill confidence in them were truly inspiring. The subject heads also conducted their reflections. Despite the initial challenges, this session marked a promising start for future discussions.
It was also a privilege to observe Joanna and Tinish’s presentations. Their personal growth and progress were more impressive than the presentations themselves.
At 5 pm, I finally met Ms. Ying Hui, a scholar from Tsinghua University and a fantastic educator. We had a productive catch-up session. Inspired by Ms. Ying Hui’s dedication, our conversation turned to a more personal reflection. During our discussion, I mentioned attending several recent funerals, most of them unexpected. The suddenness of these deaths made me more conscious of life’s impermanence. I shared with Ms. Ying Hui the profound question that has been shaping my recent decisions:
“What if I couldn’t make it back home?”
This doesn’t imply a desire to leave or end things prematurely. Instead, it’s a call to cherish the present. As a result, I sent a heartfelt WhatsApp message to my mom, expressing my immense gratitude for her unwavering support, especially when my schedule gets hectic. She always helps with the children’s dinners and accommodates my busy life with such grace. This self-reflection also guides how I choose to love my wife and prioritize spending quality time with my children, ensuring we grow together as a family. Ultimately, reflecting on this introspective question serves as a powerful reminder to live each day to the fullest.
Stay tuned for my future post, where I’ll share more about my experiences in China and how they’ve shaped my vision for Stellar’s future!
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