12th of January, 2025
Today is a lovely Sunday. I’ve spent the entire day at home with my wife, Wenny. Tomorrow marks the beginning of term one at school, and Wenny has been stationed at the dining table, diligently preparing for the school reopening and managing countless details.
For me, staying at home all day is rare. Usually, I feel restless, but for the past two days, my body has felt unusually weak—hopefully it’s just a lingering virus. Either way, it gave me a chance to pause and reflect on recent events.
A Busy and Reflective Saturday
Yesterday was a fulfilling day, though I woke up feeling fatigued despite sufficient rest. I decided to push through and stick to my plans because they mattered.
Morning: Exploring Confinement Centers
The day began with breakfast with Wenny before we visited several confinement centers for our fourth child. The experience made me reflect on the balance between purpose and profit—how some businesses flourish while others merely survive.
- First Center: The first confinement center felt like a garden left untended—overgrown and lacking vitality. The owner seemed to have lost their passion, showing little presence or effort to improve. It felt like a business on autopilot, sustained purely by high fees of RM12,000–RM13,000 per baby per month. With just a few infants, they could remain afloat, but the absence of care and purpose was palpable.
- Second Center: The second center resembled a well-oiled machine—efficient, professional, and commercialized. The person in charge worked hard to explain the services and packages, offering assurance. While more vibrant than the first, it felt impersonal, with the soul of the business replaced by a focus on process and profit.
The Unexpected Gem: A Third Center
By this point, I was ready to stop, but Wenny encouraged me to visit one more center. Reluctantly, I agreed. Choosing the right confinement center felt like navigating an unfamiliar map—some paths led to dead ends, others to unexpected discoveries.
The third center was hidden in a rural area, surrounded by kampong scenery. We thought we were lost until we stumbled upon a mansion that looked like a holiday resort.
First Impressions: The atmosphere was warm and inviting. A staff member showed us around before the person in charge, a woman in her 60s, returned. She radiated passion and purpose, having dedicated over 15 years to her work.
Her Philosophy: She saw confinement care as an art. Some of her philosophies:
- 30 days, not 28: Women need ample time to heal.
- Breastfeeding advocacy: She strongly encouraged mothers to breastfeed, supporting them every step of the way.
- Attention to detail: Even fathers were required to shower before visiting the baby—every small detail mattered.
Her approach felt like a homegrown herb garden, cultivated with love and care, focused on tradition rather than superficial modern luxuries. It was clear that her passion drove the business, making it a place of genuine care.
A Decision Made
Later, we met Ryan and Yvonne at Mid Valley for lunch.
After the meal, we finalized our choice: the third confinement center. It was the perfect blend of authenticity and assurance—a place where care was prioritized over convenience.
Parallels to Education
This experience led me to reflect on how parents perceive Stellar International School. Just like confinement centers, parents look for assurance that they’re making the right choice for their child’s future.
Passion Meets Professionalism
Running a school is like conducting a symphony:
- Passion is the melody that inspires.
- Professionalism is the rhythm that ensures harmony.
- Strategy is the sheet music that guides every note.
Without one, the music falls apart. At Stellar, our symphony is built on three passions:
- Education: Building strong foundations for lifelong learning.
- Next Generation: Preparing children to thrive in a changing world.
- Leadership: Cultivating future leaders who inspire others.
These passions must work in harmony. But to sustain them, we also need corporate strategies, expansion, and talent. The key is achieving the intersection of passion, professionalism, and purpose.
The Bridge of Trust
Building trust with parents is like constructing a bridge:
- Passion forms the sturdy foundation.
- Professionalism lays the planks.
- Transparency acts as the guardrails, ensuring every step feels secure.
This bridge must lead parents to a place where they feel confident entrusting their child’s future to us. It’s about creating a school where hearts and minds meet—where passion fuels every decision, and professionalism ensures consistent delivery.
A Flame to Nurture
Through this journey of selecting a confinement center, I was reminded that success isn’t about flashy appearances or sheer numbers. It’s about the heart behind the work.
Nurturing a child’s potential is like tending to a flame:
- Provide enough fuel to keep it burning bright.
- Shield it from winds that threaten to extinguish it.
- And, most importantly, ensure it lights up the lives of others.
At Stellar, this flame represents our commitment to every child and parent who places their trust in us.
The Final Note
This experience reaffirmed a simple yet profound truth: Passion without professionalism is unstable, but professionalism without passion is lifeless. The real magic happens when these two meet.
At Stellar International School, we promise to be more than just a school. We aim to be a beacon of hope, a place where your child’s dreams take root and flourish, guided by care, excellence, and purpose.
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