08 January 2008

Tokens of Appreciation

PMR results are known and it is all over until another year. What an added pleasure it was to see signs of appreciation on top of the satisfaction of witnessing good performance. A kain batik for Mak Cik, a pelikat, a sejadah or a towel for Pak Cik, a framed ayat Al-Quran to adorn the wall and such items are all what make you feel good. A visit from parents to express thanks for helping their son or daughter had no monetary value. When a boy was overwhelmed with emotion, crying and haltingly uttered, “ Thank ----- you ---- Pak Cik ---- I could not have -- done it –without Almanar –“ you felt like crying too. What if a pupil came with a small plastic bag containing about half a kilogram of small fish saying, “ Ini ayah beri.”? You began to imagine the harshness of life to earn some fish in the midst of monsoon season, the stormy sea and the risk that went with it.

All such invaluable tokens, material or otherwise, make us ponder and realise how lucky we are.






Berkhidmat kerana Tuhan untuk kemanusiaan








7 comments:

ARZ said...

Pak Chik Hassan,

Your latest blog is written from the heart - a noble heart. I find some difficulties in putting my thoughts to writing, to tell you how much what you have done meant to these kampong folks.

I'm glad to have known you!

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum....

I used to study at Al-Manar some years ago. I started there at Form 1 in 2000. I still remember the lot of exercises you made us do but it has done me good.

I would like to share with Almanar pupils an incident at Almanar I will never ever forget this. I was very much actively involved in sports. Often tired I frequently skipped Pak Cik's classes..Being a really strict and concerned tuitor Pak Cik chose to report to my father who immediately put a stop to my first love then, sports. That truly upset me to no end and I was very angry with Pak Cik.I really enjoyed sports.but, of course, I had to obey my father's order.How else I would get my pocket money? In time I studied hard for my coming PMR, still keeping my anger and dissatisfaction. With Pak CIk's guidance throughout, often in the evenings as , well when a few of us chose to stay the nights at Almanar the few weeks before the exam, it paid dividend. I got a really good result - 8 A's and all that could only be with Pak Cik's helps and thought What a pleasant surprise it was when I was offered a place to continue my Form 4 at Sekolah Menengah Science Kuala Terengganu with two others - from Almanar too !

Now, I'm doing my Tesl degree in UiTM Shah Alam. Who would ever think that a girl who hardly used English words in her life then would become a future English teacher? A girl who cried when she obtained bad UPSR's result, would have a chance to study in university and make her parents proud?. It all began at Almanar. A big and great applause for Pak Cik...
WE OWE U A LOT!!!!!

Al-Manar said...

I remember that impossible girl ! I always thought she had brain but she was too lazy for my liking. Your young brother has just joined Almanar. He looks like you and he is equally lazy. He did not turn up yesterday. Apparently it is sports time at school - selection time and all. Please do not force Pak Cik to approach your father again, Mimah ( that is what I call you - without the Ha- Ha ) Do something for me. Pak Cik am not as young and have lost some of the fire in me!

Thank you for the kind thought, Mimah. You have done Pak Cik proud too.

Anonymous said...
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Anonymous said...

my dear friends and PakCik, of course,

Years have already passed since I first walked into Almanar.I have known PakCik not just as a tutor but also as a friend and a father.

Thinking back, I first came to know Almanar from a friend, and it has been in my mind how noble is the person who has been offering services to the village children without any charges.In my case Pak Cik was the one who persuaded me to join Almanar even though I was hesitatant at first. What touchesd my heart the most was when Pak Cik bought me a bicycle so that I could come and go to Almanar without any worry, not that I could not truly afford it. I began toi realize how much he wanted me to join Almanar. However I must admit that I first went to almanar only because I felt indebted for the bicycle. As time passed I started to enjoy learning English and gaining knowledge that I know my parents couldn't give me as they were just only simple folks not knowing how to read or write..

I recall one day when it rained heavily that bI decided to skip Almanar class that. Sudddenly it stopped raining and I dashed off on my bicycle and paddled as fast as I could all alone along the long route to Almanar. All of a sudden, half way there it started to rain again. Pointless to turn round I kept on cycling until I arrived at Almanar , totally drenched with water dripping from my clothes. I sat quietly in one corner ready to start the day with PakCik. I didn't even care to think of catching cold. All I knew I was not letting go the chance of getting something from Pak Cik. Some may think it was stupid but that's how I did it. .Eventually all the hard work paid off when I got 8As in PMR with a B, of all things, for Bahasa Melayu! I was not totally happy because I couldn't produce the best for Pak Cik but he always said that it is not how many As you get but the quality and the hard work that count.

My first dream came true when I got an offer to join MRSM Kuantan with 3 others. I even worked harder for my SPM. Then after finishing matriculation I was offered JPA scholarships.Now here I am at the university of Padjadjaran,Bandung,Indonesia, looking forwards to complete my degree in pharmacy .

Looking at those 2007 PMR results I feel proud that I was one of them once. I look forwards to the day I can come back to Almanar an share what I have to generate more and more successful persons from there.To me Pak Cik is an unsung hero.There will be no one that will replace him in my heart. I love you so much Pak Cik and thanks for everything.

Anonymous said...

Assalamualaikum......

When I think back about Al-Manar, many memories spring to my mind. Very great pleasure.....Regardless of the quality I attach to these memories, they constitute the experiences of my life and make me the person I am today.......

Pak cik, you are my inspiration.....you never stopped to encourage and advice me to do the best in life....your love and care give me hope and strength to face the challenge in my life. Life is not easy and sometimes it's not fair....well, that's life.....to achieve something, we need to sacrifice some other things. Pak cik, thanks for everything.....in my heart, the experiences at Al-Manar are priceless......

Al-Manar said...

Pak Cik said:

Thank you for your visit.I wish you would identify yourself to me some time.