Contribution Name: Chen Shi Pei / Tzu Chi Singapore (SEEN@Bukit Batok)
Pseudonym: Loke Wai Han Prisillia
Year of Author: 1952
Prisillia, a 72-year-old retired secondary school English teacher, often reminisces about her 34 years of teaching, especially her most unforgettable experience involving a talented girl who had to give up her studies. Despite the girl’s excellent grades and potential to attend a good school, her parents favoured her less academically inclined brother, directing resources to him and asking her to support the family by working early. Although Prisillia could only offer the girl books and encouragement to keep reading and pursuing her education, she was deeply moved by the situation.
Prisillia’s empathy is rooted in her own childhood experiences. She was born into a family that had hoped for a boy, but when she turned out to be a girl, her mother, under pressure from the family, gave her up for adoption. Unfortunately, her time in her foster family was not positive. However, her teachers became her guiding light during this dark time, which inspired her to pursue a career in teaching.
Prisillia believes that passion for education is the most important quality for a teacher. She sees teaching as a responsibility, and while the effort put in does not always result in financial gain, the growth of her students brings a sense of accomplishment. Even after many years, she remains connected with her students, which brings her great comfort.
Now, Prisillia spends her time learning new things at the senior center. When discussing the difference between being a teacher and a learner, she believes there is no difference. During her teaching days, she also learned many things from her students, experiencing mutual growth. At the senior center, she participates in Qigong classes to learn about health and also learns how to use mobile phones from volunteers, embodying the spirit of “learning as long as you live” to continuously improve herself.
Additionally, Prisillia volunteers at nursing homes, helping to feed elderly residents who have difficulty moving. Whether in her youth or now, she maintains a spirit of giving without expecting anything in return, using her passion to inspire those around her.
Chinese Content:
今天的採訪主角是72歲的Loke Wai Han Prisillia女士。曾經是中學英語老師的她，對於教學、學生和校園有著深厚的情感，一提起這些話題，她總是能滔滔不絕地分享自己34年教學生涯中的點滴。讓她至今難以忘懷的是，一位品學兼優卻因家庭原因被迫放棄學業的女孩。在那個「重男輕女」的時代，即使女孩成績優異，有機會進入好學校，父母卻將教育資源留給不愛讀書的弟弟，而要求她早早工作以補貼家用。看到這名女孩無奈放棄學業，Mrs. Wai心中充滿不捨，但她只能盡力提供書籍，並鼓勵女孩繼續學習，不要放棄求知的機會。
Mrs. Wai之所以如此感同身受，是因為她自身的童年經歷。她出生在一個希望生男孩的家庭中，當她出生時又是女孩，母親在家庭壓力下將她送養。然而，在寄養家庭中，她並未獲得良好的對待。這段陰霾的歲月裡，正是「老師」這一角色成為了她生命中的一束光，伴隨她走過艱難時光。這段經歷也使她在選擇職業時毫不猶豫地決定成為一名教師，希望將這份溫暖延續，成為學生們的燈塔，指引他們前行。
Mrs. Wai認為，成為老師最重要的特質是對教育的「熱忱」。教學是一份責任，付出不一定與收入成正比，但當看到學生們的成長，她便能從中獲得滿滿的成就感。雖然多年過去了，她依然與許多學生保持聯繫，這讓她感到無比欣慰。