Teacher bids farewell to alma mater

BUKIT MERTAJAM: He took a curtain call finally after spending four decades “married” to the school where he studied and taught.

“I came to school with my hair all black and now I am going away with my hair all white,” said K. Sundaresan with a laugh.

The 60-year-old studied from Form One to Form Six at High School Bukit Mertajam (HSBM) from 1977 to 1983.

He began teaching at his alma mater from 1989 until he walked away for the last time yesterday as its vocational techniques department head.

In his speech, Sundaresan called on the students to hold dear to the school motto Aut Coepisse Noli Aut Confice, a Latin phrase which means “Accomplish or Do Not Begin”.

“I wish the best in your future undertakings; follow the school motto,” he said.

As students, he said, they must do well in their exams and be good citizens of the nation.

In expressing his gratitude to the Education Ministry for giving him a chance to serve, Sundaresan said teaching at the school for two-thirds of his life was something special.

Sundaresan, who was the school’s hockey coach, said one of his most memorable moments was meeting Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at Sri Perdana to discuss a school reunion.

The former prime minister was also a former student of the school.

Sundaresan recounted that he wore a HSBM T-shirt during the meeting and Abdullah pointed at the logo and gave him the thumbs up.

He also cherished the times spent with hockey champs such as Jiwa Mohan, Jivan Mohan, K. Keevan Raj, K. Logan Raj and Razak Saidin.

“All those hockey players were trained by me during their time at HSBM,” he said.

Sundaresan is a member of HSBM National Executive Council and the Penang Hockey Association head coach.

He had served as Penang School Sports Council hockey technical development chairman for 20 years.

Sundaresan, who got married in 1996, was given a farewell yesterday in which his fellow colleagues were effusive in their tribute to him.

HSBM principal Abd Naser Othman said the retirement party for Sundaresan was done in conjunction with the school’s Founders Day and Sundaresan’s birthday this coming Monday.

He said Sundaresan’s milestone as a former student-turned-teacher at the school for 41 years was “remarkable”.

“And he has a good relationship with students and teachers at the school,” he said.

Teacher Rosidah Ahmad, who has been teaching at the school for 31 years, described Sundaresan’s contributions to the school as priceless.

“He was a committed teacher, be it in school activities or student welfare,” she said.

Humanities teacher Mohd Murtadha Hashim said Sundaresan was an excellent liaison officer for the school.

“He would always share his knowledge with students and new teachers,” he said.

Former HSBM teacher T. Chandragasan, who was present yesterday, said Sundaresan was a passionate hockey coach and spent a lot of time on the field to guide the students.

“He wanted all his students to do well,” he said.

The students and teachers gave him a tearful goodbye.

Aptly, his former students, who also attended the farewell, gave their teacher a bow.