Somewhere Out There

I came to AISS in 2007 and I was given a class of 9 Sec 3NT Art students. I was looking forward to meet them as I was not exposed to teaching Upper Secondary Art Students.

Life was good initially and the real test came when they were asked to start drawing. I discovered that they did not have any foundation in sketching and what’s more to ask them about drawing. I started building up their basic sketching and drawing techniques and it was a nightmare.

They could not sit still for more than 40 minutes. Some students would throw tables and chairs in class when they encountered difficulties in sketching. They were quick to blame each other for their shortcomings and mistakes and never realised that this is usually the way they avoid facing the truth about themselves.

I will never expect a mistake-free performance from them each lesson and I have to change my own mindset that they were not slow learners but just quick forgetters. Life was even tougher when they had to do the module on Digital Art.

The support was weak in providing the basic infrastructure for the module and I was frustrated every lesson. Nevertheless, we completed the module with a lot of digital artworks.

Soon, it was end of the year and I had 3 girls promoted to NA stream in 2008. I was devastated because they were the students who were able to create artworks from 3 categories instead of 2 and I had purchased the necessary materials for them to start doing their Art Portfolio during the December holidays.

I was very upset each day. Family and friends were worried about me and they offered their deepest concern for me. My 3 students even came to Art room 1 to cheer me up because they saw how sad I was. That moment, I felt very touched . I encouraged them to take up the challenges and moved on to a better stream so that they could stand a chance to sit for O level examinations.

2008 came silently and maybe I did not conceal my sadness well that triggered one of the Sec 4NT students to ask me a cutting question during lesson. He asked, “Ms. Chia, you are feeling very unfair to have to teach us, right? Because we are not as hardworking as the 3 girls and we always hand in our artworks late.” I was very sorry to make them feel this way and I think this was the significant moment where I got out of my grieving period.

Each student is paying the same amount of school fee so what right do I have to take a mental ruler to measure them. I should not neglect them further instead I made a personal commitment to God. Even if one student turns up for Art lesson, I will teach the person so that I can give her/him the value-added that I always want to provide. This incident has given me an opportunity to adapt to changes and experienced a new level of growth.

We spent most of our time in Semester 1 doing Paper 1 Art Portfolio. The practice of giving SRP on a regular basis was nothing new. My part-time job was to catch them for SRP lessons after school and true enough even I have only 1 student that afternoon for SRP, I stayed back to support her/him. However, students ran away from it by not even come to school at all.

A Mega-best-selling author, Stephen King, once asserted that, 'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.' I realised that many of my students did not seem to understand this.

Unconsciously, the Art room 1 has been transformed into a therapeutic art room after school. My students would always bring their schoolmates or classmates to the Art room and many friendships were rekindled and strengthen in the room. I feel very privilege to witness all those moments and develop friendships with many of them. Sometimes, I wonder if I ever got involved in any ‘gang fight’, I will be a champion with their help. Thus, my actual work starts only after 2.10p.m. and I always have so much to do each afternoon.

Soon, this was the last weekend we have to complete our Paper 2 Art Task. Surprisingly, everyone turned up on this Saturday to do their artworks. Finally, I got a complete class working together on Saturday when I could not even have them during a normal school day. What a joke!!!! We were unable to complete by 12 noon in school and a student has kindly loaned out her house for us to complete our artworks.

They worked very hard and food was provided by the student’s family. That was a most beautiful afternoon. By the time, we completed every Art Task and cleaned up the place was nearly 10p.m. We made our way home happily and I slept in the train. When I was awake, there was a message from that student.

She wrote in her message – “My parents are very happy. I thought it was a dream. I’m so happy today. It is so fun and today is my last day spending time together with them. I am going to miss them. What a happy memories I had with the guys. Thank you for this time.” It was a dream to me too. I think this will be an experience we will never forget even after many years. It was our shared memories.

30 September 2008 – the examination day came and my students did their best. After the examination, I wanted to pack up the Art room and make my way home. But they were not leaving the room……..they told me this will be their last time to stay longer to talk to me. They told me I was going to miss them. Indeed, I spent my Children Day at home in tears. I really very tired and I just want to cry my heart out.

Someone once mentioned this statement to me, “The most beautiful thing is to see a person smiling. And even more beautiful it will be, to know that you are the reason behind it”. I am grateful to my first batch of NT students for allowing me to feel this way.

Thus, my happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family all over the world.

No matter where you are, how weary you are experiencing, let us work hard in whatever we are doing now and be stronger so that we can overcome any adversity.

The radio was airing this song at that moment. It was ‘Somewhere Out There’ addicted to every child to have a Happy Children’s Day. I hope to leave this song for you and when you are tired, always remember somewhere out there; someone will always have her best wishes for you.