Bah! What small mindedness for a teacher (and something I hope to combat properly one day). In any case, good luck, and life is never certain, so don't give up yet!

I'll support you to be our first Malaysian cosmonaut! :p

I remember back in high school when my Chemistry teacher once told me:

"Au Yong, if you don't study hard and get good results for your SPM, you'll never get to a good college/uni, and will not get a good job"

And then I started working in the IT line right after SPM, and one day I saw him at the Maybank ATM in USJ 9... near where I work... see him after my work, straight away I gave him my namecard... teehee....

i agree with you.
teachers should encourage creativity in student not kill them. it's very rare to get a form one student (at our time especially) to think of an astronaut as her ambition...she should've been proud of you instead. i, once, met even worst teacher (primary school at KL). this teacher was to record our ambitions in report card. so, she called upon this one boy but he had no idea of what to be and while thinking of it, the teacher looked at him and say "jadi macam bapak kamu ajelah". and there, stated "cita-cita: 1. tukang kebun.." His father was the school gardener at the time...

Ambition is a powerful thing. I tend to agree that in most cases teachers have misintepreted their sole purpose in their service as guardians and architects of future minds.

I've seen the myriad of characters and unfortunately the score has not been too promising. Some tender excuses that the system is too rigid, while others just dont know how to relate to a young unadulterated mind. I was never an academic, I failed in more subjects that I can remember. I finished my masters 2 years back and is contemplating doing a law degree. I am doing well enough for myself, sadly I had to find my place and generate my own interest.

Actually thats what everyone around me says too. However, times change and we can see things which were not possible before. If anyone said that Malaysia would be exporting its car or that we'd have the tallest building in the World just 10 years ago, everyone would laugh at him. Wait a minute, someone actually did. So maybe we can see a lady PM or Astronaut one day.

From my own experience, a teacher is one of most important influence in a student's life. Many of my high school class ended up lost and confused in later life, mainly due to discouraging attitude from our headmaster who oft times looked down on a lot of us. Not only he showed many that we could not do it, he also made one feeling like stupid person.

I happened to be a lucky one because I brought myself to study and scored fair results. To this day, I lament that many of my classmates could have been better than presently low-paid and aimless.

Such a pity. A group of young people misguided and mis-educated.

After I came off that school, I never called headmaster by anything, not even 'teacher'. I lost any respect for him when he forced us to join his cult church and became friendly to us only when we attended that church.

Sad that such kind of teacher ever lived in our life path.

why do they even bother to ask us these questions ? Some education dept requirements? For what purpose?

There was one teacher who suggested that me and my friends sell burgers...should have jsut listened to her....

the unfortunate incident with your teacher reminded me of Malcolm X's schooldays.. albeit not as drasticlah... from http://www.cmgww.com/historic/malcolm/bio.html

- Malcolm was a smart, focused student and graduated from junior high at the top of his class. However, when a favorite teacher told Malcolm his dream of becoming a lawyer was "no realistic goal for a nigger," Malcolm lost interest in school. He dropped out, spent some time in Boston, Massachusetts working various odd jobs, and then traveled to Harlem, New York where he committed petty crimes. By 1942 Malcolm was coordinating various narcotic, prostitution and gambling rings. -

take care... to infinity and beyond!

I actually harboured dreams of representing Malaysia in some sport. I was so mad for it when I was in my early teenage years.. it was the only thing I wanted to do, nevermind that I was absolutely useless and hardly ever made it as a district representative.

Then my dad took me aside and told me a sportsperson wasn't the right career. A 'right' career would be something 'respectable' like being a doctor, a lawyer or an academic. Sports, he said, didn't contribute.

Perhaps he was right. Now I don't dream too much - even if some things are within reach, I haven't got the support of the people who mean the most to me to make it through the long haul.

I wonder what he would say if I got selected as the cosmonaut/astronaut/whatevernaut.. hmm...

People tend to look low on teachers but they forget that it is due to the teachers that they are what they are today!

Teaching is the last resort for any young graduate prospecting for a carrer after graduating locally or overseas.WHY?

I remembered an incident years ago,when a father driving his Std.6 son home from school was busy advising the son to study hard so that he can secure a good career,live in a bunglow and drive a Mercedes around like him. The father reminded his son, that if the son does not work hard he will be like that guy on bicycle;pointing to a teacher who was on a bicycle,that so happen to pass by just back from school. Just imagine the metality and attitude of this parent towards teachers!!

well, I got nothing to comment about da teachers, but interestingly, I also remember what I answered in those brief interview by the teacher,

I want to be

1.Pemandu Teksi
2.Pemotong rumput
3.Jurutera

The teacher was stunned. I was not playing a fool. Just that I was really simple minded that time, and I had observed the work of the MBI fellas cutting grass near my house, and the taxi driver driving here and there...such fun!!!

Just be a 'star' in whatever you are doing;most likely you can rub shoulders with the 'moon'.

Owing to my knee problems, only song can take me to the moon...

I know how it's like when teachers belittled you for your choice of jobs-to-be and what you aspire to do in life. I had such experience but odd enough, it made me more determined to prove him wrong. The words can either inspire you or kill your spirit. As a teacher, I learn to respect my students, listen and hopefully to catapult my students' dream to become a reality.

Just now I was at MPH , KLCC and took a book of Tiger Woods the Golf giant . He said that being a good golfer like he is now is not by accident , but by careful design . He loves golf very much since childhood days and his Thai-descended mom is a person who will point the silver lining even in the darkest cloud . In failure , one must come back , rebound and in fact become stronger .Just like the English saying goes , what doesn't kill us make us stronger !

I remember during my primary school days, there used to be something like a bookfair. This guys in van would come over and display books for sale. I had picked a Famous Five book when one teacher questioned me in a condescending manner whether I can understand English. I remember feeling insulted and putting back the book.

That was only one teacher, though. Funny how we remember the teachers that insult us rather than those who helped us to be what we are.

Well this was obviously a very popular post. Everyone has *something* to say about it. I heard that the only course that the people who fail STPM are allowed to apply for is 'teaching'. If that's true.. what is to become of the future generation? Already, as it is we have teachers teaching wrong English to students and punishing the students who question them.

Down with them teachers who put down their students.

when we were at primary, i think most of us in the class (i went to a boys school) wanted to be either soldiers or policemen > then (70's), we were immortalised by 'Combat', jeng je jengggg..."starring Vic Morrow and Ric Jason"....booooom! :D

Hmmm.. most of the comments have been more into the negative... makes me wonder, which schools did you guys go to again?

Anyway, I know I wont be what I am today if not for my teachers back in school. Secondary school that is, did not enjoy primary school that much.

I am sure some of us know or like to treat Form Four as our honeymoon year, and I treated it as such. I was irresponsible, did not pay attention in class and basically drifting away.

Then one day, Mrs Chan, my chemistry teacher called me to see her after our lesson ended. For the next ten minutes or so, she told me that she could not understand why I am being like what I was then. Told me I got the potential, but am just wasting it. She had me thinking, and thank God and her to help me realise what I have done wrong.

I am glad my school have teachers like Mrs Chan. It is not easy handling 40 boys in a class, but the effort my teachers put in educating me beyond the syllabus is something that I am always thankful for.

"Nisi Dominus Frustra"

I still remember when I was in kindergarten, i drew a picture of a house and a space shuttle right next to the house. My kindergarten teacher at that point of time, Mrs. Ng was so impressed and she asked - "You want to be an astronout uh when you grow up ?"
I answered - "Er... I want to be a pump attendant at petrol station.."
Heheh..

ervan-'Nisi Dominus Frustra'-Bukit Bintang Boys Sch?

In the spirit of looking for good teachers, my secondary school teachers were not too bad - I had Mrs Joan Winokur who taught us abt tolerance, I had Mrs Lim/Mrs Rupee/Ms Shal/Ms Arma who were great as debate coaches and established the foundation for research without limits - they brought us to the UN Library and ISIS as secondary school students.

To these teachers, you are rare gems who have shaped the person I am today - Thank You.

You wont believe how many "wounds" I have from tactless remarks of childhood teachers.

Hugs!!

Kayb- yeaps !

Najah - thanks, I am sure those teachers have really shaped you to become what you are today...

i'want to be a astronout.