If by Rudyard Kipling

This is the famous poem by Rudyard Kipling, recited by two well-known tennis players Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal

If

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream - and not make dreams your master;
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposters just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with wornout tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on";

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings - nor lose the common touch;
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run -
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man my son!

THIS IS WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OF

In one of the most unforgettable days in SMAS, we had more than 40 students, who, despite all the delicious foods that they were going to have for lunch, the sweet dreams of their afternoon naps that they had to miss, and not to forget the football match waiting in the evening on SMAS field, were still willing to sacrifice those precious hours to be spent for those irresistible activities, only to be prisoned in the so-called ‘jail’ because of their insistence to not to go for an English seminar the day before.

Their patience were tested to the limits as hours passed. Some even thought that it was beyond their wildest dream that they would be able to sit down in the room accomplishing all the task prepared by their dedicated Sir Yusri for such a long period of time. Some even pronounced their pride for selves for being able to do that. They were so optimistic. This is what we want in our students, to have positive thinking and optimism under any circumstances.

Time passed by quickly but it seemed like forever to most of the students. Slowly and subtly the boys especially those at the back were getting restless. They were not even allowed to go to the toilet. The fact that they did not even have the permission to go out to wash their hands after having lunch added to the traumatic experience. So, we could not help it but agree to the fact that emotions are like wild horses. They must be freed. As a result, it could be seen some students expressed their emotions (anger, disappointment etc.) in ways which was both expected and unexpected. I was quite startled but was back to my conscience after psychologically reminding myself that these were normal responses from normal human-beings.

So the torture finally ends late in the evening but then later at night it was a relief to see the same faces again all smiling indicating that they were ready for the next battle called EPL 25 although it was learnt that they might not come because of the 4 hours of tiring experiences. Of course, we, the teachers are so proud of you!

I know it hurts and torturing having to stay back after class for more than 4 hours, to be 'jailed' only because you did not attend a seminar oganised by us the English teachers the day earlier but it was another sacrifice you have to make. This is quite random but Peter Parker, you know, the Spiderman once quoted saying this in the movie, "In order to be a hero you have to sacrifice the thing that you want the most." There's a truth in what he said. In this case, he has to sacrifice his dreams because of the responsibility that he has to uphold which is to save New York from the evils. So, my point here is that to sacrifice is of pivotal importance if you want to achieve something. Unlike Peter Parker, you don't have to sacrifice your dreams, but instead you have to sacrifice your sleep, your time for entertainment etc. for your dream. So, this punishment was just another sacrifice that you had to make. Take it as something that you will remember for the rest of your life and you will smile at yourself feeling proud once your dream is finally realized because this is how it is made of.

THE BEST EXPERIENCE

One of the best things about living abroad is you are able to practise your religion in a way that you had never experienced before. And insya-Allah it actually helps to strengthen your faith.

UNDER SEIGE 2

Dear students,

It is learnt that mr A was on his way to class after having a 'social visit' to the water cooler near the office. But, his luck was not by his side today. He could not escape anymore as what he did more than once before! and they have to go thorough 'under seige 2' experience.

By tomorrow morning both A & A are to sumbit written works to be copied from model answers! Apart from familiarising the formats.Both A & A will at least learn how to spell out correct words from copying the model and add more newfound words into their lexicon.

Sir

DREAM THE DREAMS

Dear students

Have you had any dreams last night worthy to share with? i am pretty sure some of you may have but don't have enough gut to disclose it to others. In that case you dreamt something that you yourself could not live it when you were awake. So, why bother yourself with uncertainties as you may dream dreams, the real dreams.

Let state your dream now or simply refresh it as without dream you will lack one of the most critical catalysts for change.

Ask yourself my dear students, what is the easiest thing to carry out! sleep, eat, daydream, or what? ask yourself? To me the easiest thing to do is to do nothing? but for sure we will achieve nothing? lest some miracles come knocking or rolling onto your doosteps! unfortunately to achieve nothing despite doing nothing is something we can hardly accept..thus we have to truly identify the easiest to do things and think of them thoroughly.

We, teacher Farah and I dream all of you will pass our subject with flying colors! Believe it or not we will live the dream but most importantly you all have to work out things on how to make the dream a reality as you will benefit most out our dream.

Why don't cast away your self doubt and start dreaming. They say aim higher up to the above sky and you may end up on top of the countless stars.

Like it or not dream anyway! Honda's motto's 'dare to dream' has its own genious!

Sir

50 DAYS LEFT! GIVE YOUR BEST SHOT

Dear students,

Having to cover all the nine subjects within such a short period is quite a nightmare unless you yourself are all prepared.I am sure a handful of you guys can't wait to enter the small battle field for war. The war whereby all you have to do is squeezing your brain and regurgigating everything inside it out onto a clean paper what you have been memorising and cramming into your palm-sized brain for months or even years. The rest let the examination syndicate decides!after receiving directives from the incumbent minister.

All you have to do then, keep your fingers crossed for success will come rolling! nope! Success at times hires peeping Tom and those with burning midnight oil's habit deserve it.

Come end of December, all of you either alone, befriended or even accompanied by anxious parents or relatives flock back to school for result. Then, the true drama will unfold and the truth will unravel. That will be the time when you realize how true what your teachers once said. 'Give your best shot,study hard or you will regret' . It, more often than not proves true as some of you ignoring teachers' advice will regret for the rest of your days, months,years,decades or might probably life as some of you aspire to be a doctor or engineer or Ustaz only to see your dream careers bidding you good bye since your result was not promising! but that's not the end of life so long you can hold you head high enough and not to succumb to temporary setbacks and bounce back stronger than ever!

Usain Bolt could beat Tyson Gay then after being defeated once! Now it is Gay's turn for revenge in the olympic stadium in Russia. Kuncuro just beat our world no. 1 and continue his dominance in the world summit in India!our nation's doubles bring us joy and hope after wading through to quarter finals. Is that simple?bouncing back!The simple theory applies to you all guys! Start believing in yourself and the rest is history or you will be history.

What a more spectacular view than to see Saiful the Ayatullah, Syamil Basayev ,Iwan J, Mat Yie , Eidil and the rest of guardians council are all smiles with their result! with them is none other than teacher Farah their guiding light ! posing for happy moments that will last a life time.i am somewhere at that time brimming from ear to ear after being infected by the good news.

What is life without dream. Dreams make a man, but dreams as well crush a man to death! but my dear students dream anyway! the bigger the better!

Sir

One God

(credits: islamonline)

One God

One Humanity

One Religion

=Islam

'If there were, in the heavens and the earth, other gods besides Allah, there would have been confusion in both! but glory to Allah, the Lord of the Throne: (High is He) above what they attribute to Him! (Al-Anbiyaa' 21:22)'

OBESSION FOR ALL As

Dear students,

What a pressure! day in day out we teachers are incessantly being reminded to ensure you all get all As . Like it or not, it is no longer an option but necessity, They say necessity is a mother of invention. Might probably by having such pressure students and teachers alike will be more creative, motivated or even inspired to attain the desired result.

But then, is that the true philosophy of education, to churn out students who are well balanced both physically ,mentally and spiritually? Such obsession for greatest number of As will directly or indirectly deny students their right to enjoy the bitter sweet experience of school life and gain necessary skills which are unable to find them elsewhere. Students hardly discover that as they are constantly brainwashed to getting most number of As. I am so lucky as I was born not in this era or else i migh end up now ...i also don't know!

To me, to teach students to quench their thirst or love for knowledge is a far reaching success despite getting no As. Being able to inculcate sense of curiosity for knowledge is a way better than getting A but lacking the most crucial skill which is thirst for knowledge and wisdom. I prefer the latter but i must graduate both to be a great teacher.

Sir

A POINT TO PONDER : SAD BUT TRUE

Dear students,

I am sure the students are now more than exhausted after undergoing the three- day concentration camp at Batu Rakit. Mind you, it is not concentration camp the like of what Nazis did against the Jews where it was learnt that thousands of jews were cornered into it and burnt to death. But, was that truth or myth? the latter which what most Iranians from all walks of life claimed.

Our version of the camp is just to gather all F3 students at a conducive place free from a hustle and bustle of the school life and assign them to carry out tasks or do things deem necessary to better improve their academic performance especially for critical subjects like English, Sciences and Maths. We are thankful to The Almighty Allah as we managed to reach some target objectives despite setbacks.

Closing my eyes and letting my thoughts wandering was the thing i did for a couple of minutes while lying on the soft mattress in the VIP room there when you all were boarding the same old yellow bus leaving the camp for good.yeah for good maybe for most of you.I am pretty sure, the bitter sweet moments shared there will be something worthy to remember some time in the near future.If not now,maybe in two or three years' time.

Some of you playful or half naughty guys, despite numerous warnings from school teachers and the camp officers respectively to observe rules , dos and don'ts were still brave enough splashing water to each other and frolicking hilariously in a small square 'swimming pool' adjacent to the girls' bathroom. I guessed you spontaneously named it 'swimming pool' soon you came across it when you were about to answer nature calls the first time being there. As the appeal to dip inside it was too irresistable that your poor temptation could not bear. That appeal resulted in dozens of guys managed to let loose their bodies and feel the coldness of the 'swimming pool'. The reward is sad story..the next camp we will have to undergo screening test. Only those with strong fighting spirit to be observant of rules and regulations are qualified to be participant in the next camp(s) which is to be held in no time.

For me, that was sad but true..how about you? are you happy being together again with your fellow friends of almost the same level of maturity? or you prefer you be separated? and let those truly yearn to learn grab the chance. Mixed feeling was I. As i believe in everyone's rights and privileges. Every student is entitled the best education possible no matter who they are or where they come from.Above us, nobody in anyway wants to fail themselves or see themselves fail, it is just a matter of time and maturity that set them apart.

I always pray for and wish each and everyone of you to taste the sweetness of success. From now on, always pull your socks and reach success in style. They say, success is the best revenge. The least you can think of should(if) you have nothing left to keep you going! Mat Yie proved that despite discouraging remarks from friends and foes when he won the best storytelling for district level. For state level? ask himself..he has his own reason for the losing!. I have digressed but the point is there dear students.

Sir

TIPS FROM SHEIKH MALIK'S TEACHER

Dear students,

It was 1:00 pm when I met sir Karim at a parking lot by the road side near Sabasun.He asked me to send 'love lettters' from 'young promising farmers' to 'muslimah' in Setiu. It was so hot as if the scorching sun seemed full of furious and fury unleashing its wrath and anger over us for ever forgetting the Al Mighty God in times of peace and joy, except in times of need like during examination moon. What an ungrateful servant!

Sir Karim just conducted a joint program between SMKA Sheikh Abdul Malik & SMASZA Ladang which involved around 150 students from both schools. He said that Sheikh Malik's teacher advised him to give emphasize on argumentative essay for guided writing and for novel, do stress on 'themes'.

So, from now on, do lots of practice on that type of essay and read the novel , search few evidences in the novel to support your chosen themes. While answering the question come trial exam, don't forget to state your preference by stating the novel and its author like the example below;

Introduction
The theme that i prefer most is loyalty. This is clearly shown in the novel The Prisoner of Zenda written by Anthony Hope. There are three scenes where we can see clearly how loyalty was successfully portrayed in the novel.

First para.. ( first evidence)

Second para..(second evidence)

Third para..(third evidence)

Conclusion
In conclusion, the three evidences mentioned above show clearly how loyalty was successfully depicted in the novel. I think loyalty is also the virtue which we must uphold at all costs. We rather lose our belongings but not our loyalty as man without loyalty is like a man without honour.

.....

On top of that, again..never forget to string a few lines of introduction, support the chosen theme with at least three evidences and not to forget to make a conclusion by stating your point of view convincingly.

Sir