CLASS OF 2009

Welcome back students! Read a large banner hanged in front of Sekolah Menengah Taman Tun Dr. Ismail. It had been twenty years since the form five students of 2009 had assembled on the basketball court and sang the national anthem. But today, the day I have been looking forward to since ages, had finally arrived. It was our reunion! The school had changed a lot since then. Two new blocks, a swimming pool and even an LRT station connecting to One Utama. Emeilee Nur Freida, famous animal conservationist, and Siti Sara, esteemed brain surgeon, had come early to help me decorate the Dataran Juara. At half past six, ex-students started flooding the assembly hall. I felt one huge summersault in my stomach. As students meet, the flood gates started to burst. Ayesyah Abdullah, mother of four, for one, wouldnt stop crying! Beside her, Raidah Yaacob, CEO of well-known trading company, Merican Trading, was reminiscing with Athlete of The Century, Fatin Fariha. Ammar Muaz, whose teko business has hit a high, was laughing through his lungs with newly crowned, Sports and Entertainment Minister, Dato Amir Fadzli. Wan Eijas Wan Pin, respected lawyer, had just arrived with Ahmad Syukran, the most expensive football player in the world who had just signed with star-studded team, Arsenal FC. Multi billionaire and nanotech expert, Amirul Arif was helping himself to some grub with the Mufti of Johor, Adi Saifuddin. Daniel Ashraf, leading architect and Amir Ishak, spontaneous rock star was there too. Prominent internet hacker, Md Sharil Aswad and gold foosball medallist, Ahmad Syakir was not that far behind. Fashionably late, was the widely known Property Entrepreneur, Dato Sri Azzim Emir Imran with his three wives. One of which, was Juara Lagu 30 winner, Datin Sri Dhabitah Zainal Abidin who had just launched her fifth album. The other two were renowned model Qallishah Kamal and award winning actress Khairunnisa Azman. They were smiling widely when they saw Prime Minister Tun Dr. Ahlami Othman with the first lady, Tun Ili Nur Amalina. Mad scientist, Professor Ahmad Ruiz was sharing his theory on conquering the world with internationally coveted lecturer Professor Madya Nurul Aini Atiqah and top notch author, Megat Ridzwan Latif. Most eligible bachelor of the year, Luqman Hakim was listening in as well. The night went smoothly and as I gazed around, I could see that many have changed, Wan Nur Alisa, whom I would scold in every English lesson for laughing too loudly was quite elegant and our trouble maker Fithri Faisal, was somehow a gentleman. Some became millionaires, and some illustrious achievers. I for one, did not change at all. I am still teaching English for the form twos and form threes and I am still just another discipline teacher, with the same old salary. Why am I still teaching you ask? Well, there is nothing better than to see my students grow and improve so much. As tears started pouring down my cheeks, I looked back at how wonderful and enriching this journey had been. Written by, AZZIM EMIR IMRAN 3 AVICENNA 2007