IF we were to look back and ask ourselves who were our friends and where and when it all began, memories would bring us back to Standard One.
We mingled with students of other races and religion. Some of us stayed together until secondary school and some continued the friendship through university.
We came from diverse backgrounds, and still were able to show respect and compassion for each other.
We played together. Sometimes, we quarrelled, but oftentimes, we buried the hatchet and became bosom buddies once more.
As children, we were amazed that we could learn different dialects and languages.
There was no barrier to communication. What fun!
Festivals were most welcome as this was the opportunity to visit one another and celebrate together.
Digging into the special dishes prepared was like having a gourmet feast, especially during Hari Raya, Deepavali, Christmas and Chinese New Year.
We took different paths to seek our fortunes, many of us losing contact with one another along the way.
Yet, when a reunion is organised, there will be this instantaneous
connection even though we might not have seen each other for years.
For some, the facial features
are still familiar. Some might have gone fairer, some sport thinner hair, others put on weight or grew taller, while some under-went such drastic transformation that they were totally unrecognisable.
What does this tell us? School is such an important institution where bonds are built and nurtured.
It’s a place where we get to know, learn and live in harmony with one another.
These values that we inherited from school make us what we are today.
We are all anak Malaysia, and forever proud to be Malaysians in body and spirit.
TAN LYE KIAT,
SEREMBAN, NEGRI SEMBILAN