Discovering the Untold Stories of My Students: A Request to the Officer

Dear Mr. Education Officer,

I am writing this in regards to the visitation you paid upon my school, a visit wherein you sought data of my students' academic achievements. Per your request, I presented the data to you, but regrettably, a handful of my students shone with a dim light. They were found wanting, residing within the realms of the Unacceptable, Emerging, and Minimally Acceptable categories. Your voice, stern and unyielding, commanded me to provide justifications for their faltering progress, and in turn, to provide tailor-made interventions for each of them. Hence, I write this letter to furnish some context on each of the students.

Let me draw your attention to Sarah and Siti, the two young souls who currently reside in the Unacceptable realm. Sarah hails from a family of seven, a family whose circumstances can only be described as impoverished. Nevertheless, Sarah's countenance radiates joy every time she sets foot within the confines of our school. Her love for music knows no bounds, and I dare say her heart beats in rhythm with the melodies she holds dear. Kpop songs are her passion, and although I must confess that I am not privy to the names of her favourite tunes, I can attest to the overwhelming emotions that emanate from her being every time she sings. Her voice, a vessel for her soul, knows no limitations. It transcends beyond the boundaries of genre and language, and with each note that leaves her lips, you too will feel her unyielding spirit. I vividly recall the day she sang a song by Black Pink, a lively and exuberant number. She danced with the beat, her smile never faltering, and in that moment, she illuminated the room with her light. That day, I carried the weight of personal troubles on my shoulders, but through her song, Sarah reminded me that hope was not a faraway dream.

Let us now direct our focus to Siti, a budding artist whose talents have yet to be fully recognized. My dear officer, have you ever laid eyes on her paintings? If you have not, I implore you to do so at the earliest convenience. I assure you that it will be an experience that will leave you breathless. Flowers, in all their vibrant and delicate beauty, are her subject of choice. Lilies, hibiscus, daisies, roses, and a plethora of other blooms are brought to life by her hands, each petal and leaf a testament to her unbridled creativity. Her attention to detail is unparalleled, and what's more, she does not require any reference to produce her masterpieces. She draws from the well of her own imagination, crafting worlds that are born solely from her mind. Can you not see the wonder in that? In our conversations, Siti confided in me her aspirations of becoming a successful artist. I inquired about her thoughts on the Visual Arts curriculum at school, questioning whether she found it too simplistic for her skills. She humbly replied that the syllabus was adequate for children her age, recognizing that it would not be equitable for her to demand more from her teachers. She is all too aware of the struggles that come with the pursuit of knowledge, as evident in her struggles with the English language. Thus, her empathy runs deep for those peers of hers who do not possess the same mastery of the visual arts as she does.

And now, let us turn our attention to Ahmad Karim, a young man whose potential is slowly beginning to reveal itself, as he hovers within the Emerging category. Ahmad, in many ways, is the anchor of his family. The loss of his father last year struck his mother and siblings with a devastating blow, and though his aunts have stepped in to offer their support, the family now finds themselves separated. Such is the nature of life, as even those who offer aid have their own struggles to bear. Ahmad has spoken to me at length about how much he misses his siblings, but for now, he must remain by his mother's side. As the eldest child, he has taken it upon himself to help her sell foodstuff at their stall every afternoon after school. It is a task that he embraces with open arms, for it brings him a sense of purpose and allows him to contribute to his family's welfare. Ahmad's aspirations lie in the world of business, and he speaks of it with a fire in his eyes that cannot be quenched. He is a keen observer of the sales strategies that companies employ, and he has a sharp mind for recognizing what works and what does not. He laughed heartily as he gossiped about the flyers that are constantly being distributed at shopping malls, noting that such tactics only serve to harass potential customers. It was a moment of levity that brought warmth to my heart, for in Ahmad's words, I could hear the voice of a future leader.

Now, let us cast our gaze upon the two students who find themselves in the "Minimally Acceptable" category. First, we shall consider Rasnah, a twelve-year-old girl who possesses a keen interest in the art of adorning herself. I recall with fondness the day when she divulged to me, with an impish grin, that she had surreptitiously applied her mother's liquid foundation. It was a moment that drew laughter from deep within me, for it revealed the playful nature that lies within her. I must admit that on that day, I had noticed that her face appeared unusually white, and when she approached me to request a visit to the restroom, I could detect that she had indeed adorned herself with makeup. Her beauty, as you undoubtedly recall, is striking, and yet, beneath her exterior, she grapples with a deep insecurity that plagues her every thought. She worries incessantly about her abilities and believes that she is not capable of achieving anything worthwhile. Her academic performance is lacklustre, and she laments her lack of proficiency in sports. I wish she could see what I see, for I know that she possesses a rare talent that is yet to be fully realized. During one of our classroom parties, she presented her homemade chicken curry, a dish that left us all in awe of her culinary skills. Her mother confirmed that she had prepared the dish entirely on her own, and I must confess that it tasted nothing short of heavenly. I cannot help but hope that one day, she may find the courage to pursue a career in the culinary arts, for I know that she has the potential to succeed beyond measure.

And lastly, we come to Luke, the fellow 'Minimally Acceptable' achiever who is not one to shy away from his emotions. His name may be Luke, but his mood is never lukewarm. His temper is always ablaze, a fire that burns fiercely within him. He is not one to suffer fools gladly and has no qualms about shouting down anyone who dares to mock or belittle him. His behaviour is born from a place of deep pain, for he has suffered abuse at the hands of his father from a very young age. I assure you that he is now safe in the care of his mother and siblings, but the scars of his past have not healed. It appears violence is the only recourse that he knows, though thankfully, he has never acted out physically. Our school counsellor is working diligently to help him heal from the traumas of his past. But, amidst his struggles, there is a shining light that illuminates his soul. Luke possesses a natural talent for Malay poetry, writing beautiful and breathtaking pieces that have left me in tears. His proficiency in the Malay language is impressive, and the emotions that he conveys through his words are raw and honest. He does not follow any rules or try to emulate the works of famous poets; he writes from the depths of his heart, allowing the language to flow from his mind to his fingers. I am enamoured with his work, and during one of our conversations, I introduced him to some English poetry, both classical and contemporary. He was fascinated, and when I offered to teach him how to write poetry in English, he expressed a keen interest. Our first session is scheduled for next Monday, and I can only hope that I can do justice to his natural talent.

My dear Mr. Officer, you may be wondering why I have taken the time to provide you with information that seemingly bears no relation to the academic achievements of these students. It is my fervent hope that within the small, not-so-detailed descriptions that I have shared with you, you may come to see these students as more than just mere labels. I wish for you to see that each of them possesses their own unique "plots", and as you take the time to observe how each of their plots thicken, you will begin to realize that their stories are complex, multi-layered, and ever-evolving. They are no different from us when we were their age, and they are certainly no different from our own children. It is my belief that beyond their academic labels, these students are achievers in their own right. They possess talents that shine brightly in their own spheres, talents that I fear may be overlooked if we focus solely on their academic shortcomings. I do not mean to complain or disregard your orders; I will comply with all the documentation, data-inputting, and reporting that you require of me. But I feel that to define these students based solely on their achievements in the English Language subject is to do them a disservice. I hope that by shedding light on their unique stories, you may come to see how special and talented they truly are.

Please accept my apologies for taking up so much of your valuable time. I understand that your schedule is busy and demanding, and for that reason, I am grateful for your consideration. My sincerest hope is that if you have read this far, you will have gained a newfound admiration and appreciation for these exceptional students. They are truly remarkable individuals, with stories that are complex and inspiring. Rest assured, Mr. Officer, I will do everything within my power to help them improve their skills in the English language. I do not wish for their current talents to be taken as an excuse to neglect their language development.

However, I do have a suggestion, if I may. Why don't we take the opportunity to get to know each other on a more personal level the next time we meet? Let us set aside our professional façades for a moment and share our own "plots". I am certain that we each have stories that are just as rich and compelling as those of our students. Perhaps if we can see how each other's plots thicken, we can reach a better understanding? You see, the trouble we face presently lies in our limited perspective; we see one another only in stark black and white. You label those five youngsters as 'low-achieving' while I, myself, am deemed 'underperforming'. And in turn, we view you as an austere and apathetic figure of authority. But what if we were to delve deeper into the complexities of our individual "plots", exploring the myriad shades of gray that make up our lives? It is in this nuanced understanding of each other we may find the potential for greatness, together.

Please understand that this is just a humble suggestion, and I leave the decision entirely up to you, Mr. Officer.

Once again, thank you for your time and may God bless you.

In tangled webs, our tales entwine,

Soft gazes meet, less judgment's sign.

As plots thicken, hearts quicken,

In understanding's light, we listen.