Friends Of STAR

Sorry folks, but I have a little bad news for you. The current euphoria about excellent PMR exams results need to be injected with some reality check. I am taking the risk of being unpopular, but pouring some cold water to the heat of the excitement I must.

The days of excellent PMR exams result equal to excellent prospect of being successful in life have long been gone~! 

When more than 80percent achieve straight 8As, it means that getting 8As is no longer a differentiator or a competitive advantage. It also mean that a student has to have a few of other feathers in his / her hat! The world has become a lot more competitive than it used to be, and it has seeemingly becomes smaller too. International borders are turning into blur shades of a global village. A 'Jaguh Kampung' will get no where beyond the comfortable boundary of his/ her own familiar kampung. To do well in life, the generation who has got their PMR results recently, must have what it takes to work, play, and live alongside peers of diverse background. One need to feel comfortable getting along and competing with the best from anywhere. 

We are talking about being excellent as a whole person; spiritually, socially, physically, intellectually, emotionally, and equally important individually!

More so than now or in the past, as the world becomes one global village, in order to do well, a person has to have real firm anchor in his faith and his character. A spiritually sound person will not get easily drifted and swayed by the wind of change and uncertainties. A person who knows himself / herself and has self-respect and possess a high self esteem will also gain the respect of others around him. The trend in the future, as individuality becomes stronger than group thinking, favors those with natural social skill, emotionally strong, and physically fit to get on and get ahead!

The meak and weak will get left behind, whether or not he/ or she has a string of As in his PMR and SPM exams! 

As a test, ask your self the following questions:

1. Does your child participate in school extracurricular activities? 

2. Does he / she has a strong foundation in religion? Does he/she understand the fundamentals of Islam?

3. Is he / she on any social network? Does he/she has friends who are different in ethnic, cultural, values, faith, family backgrounds to himself/ herself? The more diversed his/ her social network, the higher will be his / her social skills.

4. What independent idea or tasks has your child pursued in the last six months? If none, check whether you have been too controlling and spoon feeding? At age 12 and above, a child has to be taught to be independent!

5. How does your child react to frustration, failure, disappointment, love and broken relationship, success, as a follower and as a leader? 

6. Also, check what role have you and your spouse been playing as parents? Are you enabling, controlling, suppressing, cheering or even jeering? When was the last time you asked your child for his opinions on matters which affect him or her, such as the color of his bedroom walls or which subjects he wish to pursue?

A whole person, with a balance in spiritual, physical, emotional, social, intellectual and individual growth and development, will have a better chance of leading a successful and happy life compared to his peers who excel only in one or two areas~! Parents, as well as teachers, have joint responsibilities to educate and develop our children for the future!