On Wednesday, Jocelyn Bell Burnell came to college for an astrophysics talk.. Everyone was questioning why the college decided to cancel all Block 3 classes just to demand all seniors and juniors to attend her talk.. But let me tell you, she's no ordinary woman.. She discovered the first pulsar while completing her postgraduate thesis at Cambridge.. An hour before her talk, I looked up one of the astronomy history books in the Resource Centre.. Frankly, seeing her name in print and knowing that I would be seeing someone who literally wrote astrophysics history was surreal.. I personally thought it was amazing that an apparatus that looked a lot like my backyard's clothesline was able to make such a grand discovery..
What really made me admire her was the way she presented her subject matter to the audience.. Not only did she speak clearly and effectively, she made sure that everybody in the hall would be "up to speed" each time someone asked a particularly technical question.. To me, she displayed qualities not unlike those of a good teacher, and our college headmaster confirmed what I felt during today's assembly.. She was smart, humble and fun! Both of her sessions in the Great Hall and LT1 were highly interesting, something you wouldn't normally expect from professors who visit our college.. Muehehe :P
Today's assembly saw an early Teachers' Day celebration.. To kick off the ceremony, there was a radio drama by junior students of Mr. F's class.. What it had to do with Teachers' Day, I will never know, but anyway, it managed to prove how J can save any performance just through his star power :P
Next up was the juniors' show, which was a nasyid performance.. While bearable at best, I must commend their effort for, well, performing :P Then it was the seniors' turn.. It was a medley of kompang beats, a cappella singing and solo performances.. IMHO, the seniors did a much better job.. I mean, come on, Z was in it, what's more to say? Ehehehe :P
The highlight of the day was the teachers' performance.. It was a sketch in which all the teachers became students for a change! It was so hilarious, especially when Mr. H bullied Ms. S :D The best moment was when Dr. F walked into 'class' fashionably late - literally, with pyjamas and all - and proceeded to spew out almost every single excuse that was collectively used by our Block 3 Physics class.. Hahaha :D
There was also a direct jab - no, make it an all-out assault - on F.. Hmm, I wonder why? :P
Sigh.. It must be fun to be a teacher and have an entire day dedicated especially to you.. But I wonder whether the same thank-you-for-being-light-giving-self-burning-candles-for-us-poor-misguided-students-in-the-dark messages that teachers get year after year tend to wear off over time.. Let's say I've just graduated and I'm holding my first teaching job and at that time, Teachers' Day would be such a momentous occasion for me.. But 10 years later, would I sit disillusioned in my seat, thinking, "Yeah, yeah, Happy Teachers' Day, woo-hoo.. It's been a long day, can I go home now?" :P
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NHA at 4:45 PM ::
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