My mentor

"You must always be prepared for the unexpected, and also set up the timetable for your students so it gives them and yourself a direction," - Ms. Sahmalah.

The first words of wisdom to be imparted upon us when we first arrive her class.

A very enthusiastic individual, she takes pride in her teaching methodology and is always ready to create a welcoming environment to her students everyday.

Ms. Sahmalah Sakthivel is currently a Year 3 teacher who uses patience to nurture her students as they learn. She has been present from the start of the cultivation of Nexus for a considerable amount of time (since 2008) and her passion has never die down ever since. And of course, with the fact that she is a senior staff, Ms. Sahmalah is one wise owl.

According to her, she was a graduate from the University of Canterbury in New
Zealand. Given that her degree has granted her more flexibility in teaching students in lower secondary; she took the opportunity to explore different years groups, even those of primary levels. To top it off, she has rich teaching experience in various students as well as in a array of schools- from the best and the most prestigious and to the most dreadful and the most difficult.


Despite her long 23 years in the teaching profession, her experience was certainly interesting. She joined Taylor's Education Group after 3 years in New Zealand and was first assigned to Garden International school which she taught there for a whopping 12 years before moving to Nexus for a continuation of 9 years and more to go. Because of this, she considers teaching can sometimes be an underrated but vital profession where "teaching can't be replaced by robots" and believes that there is more to it that just relaying information and knowledge to students- it is more accurately "a baggage" that is constantly with you as you would always think as well as talk about students 24/7. Because of this, teaching is one of the most stressful occupation but the outcome can be rewarding- once a student manages to progress and succeed, it gives the teachers a relief of happiness with what they had sowed and how much effort they have invested on the students they are teaching and at times, this profession also requires them to take on multiple roles or "hats" as Ms. Sahmalah would say. To be a good listener if a student expresses their problems, to be a careful nurse if a student is injured, to be a parent if a student does something right or wrong and most importantly to be an educator when a student is here to learn and also, they as teachers would never stop learning.

Her skills and knowledge accumulated in these years have been a very good guide for the student- teachers and herself too. She stated that each and every student is different and of course, their learning is different too. "So you have to find ways to deal with the students," she said, as she goes with the "No child is left behind" policy which she will try to fulfill every learning needs to the students such as those who are challenged. With the help of PLAs (Personal Learning Assistant), the challenged would be right on track and Ms. Sahmalah would also include them as a whole and not have them isolated and ostracized by the class.




Personal Thoughts:

Ms. Sahmalah is certainly a breath of fresh air after a number of primary and secondary school teachers had I encountered whose performances were not as satisfying. Despite the fact that teaching is a very stressful occupation, it has certainly affect students' learning experience- how the teacher treats the students. Ms. Sahmalah has even pointed out that E.Q is also crucial to those around you, the way you treat others, it will determine their treatment of others throughout the day and it is very contagious. The effort she has placed everyday has actually made me appreciate the teaching profession more.