A home called SMSTSS
By Assoc Prof Sr Dr. Zuraini Md Ali and Assoc Prof Dr. Mawarni Mohamed
Each year, Teacher’s Day isn’t just another date on the calendar; it gently reminds us to look back. It takes us back to classrooms full of excitement, to the voices that helped shape our thoughts, and to the people who believed in a future for us that we hadn’t yet dreamed of. To the teacher whom we honour for their knowledge, their discipline, and their unwavering belief, but in doing so, we are also led back to something greater: the place where it all unfolded, and the people who journeyed through it with us.
This reflection deepened during our recent reunion. What began as a gathering of our former teachers and friends became something more meaningful, where our school is not just a physical institution, but a living memory filled with lessons learned beyond academics, in corridors, dormitories, playing fields, and libraries, to name a few. It was in these spaces that friendships were tested and strengthened, identities began to take form, and life lessons quietly embedded themselves in everyday moments.
The 40th High School Reunion of the Class of 1981-1985, Sekolah Menengah Sains Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin (SMSTSSS), Bukit Mertajam, Pulau Pinang, formerly Sekolah Menengah Sains Pulau Pinang (SMSPP) and later Sekolah Tun Syed Sheh Shahabudin (STSSS), was a heartwarming reunion of old friends, memories, and untiring bonds unchanged by the years. It was held in Bukit Mertajam, the town where our school is located, and where 70 alumni were able to come together; came from all over the country, including Borneo, was a powerful moment to highlight our shared history and the lifetime that we have built. Several of whom had not seen each other in many years, even some not since we left the school. We are not only former classmates, but old friends who grew up alongside one another and never parted ways.
Some came as parents, grandparents or other professionals, but as soon as we met, years had already been swallowed in silence. We laughed at the same jokes, recognized the same smiles, and spoke like people who once shared dormitories, dreams, and young doubts. It reminded us that friendship developed in those early years has a kind of indestructibility, a gift that grows in strength. It was more than just a chance to look back at our years together.
As the Malay proverb reminds us, “Tempat jatuh lagi dikenang, inikan pula tempat bermain”. If even the place where we once stumbled is remembered, how much more enduring is the place where we learned and grew. School was that space: one that shaped us, sometimes gently, sometimes firmly, into who we would become. While teachers gave us knowledge and direction, our peers gave us something equally invaluable; companionship, perspective, and resilience.
They sat beside us during examinations, stayed up through late-night revisions, and offered quiet reassurance in moments of doubt. They were also part of the laughter that followed prep classes, the whispered conversations across dormitory rooms, and the unspoken understanding that none of us was alone in the journey.
We were moved to tears by the visit of five of our former teachers: Tn Hj Abdul Halim Othman, Cikgu Ramli Din, Cikgu Sulaiman Ismail, Cikgu Mohd Nor Abd Rahim, Ustaz Abdul Halim Bin Abdul Hamid, former Headmaster. Watching them again and hearing their speeches gave us a powerful reminder about the time we have spent in my classroom, the strong discipline and firm guidance they have given us since we were children to become responsible for forming our character and success.
Their words spoken to this older person as they gave wisdom that inspired us to keep being true to our beliefs and to honour lifelong friendships while keeping supporting families and the community in which we grew up. Others took the time to give special and personal thanks for what was long-overdue in shaping our studies and character and resilience. Perhaps the most moving and evocative moment of the evening was when we stood to sing our school anthem, “Maju dan Jaya,” together. In those moments, standing side by side with voices united, we were absorbing more than words; we were embracing a shared identity and a collective aspiration that extended beyond individual success,.
Life in school was also shaped by its daily rhythms and activities. Morning assemblies under the rising sun instilled discipline and focus. Co-curricular activities nurtured teamwork and leadership. Sports days sparked spirited competition while strengthening unity. Cultural events allowed creativity to flourish, revealing talents that classrooms alone could not uncover. Even the simplest routines: lining up for meals, preparing for inspections, gathering for evening reflections; quietly instilled values of responsibility, respect, and resilience. Our peers, in many ways, became our first mirrors. Through them, we discovered our strengths and confronted our weaknesses. Together, we navigated challenges, celebrated small victories, and learned lessons no textbook could ever teach. These shared experiences formed bonds that time could not easily erase.
Teacher’s Day, therefore, is not only a celebration of educators. It is also a moment to reflect on the broader ecosystem of learning. Teachers planted the seeds; but it was the environment of the school, enriched by friendships and shared experiences, that allowed those seeds to grow. We owe our teachers a deep and lasting gratitude for their wisdom and dedication. But we also owe a quiet appreciation to the places that held us, and to the friends who walked beside us.
Together, they formed an unspoken curriculum; one that taught us how to live, not just how to learn. Because in the end, what we carry with us is not only knowledge, but barakah: the unseen blessings of those who taught us, guided us, and prayed for our success in ways we may never fully know.
Associate Professor Sr Dr. Zuraini Md Ali is from the Department of Building Surveying, Faculty of Built Environment, Universiti Malaya, and can be reached at zuraini_mdali@um.edu.my while Associate Professor Dr. Mawarni Mohamed is from the Department of Physical & Health Education, Faculty of Education, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Shah Alam, and can be reached at mawarnim@uitm.edu.my