Fitting farewell to a person who believes in second chances

Tree of faith

As the sands of time slipped us by,
flowers bloom and wither by.
Yet amongst the wake of time rooted a sturdy old oak tree,
standing proudly with unwavered faith and determination to its cause.

Through hardship and turmoil,
through cold merciless rain and blazing sun,
lies forth a tree,
standing firmly with beliefs and values very much intact.

Alas, fate has forced the hands of time to bade a sad farewell,
to a wonderful principal,
caring teacher of life,
and above all,
a woman with wills of steel.
Though she may not withstand the strains of time,
memories of her struggles are akin to the undying spirit of the tree of faith,
lingering on in our hearts............
forever.


Time spares nobody in its wake...yet it does not mean that the past should be forgotten...gone...banished into the abyss. Maybe I should perhaps clarify the above intended meaning...it is a tribute to newly retired NYJC principal, Mrs Ho Woon Ho. She was a true champion for our various cultures to be deeply rooted within the seemingly more fickle minded modern generation of students. I was back at school on wednesday to witness the last of her tenure as principal. As I watched tears streamed freely down her rather rosy cheeks, a feeling of awe ruled over me. I admired the work she had put into promoting Chinese cultures in all her years as an educator, but I was more impressed as I stood and watched hordes of her ex-students thanking her for giving them second chances, shedding away the discriminating light shone upon them by society and ultimately changing their perception to life, driving home the amount of satisfaction one can garner as an educator within me.

Perhaps it was God's way of reminding me that spiritual rewards beats any monetary rewards that awaits if I had chosen a different path in life. I have constantly doubted myself...haunted by my own decision...yet it seems fate just wants me to accept that this is the course of life paved before me.


"飲水思源"
"十年樹木, 百年樹人"
These phrases are immortalized by her...the meaning of which be remembered and adhered to...always.