Of politics and High School

Do you know how much politics in Malaysia influence the striving community of high school life?

No. Well, it does. No not only, where the adults (teachers) fight with each other to be the apple of the principal's eye but more major in the lives of the young ones, the students.

Politics in Malaysia is always hot. Every now and then there will be a scandal, then there will be some "jumping" around, then some chair throwing or even rioting. Politics is never clean, everyone has some skeletons in his\her closet. Envy, jealousy, hatred, rebels, loyalty, respect and honesty all run through the blood of every politicians.

So what does this have to do with school students?

Ok, let me tell you this, it has quite a number of things to do with it. The influence may be not that great, but everything has its starts. Of course, there is no banners, and great propagandic speeches, no promises of lowering taxes but there is the campaigns, the propaganda, the vicious ambition and the building of trusts.

School as we know it is a foundation to build the inner personality and constructing of self-balance; but when school children are exposed to the many situation where children have to take up responsibility and gain the power, there is where it starts. I am not saying being the president of a club or even the platoon commander is bad, but rather when people start getting envious and jealous, there politics is involved.

The most where politics dwell in the lives of the high-schoolers, is during one's journey to rise to the top. Let's set a placing. The prefect board of a school. I chose this example, because I think that this is a great setting, too many times I heard stories of major politics in school is when the prefects of school are involved.

What are school prefects?

School prefects are students who, where a different uniform from the rest. There are the teacher's ever-loyal students, obeying every given instruction without opposition, and willing to do anything that the teachers tell. They are without pay, but have full respect form the teachers, some of them are respected from the other students and there are some that are informants for the students. Usually prefects are the symbol of the school's strength, people overlook them and sometimes ignore or even despise the blue shirt students (only in Malaysian public schools).

The problem persists when in the prefect board. The happenings behind shut doors. Politics boil up in the hearts of everyone. The strive for power, and the changing of loyalty and the foundation of trusts. You see, everyone wants to be in power whether they can do it or not. Everyone wants to be in control, be the alpha. But not many have the ability to do so. The case remains whether the head boy can remain in power or not. He will remain in power until the teachers hold him to it, but whether the others like him is another matter.

Next is being in power, any kinda of power, either in charge of the canteen or disciplinary. One wants to be in power. When this happens, everyone races to be in the top. Campaigns will start, the propaganda of telling the teacher of that other guy, is no good, he is not able to do so, and so forth. The teacher will investigate and look into it, and then ask other's opinion, the teacher will gain other teacher's opinion, and then after weeks of researching, the result will be made. There will be one loser and one winner. The act of campaigns is over. One shall hold on to power and the other still the 'underneath' or the one gets to hold power and the other loses out. Either way, that is politics.

There is the resigning of power. The anger towards the superiors and the superiors against the inferiors. It is not easy holding to power, and at the same time gaining the hearts of many. Just like a politician in Parliament. There will be the people who supports him and there will be the people who wants to throw him off. Similarly, in school. Let's take again the Head Boy matter. He must be strict with the students and at the same time be their friends. That is the balance he must create. But what if he can't do that? What if, his power is too great, till he abuses it or misuses it? He can either be too strict or too friendly. If he is to strict the friends won't like him, there will mock him, disgrace his name, if he is too friendly, he will be envied by the other prefects because how can a man like him hold on to power, he himself has no discipline.

It will just be going on and on. So, finally there will be all kinds of feelings in all kinds of people. The strive for power and the hunt for leadership. All in all. There are a lot of similarities, with politics and high-school, or for my example, a school's prefect board. I am not pointing fingers but just highlighting on the people who play with the Constitution have a very great influence on those bound to academic books. Probably not many have taught of it, but hey it's real and happening now.

Official 1-year old

It is the 12^th of May 2009. I woke up from bed, washed up, straighten my tie and packed my bag. I looked at the row of books on my table, walked out of my room and got into the car. My dad drove me to school. I got down from the car, left my bag in the car and went in to my school. I looked at my 4Sc1 class for the very last time as a student; I went to the school’s office, signed some forms and then return to my dad’s car. We drove for about a minute to the neighboring school, I got down from it, grabbed my bag and stepped into the school. And here I was, SMK Kulim. I officially lost my ‘citizenship’ of SMKTPB and became a student of SMK Kulim.

I walked to the office, it was 7.25. A teacher came to my dad and I and asked whether I needed some help. “Yes, teacher, I’m new here”, “Oh the office doesn’t open ‘till 8am, let me show you to the Form 4 supervisor”, I followed her to the staffroom, I met the Form 4 supervisor, and she brought me to the principle:

“Do you want to enter SMKK? Yes or No?”

“Yes I do”

“Then come in, you are now a student of this school”

I had a enormous grin on my face, the Form supervisor showed me to my class I selected, and I as passed all the classes I heard gasps of surprise and people mumbling “Isn’t that Leon?”. I went to my class, stared at it for awhile, and found an empty seat and sat in it.

Today is the 12^th of May 2010. It has been a year, since I have been in SMKK. No doubt, it is my greatest move of my teenage life. This school has drastically change me, the way I see things, emotionally affecting me, socially expanding me and mentally making me stronger.

So, what I have done for the school? Or more likely what has the school done for me? Answer: A lot.

Too many things it has done for me, and I can’t express enough my gratitude and appreciation towards the school and especially my friends and of course the teachers.

Only in this school I have found true and loyal friendship. Where friends are so precious and invaluable. None can buy it, but one has to invest in it. To my friends: Thank you. There are some animosity among a few but without them, I wouldn’t know that this world isn’t perfect.

The teachers: thank you. Every one of this teachers will make you feel that this is where I belong. The love shown by the teachers, the grumbles and sometimes the bad jokes by the teachers make it all feel that there too are your friends. Some instill fear, some plant trust with respect and some just blend in to your life. The first day of school, I was dumb and lost in school, and I said to myself, “Oh, great, I am the new kid here, sure will a lot of teachers will ask many things”. They did and look at where I am now.

Next up is politics. Now if I were to say much, I would probably be massacred in school. Well, not to that extreme. Politics also runs in the blood of every ‘citizen’ of the school. Being in power means to have responsibility, and responsibility means control, and when one has such control, the inferior will rebel. What more, when I have power, many dislike me; not even my superiors, not even my friends and worst of all this is where I am hated by some.

Enough on that.

Another great thing that this school has brought to me is the meaning of high school crushes. The very first step since the first day I had a crush. To those who are reading this might just think that this guy is way over his head. Yeah, I am. But like people always say, “It is Natural”. These girls are so perfect, some are even prefects. Ok enough of this! It’s normal, but these girls are perfect in my eyes. Till today I can’t get over them, everyday at least a second they cross my mind, I dream about them. Ridiculous, yes, pathetic, yes. Definitely in (adolescent) love.

I’ve been called a gentleman, a cute guy, the fat new kid, the girl lover, but most known by “pulun”. Honestly speaking I am touched by every ‘nick name’ people branded me. Yes, I do admit it hurt at times, but at the end of the day, I know that I am student of this school.

So, that is it. This is SMKK, this is my high school, this is my memory. Call me nostalgic but this school is the best thing I’ve done in my teenage life. I thank every one of you, my teachers, my friends, my brothers, my sisters and my mom and dad.