By Raffles Press ’25
Foreword by Teo Hui Sian (25S06C), Chairperson, Raffles Press ’25
I’ve never had a teacher try to convince me to be one. In fact, it seems almost ubiquitous for teachers to jokingly warn a classroom of students against it – “don’t become a teacher”. It’s a faux piece of cautionary advice that seeks to amuse, but perhaps it’s worth reflecting on.
Teachers have impacted hundreds of generations and today’s generation of teachers is no different. In every regard, teaching is never limited to an academic curriculum. It’s what enriches a tedious school day, forges our character, moulds the individual we are and the one we choose to become. We are beyond privileged to have teachers that engage and indulge us – teachers whose classrooms set curriculum as the bare minimum, and our personal growth at the forefront.
In these classrooms, we are familiarised with each teacher’s voice, handwriting, teaching style, and even their silhouettes through window grates as they’re about to enter. However, this year’s Special Edition seeks to illuminate a side of your teachers you don’t often get the opportunity to see, from introductions to lifelong friendships created in the staffroom to unconventional hobbies to a reunion with H2 Mathematics.
In these stories, you’ll find a window into your teachers’ multidimensional personalities, motivations and hobbies, and discover that the lessons teachers impart outside the classroom are just as valuable as those within it.
Dear teachers, this is Raffles Press’ tribute to the art and sacrifice of being a teacher: a series of articles that sheds light on who you are as people, and the rich human experiences that shape your teaching.
I’ve never had a teacher try to convince me to become one—and I wonder if any of our teachers needed convincing at all, for teaching requires nothing less than unrelenting patience, commitment and passion. It’s a choice made with little regret and undeniable conviction. So to all teachers, thank you for choosing this path, and guiding us down our own.
Happy Teachers’ Day!