"You can change a child with love, patience and kindness"
Ms
Maliga is one of the teachers in our R.E.A.L Kids Centre in Kajang Prima and
she has been with us for 4 years now. Ms Maliga comes from an experienced
career background in construction of 14 years but decided that she would like
to do something different with her life. She took a one year break from work
and used this time to catch up with family, friends and just some alone time
for herself. Fortunately for us, Ms Maliga felt a sense of emptiness in life
and decided to join us at our R.E.A.L Kids centre in Kajang! She is now
extremely happy with where she is and looks forward to work every day! We had
the opportunity to have a short talk with teacher Maliga and that helped us to
getting to know her a little better.
Ms
Maliga is not just your average kindergarten teacher. She comes across shy,
quiet and reserved and did not have much experience in the education field. She
had one year work experience in a kindergarten after her SPM but that was all.
Everything that she has learnt today was solely built on her passion for
children. However there was a time where that passion in teacher Maliga was
almost extinguished when she faced challenges in her work. She struggled with
writing up reports and updating the children records and she was on the verge
of giving up. She actually had one foot out the door when our beloved
principal, Ms Tan, had the compassion and love for Ms Maliga and believed so
strongly that she had so much more potential in teaching. She sat her down
after school to help guide her in learning the ways of writing reports and
such. It was because of the love and care that was shown by Ms Tan that
encouraged Ms Maliga to step back into teaching with both feet planted to the
ground and a passion that was reignited for the children. “If I was able to withstand the pressure of construction business for 14
years, I am able to see this through especially with the guidance of such an
inspiring leader” said Ms Maliga.
The
career change for teacher Maliga was tough initially but as soon as she got
into the groove of teaching, she progressed with flying colours. Her passion
for her students was not just confined in the classrooms but even in her
dreams! “I would have dreams about ideas
on how to be creative in my classes” said Ms Maliga. She got the idea of
using decorated flash cards in her class through her dreams where she quickly
took note of the moment she awoke. This is a very different side of Ms Maliga
from when she was in the construction line where she was hot tempered and
stressed from the pressure of work. Now
she is a happy, patient and contented person and is fully committed to her
career as a kindergarten teacher.
One of
teacher Maliga’s highlights being a kindergarten teacher in R.E.A.L Kids is
their annual concerts. She describes how both the teachers and children are all
excited as they prepare for the concert. They have speeches, dances, singers
and all sorts of creative entertaining programs for the parents. As teacher
Maliga tells us, “it is not easy to
prepare the children for the concert but they are so excited about it. I would
even go to the temple to pray for them that they will dance and sing properly.
I am so happy when I see them on the stage dancing and singing all their parts
correctly and you will see the parents so proud of their children.” It is
good to see how much Ms Maliga loves her job now and its moments like these
that warm our hearts.
Teacher
Maliga has only been teaching in R.E.A.L Kids for 4 years with no ECE
background but she has shown so much growth.
She was once a hot tempered
person but is now a loving, patient and kind hearted person. Teacher Maliga
portrays dedication and bravery in her job and tells us “don’t give up when times are tough. You can change a child with love,
patience and kindness.” Some wise words from Ms Maliga to future ECE
graduates, “you must love your job. If a
hot tempered person like me from construction line can learn to change, you can
definitely do it. I believe in ECE because it not only teaches
children ABC, but character, independence, manners and respect too.”
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