As the final days of my break at home neared, my thoughts were filled with the approaching start of my life as a Form 4 student at Asrama. This year's Hari Raya celebration held a special meaning as it reminded me of the precious moments spent with my beloved family. Despite the mixed emotions of leaving home, I felt a deep excitement knowing that a new chapter of my life was about to begin.
With careful planning and preparation, I had diligently mapped out my path towards my desired future, one that would secure my place in the esteemed halls of a prestigious school. My confidence in achieving these goals remained unwavering.
The year 2000, with the Y2K virus looming, was a time of global anticipation. While the potential consequences of the virus were ominous, the arrival of the new year marked the continuation of life without interruption.
Upon returning to Asrama, I noticed a noticeable change in the atmosphere. The arrival of new Form 1 students had led to a slight increase in the population of Asrama. Amid the excitement surrounding the PMR results, my own achievements were not the primary topic of conversation, which I found quite satisfactory.
As I enjoyed the celebrations and received compliments from my friends, a deep sense of pride and fulfilment filled me. In my remaining days at Asrama, I cherished the memories engraved in my heart and eagerly looked forward to the upcoming journey.
Dorm 1 had undergone changes, with the previous occupant, Iman, moving to another dorm, making way for Bel to take his place. Although Iman's departure didn't affect me much, it made me hope for a more memorable departure for myself. Dorm 1 had lost some of its liveliness recently.
Form 1 students had brought a significant shift in the social dynamics of Asrama. Previously, friendships were mainly formed within one's own age group, but now the age gap between seniors and juniors created a noticeable gap.
While I initially noticed the change in social dynamics when I first arrived, it took some time to adjust to this new environment. I remember feeling uneasy during my early Form 1 days at Asrama. The senior students seemed larger than life, and their advanced age created a sense of restlessness, fueling my desire for the freedom to pursue my lifelong aspirations.
This academic year marked my first experience with morning classes, which added to my anticipation. For the past three years, my studies had been in the afternoon session exclusively. It felt like a new chapter of my academic journey was unfolding before me.
This year, we returned to being ordinary students, in contrast to the previous year when some of my peers became school prefects. Seeing last year's prefects in the same uniform as mine was amusing, but my eagerness to return to academics and discuss the PMR examination results overshadowed any amusement.
I learned that the number of my school students achieving straight A's had doubled compared to the previous year, with around forty students achieving this distinction. This achievement was significant for my batch.
At that time, our school was just an ordinary daily school, quite different from its current status as an Elite School in the Johor Bahru district. The fact that forty students achieved straight A's in the PMR examination in an ordinary school was truly extraordinary.
What surprised me even more was that the Chinese student who had topped the trial examination the previous year, with me in second place, failed to get straight A's in the PMR examination, falling short in the Chinese language subject. This unexpected turn left me bewildered.
As I heard about the fate of the top-scoring Chinese student, I couldn't help but feel incredulous. Life's twists and turns are indeed unpredictable, and only Allah knows their course. I felt deeply grateful that I had been spared a similar misfortune, as my fortunes had been blessed by Allah.
At the beginning of the school year, we were divided into different classes, following the precedent set in the previous year. As before, the school assigned four classes to the Science stream. This year, there was a new development as Malay students competed directly with non-Malay students for positions in the Science classes. The number of Malay students in these classes closely matched their non-Malay counterparts.
4 Sains 1 and 2 were for students who had excelled in the previous PMR examinations. As a result, students with straight A's were evenly distributed between these two classes, which were considered equal in status.
I was placed in 4 Sains 1, seated at the back of the classroom alongside Bel. Most of the male Malay students were from Asrama, while the non-Malay male students came from my class from the previous year.
However, the new school year brought a significant change for me: coeducation. For the first three years of my time there, I had studied in an all-male environment. The presence of female students, both Malay and non-Malay, was an unexpected development that made me a bit apprehensive. It was a new experience for me.
In contrast, Bel seemed unfazed by this change. His previous role as the Head Boy had already made him popular among girls of all races, making him a celebrated figure.
As the school year resumed, most Asrama students, who were about to leave, were busy with preparations. Even though the academic responsibilities had not yet begun, the rituals of teaching and learning continued. I had to buy the necessary notebooks for the upcoming academic sessions, but my interest in these preparatory classes waned as I eagerly looked forward to the new phase of my life.
The daily routines of the school and Asrama felt like distant memories as I braced myself for the new chapter ahead. I regretted not fully appreciating my time at Asrama at that time, as I was consumed by thoughts of the exciting experiences awaiting me.
If my memory serves me correctly, prep classes were optional for Form 4 in Asrama. Asrama had changed significantly over time, and the monotonous routine left me increasingly disenchanted.
Dorm 1, once vibrant, now seemed quieter with each passing day. The reason for this transformation eluded me, except for Iman's absence, who had moved to another dorm. This made me long for a more significant departure, one befitting the profound chapter that awaited me.
In my private thoughts, I indulged in elaborate fantasies about my upcoming experiences, wondering about my new school and whether I could replicate the achievements I had accomplished in Asrama.
However, there was also a sense of sadness as I grappled with the emotions of leaving behind the place where many pivotal moments of my life had occurred—Asrama, the stage of my journey.
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