Many wouldn't find it surprising if I told you guys that I'm not exactly the best student in class. I mean I don't think I'm bad but I'm not exactly one of those that pays attention, do my home work, and erm, cut my hair regularly. The last part might comes as a surprise since my hair is hardly an inch long now but not to forget I grew up in an era where this is what we call handsome.
erm, wrong image.
Ya, this.
See! Handsome right? I mean, don't try to imagine how I look with this hairstyle if you still want whatever meal you just had before reading this. This was the coolest hairstyle back then, but of course not everyone agrees, especially not my Disciplinary Master, Mr. Zainal Sapari who is now the NTUC Assistant Secretary-General (ASG), Director, Care; Share Department, Director, U Care Department and MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC. I know, that's a mouthful and it reminds me of Daenerys from Game Of Thrones.
My Unscrambled.sg work brings me to places all the time. This time right, it brought me to Mr.Zainal's NTUC office where we are supposed to do an interview piece about his work. So yeah, I got to meet him for tea, but like he mentioned in a cheeky manner, there was no tea. All we had was water. You know lah, fight the diabetes war. LOL.
Although 20 years has passed, he is exactly like how I remembered him. Warm, humorous, and no holds barred despite being in politics. This sure didn't apply to the Mr. Zainal I know. Maybe a few pounds more but he is always ready to share some of his wisdom.
Actually this is not the 1st time I bumped into him after school days. We were at the same event some years ago where he was the guest-of-honour and I was representing my company as a partner with AREU Tour Guide Chapter.
Although I was never really his student back in school days, here's 5 things I learnt from him during this short session. Because pranks are what students do best to their teachers, so here's 5 memes I made instead.
Mr. Zainal dedicated his life to teaching, it was his first career and he was not shy to admit that he did not know much about how politics worked before he got into the game. In fact he didn't even know what he was walking into when PAP first invited him for tea. He thought it was nothing more than a simple dialogue over tea with some school principals to discuss education matters (he was a principal of Mayflower Primary School then). Thinking that he wouldn’t be missed since it’s a group setting, he had declined the meeting due to prior engagements. Little did he know that he was actually invited by the ruling party for that kinda tea sessions, LOL!
He also shared with us that the best way to become an MP is to just do what you do well, and not try too hard to be one. It sounded a lot like those mafia movies where they will drop you with this famous quote,
"You don't find us. We will find YOU."
Lesson Learnt: It's okay to admit that you do not know something, we are only human. What's important is the hunger to learn and the passion to do what one believes in.
He also shared with us that the best way to become an MP is to just do what you do well, and not try too hard to be one. It sounded a lot like those mafia movies where they will drop you with this famous quote,
"You don't find us. We will find YOU."
Lesson Learnt: It's okay to admit that you do not know something, we are only human. What's important is the hunger to learn and the passion to do what one believes in.
I know this is another Game Of Thrones reference which you might not be too familiar with if you are not a fan but come on, everyone watches GOT right? Besides the fact that they both have very long titles, they also have many things in common. One of the main reasons why he entered into MOE at that time was he believe that as a teacher he can help students using education and help them break out of poverty.
Mr.Zainal himself came from a low income family where his dad worked 3 jobs which included being a cleaner, security guard and “grass-cutter”and his mum was a helper to an expat family.
It was through education that Zainal became who he is today and he wishes he can do the same for everyone. He also quoted that famous starfish story where he believe that he will do what he can with what he have to touch lives even if it is just one at a time.
He might have left MOE for years now but it is still the same for him today as he has the responsibility as an ASG at NTUC. He champions for a better life for low wage workers and his efforts as a labour MP sure affects many and breaks many's chains.
Lesson Learnt: We might not have dragons or special power but everyone has abilities of their own. We can make an impact in everyone's life no matter how big or small.
Mr.Zainal himself came from a low income family where his dad worked 3 jobs which included being a cleaner, security guard and “grass-cutter”and his mum was a helper to an expat family.
It was through education that Zainal became who he is today and he wishes he can do the same for everyone. He also quoted that famous starfish story where he believe that he will do what he can with what he have to touch lives even if it is just one at a time.
He might have left MOE for years now but it is still the same for him today as he has the responsibility as an ASG at NTUC. He champions for a better life for low wage workers and his efforts as a labour MP sure affects many and breaks many's chains.
Lesson Learnt: We might not have dragons or special power but everyone has abilities of their own. We can make an impact in everyone's life no matter how big or small.
3. YOLO!
He might be a politician now and my very strict and fierce DM some 20 years ago but Mr. Zainal was once young as well. He told us stories of his early life where he believe that when we face challenges, all we have to do is to "just do it!" So I taught him a new word YOLO! and explained to him what it meant. He replied me candidly - YES, YOLO!
Lesson Learnt: No matter how big or small the challenge is, just YOLO!
Lesson Learnt: No matter how big or small the challenge is, just YOLO!
4. Live life with no Ragrets.
He does not have that tattoo of course. But when we asked him about him his thoughts about leaving his comfort zone and domain of expertise in MOE for some 20 years and joining the Labour Movement,, he told us with a straight face that he has no regrets at all. It's a challenge but he is enjoying what he does everyday. To him it's not just a job, it's about touching lives and helping to improve everyone's standard of living.
Lesson Learnt: He didn't say this but I feel that being a politician is never easy. There are times that some things shouldn’t be said politically (thus the term politically correct) and there may be times that you can be irresponsibly quoted by the media. It's really not easy being in politics considering the amount of heat one can get on social media these days. You do your best and live life with no ragrets. That's the ballsy Mr. Zainal I know.
Lesson Learnt: He didn't say this but I feel that being a politician is never easy. There are times that some things shouldn’t be said politically (thus the term politically correct) and there may be times that you can be irresponsibly quoted by the media. It's really not easy being in politics considering the amount of heat one can get on social media these days. You do your best and live life with no ragrets. That's the ballsy Mr. Zainal I know.
5. Let God Decide.
Although I did my home work of reading his Wikipedia page before meeting him and knew that he did religious studies in his university days, this reply came as a surprise to me when we asked him about him having any plans for his children to be in politics. A simple yet impactful answer. Mr.Zainal is a man of God. He was also sharing with us about his relationship with God and how he seeks knowledge from his religion from time to time.
Lesson Learnt: There are things in life we can't control and it's better to let Thor do it. I mean God do it. It's strange how I spent my school life running away from him but this session with him was so enjoyable I hardly wanted to leave.
It sounds a bit strange to say this now but he really is an interesting man to chat with. Not exactly because of our erm history, but I think that he is a man that I would like to work along with. Wise yet unconventional, it's not exactly something one can balance easily.
Lesson Learnt: There are things in life we can't control and it's better to let Thor do it. I mean God do it. It's strange how I spent my school life running away from him but this session with him was so enjoyable I hardly wanted to leave.
It sounds a bit strange to say this now but he really is an interesting man to chat with. Not exactly because of our erm history, but I think that he is a man that I would like to work along with. Wise yet unconventional, it's not exactly something one can balance easily.
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