Nothing Is Impossible

by Amirul Zain, Form 5 Science 2, Class of 2014

My grandfather’s grandfather once told my grandfather who in turn told me 

That classes used to be beneath trees

They used to have textbooks made out of coconut leaves 

Pencils out of charcoal

And stools made out of what was left of the dirt on the ground

And with every vein of his being he swore he never would have believed what he sees now

He told me that it will change

There will come a time where sports are for all

A day where graphite and paper were wedded holy matrimony

A day where we learn from computers and teach with lights

What used to be a cacophony of sticks and stones

Is now a symphony of string and skin

Producing the different tones required to stage the best musicals

A day where words are expressed in writing 

And ideas are projected through digital imagery

From out the back of our minds they taught us to think

They made us learn the difference between creativity and reality

This is the day they taught us to articulate 

They would teach us to use every percent of ourselves and demonstrate

And make us feel like an Olympian with nothing more than C

And make us feel like washouts with an A-

My grandfather once told me

That this is not possible

There will come a time where we learn to celebrate unity

Embrace the unembracable

Conquear potential

We will sing with pride

Run with direction

And thrive for preservation

Under what circumstance will we fail

If we choose to stand by strength

And consume power

Experience perfection

Frolic in grace

Monopolise victory

And bask in the limelight

There will be someone who will teach us the Sun and the Moon

The stars and the planets 

And paint the entire galaxy in the back of our minds

So I can tell them

“Hey I can see the entire galaxy in the back of my mind”

You are a wizard

A mermaid

A magician

A knight

A queen

A sorcerer

A warrior

A hero

A God amongst mortals

You raised us

From diapers to jockstraps

You are our castle

Our saviour

Because what we have is priceless

Diamonds

Pearls

Roses

We are energised to the point where we attract lightning

Because even Zeus envies us

I think back

Of all the times I got hit

And pinched

And have bitter stings thrown at my face

Of all the calls from school I would get at home

All those lunch times I spent finishing overdue homework

And the detentions I used to get

And will definitely get some more

I am who I am today because of you

We cannot thank you enough

What my grandfather's grandfather's grandfather would regard unfeasible

One woman stood up to say

To us Cempakans

Nothing is impossible

- Performed by Amirul Zain on 19th May 2014, in conjunction with Appreciation Day Assembly as a tribute to our Founder & Mentor, Dato' Freida Pilus, and to all teachers and mothers. 

Design by Lim Jade, Junior 2 Cempaka, Class of 2014