Have you ever had to say goodbye to someone you care about deeply? It’s tough, right? But sometimes, it’s just how things go.
That’s the situation a 16-year-old student from SMK Padang Garuda found herself in when her 58-year-old favourite teacher was retiring.
But instead of letting him fade into memory, she decided to make sure her teacher would never be forgotten.
A student’s tribute to her favourite teacher
Here’s what went down: Qilah, the student, shared a bunch of photos on TikTok showing off her tribute to her beloved teacher, Mr. Zulkhifry.
And guess what? The post blew up, racking up over 500k views!
The first pic shows Qilah and Mr. Zulkhifry, both beaming with big smiles. But it’s the next few pics that really steal the show.
In the next slides, Qilah, along with Mr. Zulkhifry and his wife, proudly display her masterpiece—a stunning painting of her teacher performing silat, with two fierce tigers by his side.
It’s a beautiful tribute to the man who’s been more than just a teacher to her.
8 hours of creative process
Speaking to WeirdKaya, Qilah told us on her creative process. Turns out, it took her a solid eight hours to finish the painting, using acrylics on a massive 4 x 3 ft canvas.
Furthermore, Qilah revealed the profound impact of Mr. Zulkhifry’s guidance.
Mr. Zulkhifry wasn’t just any teacher. He was Qilah’s Malay language teacher who not only taught her the language but also encouraged her passion for painting.
He even hooked her up with a Form 6 teacher, Mr. Radzuan, who took her under his wing, even though she was technically too young for his class.
‘I started with cheap posters’
As for Qilah, she’s been serious about painting since she was 12, starting out with cheap materials like random paper sheets and even her school exercise books.
“I’ve been passionate about painting since I was 12. I started with cheap posters on random sheets of paper I found. Sometimes, I even used my school exercise book.”
She also credits her primary school teacher, Mr. Zainal, for introducing her to the world of art exhibitions.
“Back in primary school, there was a teacher, Mr. Zainal, also known as Zainal Rock Reggea, who used to take me to Haram Art Exhibitions at Kuantan Picker on Sundays.”
‘You’re incredibly talented’
People on TikTok were blown away by Qilah’s talent and the heartfelt gesture behind her painting.
Some couldn’t believe it was done with acrylics, while others just couldn’t stop showering her with praise.
One comment read, “I initially thought it was an oil painting, but to my surprise, it’s acrylic. Absolutely stunning!”
Another commenter exclaimed, “Girl, you’re incredibly talented.”
One commented: “Best gift to give to your teacher, for real.”
another chimed in, “It’s breathtakingly beautiful. Even as an art student myself, I’m astounded by its beauty.”
You can see the full post here.
