No matter where we are in life, the desire to improve and inspire others can drive us to achieve extraordinary things.
At 55 years old, tuition teacher Subash Abdullah has proven that determination and passion can lead to outstanding achievements after scoring 12A’s in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination — and he is already planning to sit for it again this year.
A mission to inspire students
Subash, who hails from Cheras Perdana, has spent the past seven years retaking the SPM, including a resit last July.
However, his reason for doing so was never about chasing perfect grades or showcasing personal success.
The reason I sat for the SPM exam was to understand the marking scheme, and the best way to do that is by becoming a candidate myself,”
According to NST, Subash, who teaches Mathematics, Additional Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, believes the only way to truly guide his students through their exams was to experience the process himself.
By mastering the correct answering techniques, he hoped to better prepare his students for what lay ahead.
Indirectly, I can also inspire my SPM students to study together and aim for excellent results,”
Reliving the teenage experience
Despite his years of experience and maturity, Subash admitted he still felt a rush of nerves before sitting for the papers.
It was really enjoyable and felt like being 17 again. But the nerves were still there, and I think that’s normal every time you’re about to sit for an exam,” he said.
One subject posed a particular challenge — Tasawwur Islam — as he had only embraced Islam seven years ago.
Nevertheless, with thorough preparation and determination, he was proud to secure an A in the subject.
Running his own tuition centre for the past decade, Subash’s dedication to education has clearly never wavered.
Encouraging others to chase their dreams
Not one to rest on his laurels, Subash revealed that he plans to tackle another 12 subjects in this year’s SPM. His goal now is bigger than personal achievement — he hopes to inspire Malaysians of all ages to take the leap.
“I encourage anyone with the desire to sit for the SPM to go for it. There is no age limit for SPM, but not many people know this,” he shared, expressing disappointment over the fact that more than 8,000 candidates were absent for the written exams.
He even floated the charming idea of parents sitting for the SPM alongside their children.
Just imagine if an entire family sat for the SPM in the same year — that would be something really special and could strengthen family bonds.”
Through his passion and perseverance, Subash Abdullah reminds us all that learning is a lifelong journey — and it is never too late to reach for our dreams.
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