A teacher in Kedah was moved to tears after receiving a simple but heartfelt Teacher’s Day gift from a student.
The gift was not expensive or fancy. Instead, it was an old ruler and broken pencil accessories.
But for 53-year-old teacher Jaslina, who shared the moment on her TikTok account “cikgujaslina”, it was one of the most meaningful gifts she had ever received.
Student still remembered her
According to Berita Harian, Jaslina said she was especially touched because she no longer teaches the student, yet he still remembered her and came forward to give her a gift on Teacher’s Day.
Speaking about the student’s background, she said he was unlike other children whose parents could afford to buy expensive presents for their teachers.
He is not like other children whose parents can afford to buy expensive gifts for teachers,” she said.
Jaslina, who has been teaching Mathematics for nearly 28 years, said the simple gift was the one that touched her heart the most throughout her career.
A cheerful student despite his struggles
She described the student as cheerful, active, and well-liked by his classmates.
Despite not having his parents by his side, she said he never openly showed his sadness in school.
He is always happy in class. He often helps me carry things and likes to talk to me,” she said.
Teachers can be a safe place too
Jaslina said teachers often play a role beyond just teaching lessons in class.
To her, teachers can also become trusted figures for students who are dealing with family issues or personal struggles.
For me, being a teacher means making students feel that we are a place where they can share their feelings, feel safe, and even be themselves,” she said.
She added that it is not easy for every teacher to truly understand a student’s world, but she has always tried to be someone her students can trust and open up to.
