Some things you carry forever. For her, it’s a sentence her teacher said in front of the class when she was 9.
It’s one she still can’t forget, no matter how many Teacher’s Days have passed.
What should have been a normal day at school turned into a lifelong emotional scar for a Malaysian woman, who recently shared her story on Threads.
“Just tell your teacher that your dad is sick”
As a child, she was already dealing with more than most kids her age. Her father was gravely ill and had to take unpaid leave, which left the family in a tough financial spot. School fees became one of the many burdens on her mother’s shoulders.
My mum told me, ‘Just tell your teacher that your dad is sick and I’ll try my best to pay the fees soon.’”
Clinging to that message, she gathered all the courage she had and went to school. She was afraid, but hopeful. Maybe the teacher would understand, or at least show some compassion.
“Your dad’s just sick, not dead, right?”
But what happened next shattered that hope.
Your dad’s just sick, not dead, right? As long as he’s not dead, the fees must be paid as soon as possible.”
Those words weren’t said privately. They were said in front of her entire class loud, cold, and humiliating.
I was so ashamed. My hands were shaking, trying to hold back tears and the tightness in my chest. The teacher didn’t look sympathetic at all. She was completely annoyed with me.”
She ran home and locked the door
The pain didn’t end there.
As soon as the bell rang, she rushed home in silence. She didn’t even have the strength to tell her mum what had happened. She locked herself in a room, thinking that maybe staying quiet would make the shame go away.
But mothers always know when something isn’t right.
Her mum confronted the teacher but things never felt the same again
After gently coaxing her, her mother finally got the truth. And without hesitation, she went to confront the teacher the next day.
The woman never found out exactly what was said during that conversation. But what she did notice was clear. The teacher’s attitude changed. She was never treated the same again.
That moment has stayed with me. Maybe I’ve forgiven her, but I’ll never forget it.”
She promised her child would never go through the same thing
Now a mother herself, that experience has shaped how she parents.
She’s determined that her child never has to go through what she did. Never has to speak on behalf of their parents in a situation that could lead to public embarrassment.
I always make sure my child’s school fees are never late. And I never let them face a situation like that on their own.”
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