The world of Tzu Chi January 2020 (Vol.118)

2020 • 01 20 eature he choose the subjects that interest him to make the learning process more enjoyable, while his teacher encouraged him pursue subjects that match his academic aptitude. He eventually transferred to the Commerce stream and rediscovered the joys of learning despite having to catch up with his peers, who were nearly a year into their lessons. Apart from securing financial assistance for Daniel, the volunteers assume the role of mentors in guiding him in charting his course in life. Their spirit of selfless service and living life to the fullest has also rubbed off on him. In 2019, Daniel was nominated by his teacher for the Sahsiah Unggul Individu Terbilang (SUIT) award, presented to students who have demonstrated exceptional conduct in three categories, namely “The Ultimate”, “The Ant” and “The Butterfly”, each representing well- rounded performance, diligence and positive changes in attitude respectively. He thanked the volunteers for their encouragement, which fuelled his resolve to soldier on. Azizan takes immense pride in his son’s achievement, particularly his nomination for “The Ultimate”, an accomplishment reserved for only three deserving students schoolwide. “According to Daniel, the prize is awarded to students with a proven track record of outstanding performance in academics and extra-curricular activities, leadership ability and exemplary character. In other words, only the cream of the crop are eligible for the prize. I’m truly pleased!” beamed Azizan while admiring the award certificate, before abruptly breaking down in tears, touched by Daniel’s precocious sensibility. “The amount of pocket money I give Daniel and his brother varies from time to time. I know they have been skipping lunch behind my back,” Azizan confided. Daniel is considerate of his family’s plight and rarely requests for pocket money, saving his allowance for school fees, reference materials and stationery for his brother instead. Strength in family solidarity On the first day of the year-end school holidays, Daniel and his family loaded a trolley with the necessary ingredients, cooking utensils and equipment, including a gas cylinder, a gas stove, a frying wok, bananas and packets of frying powder, before setting off through the alleys to the nearby LRT station, where their stall selling banana fritters is located. “It’s difficult to apply for a hawker’s permit from the local authorities, but we have to keep going,” Azizan mentioned casually as he laid out a foldable table. He recounted an encounter with the authorities, who confiscated the tools of his trade except for his wok filled with boiling hot oil. Life is harsh for Daniel and his family, but a family that works together, stays together. Azizan candidly stuffed a few pieces of banana fritters into his mouth as he casually chatted with his family, content with a simple life. Driven by his family’s high expectations of him, Daniel has resolved to study for a degree and aspires to become a secondary school teacher. “Teaching is a meaningful vocation. I hope to transform the lives of my students through education. Also, I want to buy my family a house to give them a comfortable life and make them proud,” he declared.