It's one of those times when you know that it's nothing to do with you but that it's just an amazing privilege given by God to have taught such an outstanding young person.

As Kiat's Physics Tutor (Aug '01 to End '02)
Academically, Kiat was just brilliant. He never really needed to be taught e.g. he would be working on Math Olympiad questions during Physics tutorials and I wouldn't have to worry about it (as he would go on to do really well).

When he participated in class, it was for the benefit of his peers. I remember occasions where he would ask questions, not because he did not understand but so that I could better explain a particular concept to the class. As a beginner teacher, this was very helpful to me as well as to the class.

For me, that was something that made Kiat really special. He's someone with such a big heart for people around him. During that time, he was also coaching his peers, especially in the advanced subjects called Special or 'S' papers. I even recall a telephone conversation we had one night when he suggested how the 'S' paper classes for Physics could be better conducted in order to aid the students' grasp of the subject material.

As Kiat's Civics Tutor (Aug '01 to End '02)
Kiat also played the role of civics tutor's respresentative where he would help out with administrative matters related to the class. In this aspect, he was mature, responsible and totally dependable, and I never had cause for worry. Another aspect of this job was to help the class to gel. The class bonded so well, in no small part contributed by Kiat. I enjoyed teaching the class so much that I experienced about 6 months of withdrawal symptoms after they graduated and I had to take on a new civics class. So, it'd have been more fitting for me to name Kiat as 'the most influential student in my teaching career'.

Conclusion
To end, I really thank God for the privilege and joy for having known Kiat not just as a student, but over the years as a friend. I can honestly say that his character matches his intelligence.

It was my second time at the university, but this time the beauty of the campus was overshadowed by the heartwarming hospitality of former students, one of whom I did not actually tutor namely the young man Yu Xian who spent the entire Friday accompanying me to the Cantor Art Museum and on the Dish Walk. On Thursday, Kiat brought me up the Hoover Tower where I got a breathtaking view of the campus. Also got to check out the two Hewlett and Packard buildings and the Gates building.

The Terman Award luncheon itself was a terribly humbling and inspiring once-in-a-lifetime experience. As we went down the list of 22 top Stanford Engineering students, each faculty member introduced the student, each student introduced his/her high school teacher and finally the teacher spoke about his/her former student. Common attributes of these outstanding students include a passion for learning, a relentless 'leave no stone unturned' approach in their learning and a willingness to put in lots of hard work. They pursued interests beyond the academics and excelled in many other things as well e.g. one was going to put up a fashion show sometime soon. Many were incredibly warm people, whose lives have inspired their juniors, peers and teachers.

I was particularly humbled by the many high school teachers who have had years of teaching experience and still continue to teach and mentor young people today. Don Gribbons from Massachusetts has retired but he now serves as a master teacher, training teachers who train teachers. He was a no-nonsense Chemistry teacher who thought up the most interesting Chemistry lab sessions for his students to have fun with e.g. launching missiles with liquids in pipettes. Learning is and should be fun! 吴老师 from Shanghai weaved in Confucius ethics into her Chinese lessons - it encouraged my heart to hear that the young lady Xiaofan chose to pursue Environmental Engineering because of the values she picked up from her teacher back in Shanghai. Wouldn't it be much much more wonderful if Christians took God's truths and values and applied them in the different spheres of life beyond the church doors, in the home, in school and in the marketplace?! SBS Night School plays that role of helping lay people know (in the heart that translates to daily attitudes and actions) God's timeless truths for themselves. Yin, press on!

[ Exodus 35:30-35 Then Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And He has inpsired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver -- by any sort of workman or skilled designer. ]