PRECIOUS GENERATIONS: My father Sim Soon Kwee with my son, Kenny Sim. Mrs Sim is standing behind with other family members. A fun pose with our Citroen, one of my more favourite cars to own and drive. My father is the inspiration for the legacy I am living, and I hope that my son (children) will carry on the aspirations for my legacy.

Recently, my grandchildren, Noelle and Gabriel, asked me, “Kong Kong, can you pray with us?” So we did, and I let them lead the prayer. Silently, I was quite impressed.

The words of God have power. Pray for ourselves and for each other. I have never had someone turn me down, no matter what religion they are, to pray for them. Prayer is a universal language – and after all, it is aligned to our first Rukun Negara Principle – Kepercayaan Kepada Tuhan – Belief in God.

I am glad that in some small way, I have helped instil in my grandchildren a faithfulness to prayer.

What Do I Leave Behind?

My father bequeathed to me a legacy of life values which have been instrumental in making me the person that I am. So, I do think quite a bit on the legacy that I will leave behind for my children.

It is my prayer that I will continue to do my best in what I love most, which is the crafting and creation of education. There is still much that can and should be done to promote lifelong learning. So, yes, I wish for this legacy to be taken further.

I understand that my children have different preferences and may choose different pathways. That is absolutely fine and it is healthy. I have always held the opinion that family members should refrain from participating in each other’s business to avoid unnecessary friction. They should choose what they like to pursue and persevere in those areas.

I am a firm believer that education starts way before a child is conceived and throughout his or her entire life. I am hopeful that the coming generations focus intently on this. Understand how education is consumed and make it available, effective and efficient through platforms that evolve with time.

Facing Uncertainty

There will be challenges faced. I can’t say what they will be, because the honest answer is, I don’t know. However, I have some guides (as I have learned through my own experience) as to how one can face these challenges: through prayer, by talking to God, through the Bible and by obeying the Lord’s commandments.

The Covid-19 Pandemic has shown us how fragile the human person is, and the recent flash floods in our country demonstrate how unpredictable the weather can get. In times like this, prayer helps.

Heal the World

I wish you peace in your heart and the clarity of mind to find the joy that education brings and the love it could potentially endow to heal the avarice in the world.

When my time on earth has come to a close, I wish for the following words, alongside my name, to be engraved on my tombstone – ‘A God-fearing Teacher’.

Drop me a comment to share your thoughts on your legacy.

Have a good week ahead.

Dr Sim Quan Seng