Interview conducted by Lesley Kong, Elizabeth Lim, and Umi Nur Sheila, 5 Sc 1
Article written by Lesley Kong, 5 Sc 1
Foreword by Nicholas Quah Wenpin, 5 Sc 1

-Foreword-

Hide the children in the basement, lock the doors, and start watching the skies to see if it falls. For the first time in the history of Sri Cempaka, we here at the Young Journalist Club are proud to present to you an interview with Chemistry Teacher, Mr. Sheat, whose exploits are so frequently whispered among the hallways that it can almost be classified as just plain legendary.

Regardless of personal opinion, one simply cannot deny his achievements and dedication to the student cause, cementing his position as a memorable figure in the School Entity.

Containing zombies, twin brothers, dancing and Shell Oil Company, this interview was carved solely for your reading entertainment. Cheers.

Note: Please excuse the lack of proper English. The exact lines spoken during the interview were preserved for sake of entertainment and pity on the editor (namely, me).

Elizabeth: Okay, first question. Please state your full name.
Mr. Sheat: So boring! (laughs) Do you know how to spell it? Y-E-N and M-I-N-G (Ming). When is my birthday?
Everyone: Yes, yes!
Mr. Sheat: Some of the Science 2 and Science 3 students know already. It's on the 27th of May.
Elizabeth: What year?
Mr. Sheat: Ah, doesn't matter. Dinosaur time.
Elizabeth: It important to show that you're a very important part of the school because you've been here for so long.
Mr. Sheat: I haven't been in the school for that long; there are many other teachers who have been here longer than me. I've only been here for 12 years. Yeah, that you can write (in reference to what we are allowed to publish). Don't worry about when I was born, which year... that's uh... that's very obsolete. Yeah, okay.

Lesley: Have the students changed since your first year and if yes, how?
Mr. Sheat: Definitely, because every year the personalities of the students will be different. Sometimes you find students with very colourful personalities that's why we always have to adjust to each different batch. Like 5 Science 1 last year I called them zombies, remember? So yeah, every year you have different personalities.
Elizabeth: Do you feel that the standard of education has changed?
Mr. Sheat: I think definitely yeah, because there have been changes in terms of, lets say media of instruction, like Maths and Science right? During my time, so long ago, questions were much more difficult and we had to study many more things but now they have removed many topics from your syllabus so you have to study less. That's why nowadays students could score so many As. Of course you can't really look at it that way because now you have to study more subjects, up to ten right? During my time I think it was seven subjects so yeah. I think one of the other factors could be nowadays the students are more intelligent because they are exposed to more things, to technology with lots of advanced thins so I think because of the exposure. During our time it was stone age so we didn't really have so many things so people were not broadened in terms of outlook and many things. So that's why nowadays young student are more intelligent, they can grasp things faster. So definitely the standards have changed over the years.

Sheila: Is this your first interview?
Mr. Sheat: Yes, actually. Nobody has ever liked to choose someone like me except you guys. That's why I was surprised when you asked me, because after so many years, seriously, nobody, YJC, Interact Club (my own club), nobody has asked me. Of course in class it's different, but who would really think of asking me right? (everybody laughs) Okay, next question?
Lesley: What do you think about relationships in school? Like catalysts and inhibitors? Among students, I mean.
Mr. Sheat: (serious tone) Relationships... it depends on how you look at it, to what extend you do all these things and also it varies from person to person. If you people know what is best for yourselves, you won't be involved in things which are very detrimental for your studies because now as students at this stage what's most important is your education. Maybe, normal friends okay but there is no reason to get involved in a serious relationship. Anyway you still have a long way to go so why bother, like what's the hurry right? For now you should do well in your studies so that it will help you through life. Since you still have to study when you go to university and college, why not build a firm foundation now? Of course people always say the best time to find a partner is in university especially during the last one or two years. That's the best opportunity because once you miss that chance, when you come out to work your circle will be smaller. But not now because it is too early so the catalyst thing should not apply, now you don't need to be catalyzed until later. (laughs, finally!)
Elizabeth: What is your prediction for this year's SPM students?
Mr. Sheat: This years SPM results should be much better than last year's because you have been brought up and taught by the same teachers like Mr. Pancha, myself, and Cik Zakiah also right? Because of that I predict the results should be better, unless you guys suddenly I don't know what... let me down la, but if nothing unforeseen happens, then it should be okay.

Elizabeth: Ten years from now, can you still see your self teaching here?
Mr. Sheat: Ten years, that's very far ahead...
Lesley: Five years from now?
Mr. Sheat: It is very hard to predict because anything can happen.
Lesley: Married and settled (everybody laughs).
Mr. Sheat: (laughs) Uh, no comment. After all I've come so far already right? (laughs) For me I think I've seen enough of many things everywhere - I've studied overseas, I've met people, I've worked in so many different companies also. I used to work as a chemist in Shell Oil Company (the first company I worked in) in New Zealand where I studied, then I worked in Glaxo-Smith Kline in Singapore.
Elizabeth: When you were young, did you always want to become a teacher?
Mr. Sheat: No, things change along the way. Last time a lot of people wanted to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, and all those things but suddenly, now I'm here.
Lesley: Why did you become a teacher, or what changed your mind?
Mr. Sheat: Okay the main influence came form my parents because they were both teachers, so from young I always heard my parents discussing about their students in school. Then I thought I should see how I can handle students so yeah, after so many years hearing discussions over the dinner table or whatever, it's something deeply rooted inside.

Elizabeth: Are there any aspirations that you haven't fulfilled and that you want to do in the future?
Mr. Sheat: Um, maybe it's a bit late to think of aspirations. At the moment, I can't think of anything, so just see how things go la. But so far I think I'm quite happy, because teaching career gives me the fulfillment and I'm quite happy, otherwise I would not have stayed for twelve years. I would have left halfway if I didn't think it was enjoyable. Having students like you people makes it worth the while (interviewers exchanged glances). Yeah seriously, students are the people who will determine whether a teacher will stay on in the career or not. It's not anything else, not the management, not the teachers and not the facilities because I am not attracted to the facilities, things which are dead. It's the people. It's very interesting, some people add spiced to your life, so yeah. I think it is really meaningful and worthwhile. It depends what drives you -for me it's more than the money.
Lesley: So does this mean you have never regretted choosing this career?
Mr. Sheat: Yeah, I should say that I do not regret. Initially I was working as a chemist, but I was not happy because I was basically helping the company to make money, that's all. I wasn't dealing with people, it was only all chemicals, but it's not alive, it's not a person, not a human, it's not breathing, right? Even though they gave bonuses but I was not driven by that. So I was looking for something more meaningful and teaching is meaningful because teaching is dealing with people, with humans, and if you get students who are very good then of course it's really good.

Elizabeth: Do you have any siblings?
Mr. Sheat: Yeah, you guys should know, right? I have a twin brother.
Elizabeth: No, no not your twin brother (laughs).
Mr. Sheat: You mean apart from my twin brother?
Elizabeth: I mean real siblings?
Lesley: What do you mean?
Mr. Sheat: Yeah, I have a twin brother.
Elizabeth: You have a real twin brother?
Mr. Sheat: You thought we were all kidding? No, no. I thought you knew already? He is working in Singapore.
Lesley: Does he look exactly like you?
Mr. Sheat: No, because we are not identical twins. But when we were young the resemblance was more striking. Also when we were young we were forced to be dressed alike (imagine two baby Mr. Sheats!). My brother always wanted to be different, because we were wearing exactly the same thing it was very
Lesley: Cute (laughs)
Mr. Sheat: Yeah, cute for other people but for us not cute because people would like to pat you and all that and we didn't like that. So we said no way, we are going to dress differently.
Lesley: Has anybody ever mixed you up?
Mr. Sheat: Yes, I remember when I was in primary school this teacher saw me in this class and then she went into the next class and she was so stunned, because she didn't know about us.

Elizabeth: What is your favourite aspect about Cempaka?
Mr. Sheat: A bit sensitive isn't it, if I say the wrong thing then...
Elizabeth and Lesley: Ohhhhhh...
Mr. Sheat: No, no, it's not what you are thinking. For me it's my people as I said just now, not anything else. But for me most important people are the students, not the teachers. So for me the most important part and the part I like most is my students. It has always been so. Nothing else, students only. And that's what keeps me here for so many years otherwise I would have gone because students have asked me why I am still here because with my qualifications I could easily earn a much higher salary. What I was earning in Shell was definitely many more times than what I was getting now, that means it is a decline. But then I didn't mind because for me what's important is not just the money, because money cannot buy so many things like true friendship, health, and true love.

Elizabeth: So do you have any good true friendships in Cempaka?
Mr. Sheat: You are trying to lead me to where? (laughs, and interviewers say "ooh..") Yeah, good friends. Uh if you people noticed I think I am very close to people like Mr. Pancha because right form the start I knew him since the start. So we have a long standing relationship. ("ooh.."). Will you stop that? (laughs) Other people not really because most of them are new.
Elizabeth: Is there anyone else whom you didn't mention? Does that mean that someone you're not mentioning is not your friend?
Mr. Sheat: You know certain things do not need to be said. Correct or not? Anyway, if you want you can send me a copy of the interview also. But I trust you guys completely because I know you guys.
Lesley: Wow, I feel so honoured.

Mr. Sheat: Anymore questions?
Elizabeth: Um advice.
Lesley: Yeah, bombastic, high-class advice to your students.
Mr. Sheat: On what? Let me think, because it has to be something good right? For people belonging to your level, try to be more discerning when you choose friends, before you take action to do whatever, try to consider before you do anything. Basically it means don't simply dive into anything, always think before you act because at this age it is very easy to be misled by people if you are not careful. For me I was always cautious even in secondary school I chose my friends, I analyzed their character. Even today I still do that, look at the way I analyze my students right? Straight way I can tell what kind of character and personality. Everyone is screened by me (laughs).
Lesley: Um, what music do you listen to, and what do you do during your past-time?
Mr. Sheat: Music, for many years I have stopped listening to music. I used to listen to jazz, opera, classical, country, yeah something like that. Nowadays we have very little free time -movies, maybe once in a while I have the time to catch a quick one. I liked to draw and paint, especially my twin brother, he is very talented and his drawings were always very impressive. What else?
Lesley: Do you dance?
Mr. Sheat:  Ah, no. Cannot move. I tried before, but it didn't work at all. So, no talent in that. Sports I've stopped, it's very shameful because I've always liked badminton best, form primary school up until university and even after I graduated and came out to work we played badminton very regularly. But now because of work load, no time at all. Badminton, table-tennis, squash, these kind of sports. When I was young I liked to roller-skate. Ice-skating of course I used to do it. If u can roller skate, you can ice skate, the only difference is the pressure. Yeah, that's about it.

Interviewers: Okay, thank you very much.
Mr. Sheat:  Yeah, no problem. Okay, see you guys.