The Stage

The stage has never been synonymous with my name. I would run away or hide if there would be a chance for me to go on the stage. I was not a familiar face to be on the stage ever since I've started schooling. I couldn't remember if I had stood on my kindergarten's stage, but I could proudly say that I have conquered a few stages in my life =).

I remembered the first time I stood on the school stage was the time I received multiple prizes for the competitions that I won and the exams that I excelled in. However, these chances have become fewer the older I grow. I mean the chances of receiving prizes on the stage.

During school days, I would usually got a chance to be on the stage, either to assist the teacher during prize giving or certificate presentation ceremonies. The one that I could recall was the ceremony when my fellow Interactors and I received our certificates on the stage (thanks to the photograph I was tagged in FB).

However the best one ever that I could recall was in the year 1997. I would say that I have broken any prefects' record in conducting the school assembly. I was put to manage the school assembly. I had to arrange a prefect to lead the assembly every week. I would or should I say that it is truly a blessing in disguise, whenever my fellow prefect was not available, I would always be the one standing on a metal-made podium facing a sea of 600 faces, I meant students. We sang the national anthem, the school song, and recited the Rukunegara and/or the Anti-dadah oath. Then, I would invite teachers to give their speeches or reminders. Otherwise, I would be representing them reading out all the announcements given. I think at that very moment, I have developed the love of speaking with the microphone and to be stage-fright free. I thanked my discipline master for the opportunities given to me, and of course to my fellow prefects who were not there to take the task assigned =). Some had had the guts of telling me that they chose to chicken-out on the duties given.

For the next few years, when I was studying at the varsity, I didn't have much or maybe no opportunity to be on the stage at all. Yes, not even once. Oops, there goes my experience being on the stage down in the drain with only memories left in my mind. I didn't have the opportunity to speak or sing or even dance and perform on any stage those years. It is sad, isn't it?

Well, most probably my prayers were answered, that I was posted to a secondary school to teach in year 2001. And the old faithful stage fright had come to visit me again the day I was asked to lead the assembly as a teacher on duty for that week... I couldn't speak clearly as I was shivering... "and hey, I'm a teacher and I'm shivering on the stage at this very moment???"

Fast forward to the year 2010, 17th May... I was seen on the stage along with my 6 colleagues singing a medley of songs. Unbelievable but it's true, try to pinch your own arm, sorry, my arm... We had barely less than one hour of practice and there we were performing or you may say we were enjoying ourselves on the stage during a special assembly for teacher's day celebration. All the 'praises' and compliments given by the audience have made me ponder... if there is another opportunity given, should I take it?