My fairy godmother

THERE is someone I know of who will forever (I stress on “forever”) request for perfection in everything she does. Her name is Adeline Ong Siew Yen, and she is my former drama instructor.

“Why would someone request for perfection?” you may ask. I can only tell you a story of how a woman, filled with passion and dreams, ignites the lives of many others with her fiery spirit for the theatre.

Most people may see her as an overly demanding teacher; I felt so, too, at times. But more importantly, I see her as someone with high expectations for a production well done.

While others may call her productions “perfection”, she will still see them as “good”. If you’ve been taught by her, you would understand why.

When others tell her that her preparations are “brilliant” and “amazing”, she will still make you rehearse until you practically eat, breathe and sleep with the lines from the script running in your head.

Imagine having to reenact the same scene every five minutes, walk the same distance every three minutes and say the same lines over and over again.

Will you storm off in frustration? I can’t recall the countless times I resisted the urge to roll my eyes and walk off when Teacher Adeline made me do my scene again and again.

Isn’t it perfect already? Haven’t I memorised my lines and expression? So I muttered in my head, as I succumbed weakly to her orders.

I might complain to myself, or heave many sighs of frustration, yet I knew I had to do it. Theatre might be just my passion, but for Teacher Adeline, I believe it takes up half of her life.

I remember a saying that goes, “If you make your passion your job, then you never have to go to work.”

I’m pretty sure that’s true for Teacher Adeline, because as the principal of her own speech and drama centre, she is the walking epitome of a career woman who pursues her dreams with fierce passion and persistence.

She was the one who inspired my passion for theatre. Once upon a time, theatre productions and musicals were merely a pastime for me as I Googled about them and watched “behind-the-scenes” videos on YouTube.

Once upon a time, I was a tortoise who shrank back into my shell because I was so afraid of the spotlight.

Just like what happens in most fairy tales, a fairy godmother came along and blessed me with a little luck and wisdom. Teacher Adeline is my fairy godmother.

This title suits her best, because it was her passion and ideals for the theatre that brought me to where I am today.

Whenever she coached us, there was a tiny little fire dancing in her eyes as she watched us intently from the audience.

You can see the effort that she puts into making every show a success, and you can feel her love for the theatre that practically radiates from her being.

Such passion – giving her all to every production she directs and produces – is what ignited the fire in me to immerse myself in this field.

It was not all sunshine and rainbows in my interaction with Teacher Adeline.

There were moments when I was angry with her, so angry that I could feel tears swimming in my eyes.

Throughout the years I had been placed under her tutelage, I had never gotten the roles I actually wanted.

Being a student in an all-girls school, there’s bound to be a few actors who will have to play the roles of the opposite gender in the school production, and yes, I was one of those few.

I have played the roles of father, son, grandson and boyfriend. Had I not “retired” from the team to prepare for my SPM examinations, I would have played the role of a grandfather!

I often felt unhappy whenever the day came for Teacher Adeline to assign the roles.

Despite my disappointments, I willed myself to be a dynamic performer on stage. My efforts paid off. I was named the Best Supporting Actress in a local drama competition at the beginning of the year. It was something I had not expected.

Yet, the moment my name was announced, I felt that it was the hard work of Teacher Adeline that made it possible.

If she had not given me the chance to play all those characters from different walks of life, I may not be the person I am today – strong, confident, and empathetic towards others.

The world may see my teacher as an ambitious career woman who strives for perfection on stage, but deep down, I know that she has changed and influenced hundreds of lives, and the numbers increase every year.

Had she not been there to guide me in my early years of public speaking, I would not have progressed to the performer I am today; I would not have shone on stage.

Imagine a vast empty land accumulating raindrops until it becomes a refreshing oasis that can withstand the scorching sun and harsh weather – that was the impact she has made on my life.

I’m glad I met her, and I’m grateful to have been taught by her. If you’re reading this, Teacher Adeline, I hope you know that I have never once stopped feeling grateful to have you as my mentor and friend. I wish you the best in life.

Last but not least, thank you Teacher!

This article was published in the Newspaper in Education (NIE) pullout by The Star Newspaper dated 4 October 2017