Legacy Etched in Blackboard Dust

A Picture of Ms Vivienne

The first time I heard Ms. Vivienne share her story, I found myself mesmerized by the red pen in her hand as she graded papers—the soft scratch of its nib across the pages seemed to carve out a reality more dramatic than any fiction.

"My grandmother's blackboard handwriting could've been copied as calligraphy templates," she said, twirling her pen with a laugh. "But I thought teaching was utterly boring when I was young." In those pre-smartphone days, her grandmother had been the school's revered "Blackboard Calligraphy Goddess." Yet, this teaching legacy appeared rigid to the rebellious teenage girl. "Back then, my head was filled with reflections from skyscrapers. I believed real sophistication meant squeezing onto subways in tailored suits."

This rebellion crystallized on her college application form. When her principal advised her to "play it safe with East China University of Science and Technology University," she wrote down Shanghai Jiao Tong University instead. "It wasn't confidence—I just felt teaching colleges 'weren't worthy' of my scores," she chuckled, shaking her head at her youthful arrogance. Upon entering Jiao Tong, Ms.Vivienne confronted fierce competition from top students nationwide. Initially, her grades hovered near the bottom. "Shanghai natives at Jiao Tong are all exceptional," she smiled wryly. "At first, I constantly felt outclassed. Getting in was one thing—excelling was another."

Yet she possessed unexpected resilience. When her name leaped to second place in her junior year rankings, I nearly dropped my teacup in surprise. Post-graduation, her career took an unconventional path. She briefly entered the securities industry, tasting the "respectable" life—high salary, polished appearances. "The thrill faded fast when I realized I was just parroting others' ideas, being a corporate mascot," she sighed, tapping her pen rhythmically. "Living as someone else's puppet became unbearable."

She quit to become a full-time mother. Years of parenting and running a small online store seemed idyllic. Yet, unease lingered: "Freelancing offers freedom, but for children, it's a world of unknowns." When her child asked, "What's your job, Mommy?" she faltered. Determined to provide stability, she sought employment—only to face repeated rejections.

Fate intervened through a job posting at YK Pao School. When applying for a lab technician role, she was stunned when interviewers suggested she teach chemistry instead. "I'd never considered teaching, let alone chemistry!" she recalled. "But they said, 'You have a background in PTU, it's a good fit.' Suddenly, I was a teacher."

Her transition proved challenging. "Teaching chemistry meant relearning everything while making it easy to understand. Preparing for class each day was challenging. However, when her students' faces light up with understanding, she knows her efforts are worthwhile.

Outside the window, plane tree leaves whispered in the breeze. It struck me then—the girl who once scoffed at teaching had unknowingly inherited her grandmother's chalk, continuing a legacy etched in blackboard dust.