At the age of six, I received a promise from a teacher at a kindergarten in my hometown. More than four decades have passed, yet the memory of that promise remains with me.
Like many other children, starting school at the age of six was an unforgettable experience. It was the beginning of a new chapter in life, when a young child stepped out of the comfort of home for the first time to begin preschool education.
Making new friends, enjoying free meals at school, learning new things, and playing together were among the beautiful memories of childhood. I was no different.
Today, I see how educational institutions, from kindergartens and Islamic preschools such as PASTI to universities, organise award ceremonies to recognise students' achievements in academics and other areas. These ceremonies are meaningful because they encourage students to work harder, build confidence, and strive for excellence in whatever fields they pursue in the future.
After almost a year of learning, playing, and making new friends, my kindergarten organised an annual prize-giving ceremony. My name was also on the list of recipients for several achievements.
On that special day, many parents came to celebrate their children's accomplishments. When my name was called, I happily walked towards the small stage to receive my certificate and prize.
Back then, smartphones did not exist, and cameras were still a luxury that not everyone could afford. Unlike today, when almost every special moment can be recorded on a smartphone and immediately shared through WhatsApp groups and social media, those childhood memories were often kept in our hearts.
After receiving my certificate and prize, I returned to my seat. The ceremony continued with the presentation of awards to other students.
Still filled with excitement, I could not wait to open the tightly rolled certificate. But when I finally unrolled it, I was surprised to discover that something was wrong.
The name printed on the certificate was not mine. It belonged to someone else.
When the ceremony ended, I immediately told my mother. My excitement turned into disappointment, and before long, tears began to roll down my cheeks.
Seeing me on the verge of tears, my mother quickly approached the kindergarten teacher and explained what had happened. The teacher acknowledged her mistake, and the certificate was returned to her because it did not belong to me.
The teacher then confidently promised that she would give me the correct certificate a few days later.
For a six-year-old child, that promise meant everything. My sadness began to fade because an adult, someone I trusted and respected as a teacher, had given me hope. I believed that the certificate I deserved would soon be in my hands.
But days passed, and I continued waiting.
Two weeks later, the kindergarten term came to an end. The long school holidays began, lasting more than a month. Eventually, I started my primary school journey at Sekolah Kebangsaan Sabak, Pengkalan Chepa, Kelantan.
Whenever I passed the kindergarten teacher's house, I would look at it and remember the promise she had made to me.
When would I finally receive my certificate?
That simple question remained unanswered.
More than 40 years have passed since that incident. I have long moved on with my life, but the memory of that teacher and the promise she made to a little boy remains deeply rooted in my mind.
Perhaps, to an adult, it was only a small mistake involving a certificate. Perhaps the teacher had forgotten about it amid her daily responsibilities. I do not know what happened or why the promise was never fulfilled.
But to a six-year-old child, it was something important. It was a promise made by an adult whom he trusted.
Today, whenever I interact with my own children at home, my wife often reminds me about the promises I make to them.
She always emphasises one simple principle: a promise must be fulfilled.
And when my children promise to study hard and do their best, they, too, are expected to honour their words.
As a father, I have come to understand that promises are not merely words spoken in a moment. They create expectations, build trust, and shape the way children understand responsibility.
A promise may seem small to an adult, but it can mean the world to a child. When we fulfil our promises, we teach children that our words can be trusted. When we fail to keep them, even unintentionally, the disappointment may stay with them far longer than we realise.
We may forget the promises we make, but the people who believe in us may remember them for a lifetime.
That is why we should be careful with our words, especially when speaking to children. They may be young, but their feelings are real, their expectations are sincere, and their trust is precious.
A promise is a valuable thing. It costs nothing to make one, but keeping it can mean everything to someone who believes in us.
That is my story for today.
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