We have had many amazing teachers who have inspired GIS students since the school opened in 1951, and all of them have played an important role in our school’s development. In order to help recognise their special contributions to our school, we are introducing a new spotlight series for our teacher Alumni – just a small gesture to recognise and thank them for their impact on our GIS community. We are fortunate to have been connected with ex-GIS teacher Mr Jonathan Fernandes, who shares his experiences at GIS with us.
I started in 2008 and I taught Biology. I moved into the position of Head of Biology and then eventually Head of Science. I also had the honour of being Head of Crest for a few years. After leaving GIS, I stayed in Malaysia and currently reside in Bukit Damansara.
Over the last 5 years, I have developed my Digital Marketing Company, Cloud Sea Media Group, which is based in Hong Kong and Malaysia. We help local and international businesses with both their online and offline exposure. Cloud Sea also has an educational department which is busy developing solutions for teachers.
Additionally, I also co-founded a Tech Company, bookd Media Tech Sdn Bhd. We have developed a commercial Global Talent Platform called bookd! (www.bookd.online) where we connect talent such as models, extras, dancers, singers, emcees and voiceovers to production companies and brands globally. We have worked with brands such as Coca Cola and Nikon. bookd! has been developed in Malaysia and has over 6000 people on the system. We are now moving to the Asean region, Europe and Australia.
GIS was an amazing school and had a great vibe. There was always so much going on and there was a constant great energy flowing through the school. GIS has always been a school of excellence, and during my time there I worked with some of the most talented and inspirational students and teachers. It was a truly international environment that allowed both students and teachers to grow to their full potential. Many of the teachers from my generation have now left, but there are still a good handful of old faces who I pop in to say hello to. Having both my kids at GIS has allowed me to build some new friendships as well as continue my old ones.
I have been very blessed to have taught some amazing students, many of whom have since connected with me on LinkedIn. In fact, the reason edition which featured Nicolas Steinke brought back a lot of memories, and I was deeply touched by his kind words. It really did make me miss teaching! I also continue to bump into old students in the area I live, and it’s always amazing when students come up and say hi in supermarkets and restaurants.
I have many great memories at GIS. My passion was my Science faculty and I enjoyed my days as Head of Science, having had the pleasure of working with so many talented teachers. Mufti Day was also a yearly highlight, especially hosting with Mr Grierson. The most memorable occasion was when we had to keep the audience’s attention for 30+ minutes because of technical issues. A rendition of ‘Ice Ice Baby’ saved the day!
I want to make a special mention to the my SEASAC boys tennis teams over the years. We had some great times and the fondest was when we came second at the annual SEASAC tournament. It was an amazing achievement for a small tennis program like ours!
But most all, my fondest memories were in the classroom, with so many fantastic students. That’s why we become teachers!
My best advice would be to follow your dreams and passion. Take risks to achieve those dreams and never give up, even if the road ahead is rocky and uphill.
No one makes it by taking the easy path, and you have to continue to challenge your status quo. Enjoy the wins and embrace the failures. Eventually, you will get to the peak of that hill and you will see the light on the other side. Then you know you have made it…until you come to your next hill!
A huge ‘Thank You’ to Mr Fernandes. It has been great to reconnect with you, and we wish you and your family all the best.
If you would like to feature in our Alumni articles, just get in touch with us: alumni@gardenschool.edu.my. Because every story matters. Connect with us on social media via Facebook or if you would like to read another article via the Global Alumni Website.
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