Leaving a legacy

The Star

27-07-2025

When we think of legacy, we often picture public figures, grand achievements or tangible monuments. Yet few legacies are as far-reaching or powerful as that of a dedicated educator.
A single educator can ignite the spark of discovery in hundreds, even thousands, of students over a lifetime. And that spark does not end in the classroom; it creates a ripple effect, influencing careers, perspectives, and the lives of future generations.
Those from the older generation will recall the film To Sir, with Love (1967), starring Sidney Poitier, which addressed a number of social, educational and emotional themes that remain relevant today.
The teacher is portrayed not just as an instructor, but also as a moral compass, father figure and mentor, guiding students through issues of identity, relationships and future aspirations.
As someone who is, first and foremost, a teacher at heart, I have always believed that the heart of education lies not just in knowledge but also in care – not just in expertise, but also in deep humanity.
Human touch
An educator with a true sense of humanity is one who is not only a scholar, but also a teacher in the truest sense of the word. Passionate, engaged and quietly transformative, they exemplify the kind of educator whose impact defies quantification. These lecturers do not just inform – they inspire.
Their office hours are not just slots in a calendar, but spaces of mentorship and encouragement. They understand that students are not just vessels to be filled with information, but individuals to be nurtured, challenged and seen.
It is easy to overlook such values in today's university environment. The language of 'outputs', 'deliverables' and 'efficiency' has crept into our discourse, even in places where human connection should matter most.
In this context, passionate educators may seem out of step – too generous with their time, too invested in the well-being of students, too unconcerned with the competitive optics of academic life. And yet, to my mind, it is precisely these qualities that make such educators indispensable.
Within the short span of a month, we mourn the passing of Dr Sagathevan Kuppusamy and David Chong, two academics at my institution whose absence leaves a deep void, not only in the faculties they served, but also in the lives they touched. Their departure is a solemn reminder of the profound role educators play in our collective story.
Leading with heart
As Khalil Gibran wrote in The Prophet, 'The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of their wisdom, but rather leads you to the threshold of your own mind.' Some teachers embody this spirit.
They do not impose their knowledge, but invite students to discover their own. They teach not just facts, but ways of seeing. They do not only answer questions, they help students ask better ones.
In an era when education risks becoming depersonalised, I am reminded, through the lives of our late colleagues, that learning is – and always has been – a deeply human exchange. Good teaching, at its core, is relational. It is an act of trust, generosity, and belief in the potential of another.
Passionate teachers bring more than knowledge to the classroom; they bring soul. They model curiosity, humility and perseverance. They help students believe in their own potential. They create spaces where learning is not transactional, but transformational. And often, they do all of this quietly, without seeking recognition – driven not by institutional reward, but by a deep-seated belief in the value of education itself.
We would do well to remember this, and to reflect on what kind of teachers, colleagues and institutions we want to be. Passion in teaching is not old-fashioned, nor is it a luxury. It is foundational. It is what lingers long after students graduate. It is what shapes lives.
Let the examples of our peers who have passed on guide us to be better learners, more compassionate educators and, above all, more thoughtful and caring individuals.
Let us honour their legacy and commit ourselves to carrying forward the values they so gracefully lived by. Let us remember that teaching is not just a profession – it is a vocation, a quiet form of leadership that shapes the future, one student at a time.
Let us create more inclusive, curious and courageous spaces of learning. Let us honour them by teaching others as they taught us – with patience, passion and, above all, with heart. May their legacy never fade. And may every life they touched continue to shine, carrying their light forward.
Prof Datuk Dr Elizabeth Lee is the chief executive officer at Sunway Education Group. A veteran in the field of private higher education, Prof Lee is also an advocate for women in leadership. She has been recognised both locally and internationally for her contributions to the field of education. The views expressed here are the writer's own.