Pn Lee Soh Hion
Many people are surprised to know that I started teaching English as a graduate teacher at the age of 22. I already had a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Diploma in Education from the University of Malaya. I tell anyone who asks that I only did 5 years of primary education compared to my peers. I went through the express route and did six months of Standard 4 and six months of Standard 5. My schooling years were smooth sailing as far as my academic results were concerned. After my primary education in SK Dato Klana Maamor, I completed Form 5 in SMK Tunku Ampuan Najihah and was the top student in MCE 1972. I did Form 6 in SMK KGV, got a teaching scholarship from Yayasan Negeri Sembilan and pursued my Arts degree in University of Malaya.
I developed an interest in games and sports when I was an undergraduate. Although I took part in folk dances in primary school and represented secondary school in ping pong and volleyball, they were nothing compared to the heights of participation and success at university level. During my first year in campus, I represented Fourth College in badminton, volleyball, softball, basket ball, ping pong and even hockey. A Zoology lecturer who was a college fellow taught a few beginners including me how to play tennis. When I partnered him for the mixed doubles in the college championship that year, we were the champions. That sealed my love for the game until today.
Tennis has broadened my horizons in terms of meeting people and keeping fit. Every evening, I would be at the tennis courts, either hitting on the wall or playing doubles with people I just met, mostly lecturers who could afford to buy the tennis balls. I later played tennis for the varsity team and went as far as Singapore for a friendly game against the National University of Singapore. My highest achievement in tennis was at the MAKSAK games in Terengganu when I played singles. Negeri Sembilan was the runners-up for the first time in tennis history and lost to Sarawak in 1998. An indoor game I picked up in college was caroms. It was an after dinner pastime when I would play a few games before going back to the room to study. I represented First College against Clinical College that year and we won. I even took part in the Varsity Caroms Open and became the runners-up during my second year. My involvement in aquatics began with my two younger boys who learnt swimming in SMK KGV under Andy Low, the Hon.Secretary of the State Amateur Swimming Association (PRANS). He introduced me to officiating at school level meets. At the beginning, it was a simple matter of using a stop-watch and recording time but with more knowledge gained from attending courses, I am now a Grade 1 Technical Official in swimming and can officiate at national and international meets.
How did I get involved in diving, which is a different discipline from swimming? That is a question many people ask me when they find out I go overseas to judge diving meets. I attended my first diving clinic conducted by an Olympic referee from New Zealand in Seremban in 2005. After passing both the theory and practical tests, I needed to get plenty of local and national experience and be willing to sacrifice my holidays when my services were needed. That was the only way to hone my judging skills. By the year 2008, ASUM(Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia) felt I was ready to judge international meets and since then, I have been fortunate enough to be sent to countries like Spain, Germany, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. I have led contingents of elite and junior divers as team manager and judged many Diving Grand Prix competitions and World Junior Championships. My motto in life has always been : “Be interested in what you do; be happy while doing it, and make friends wherever you are.” I believe I have succeeded in living my life the way I want to, always bearing in mind the Golden Rule of Life: Do unto others what you would others do unto you.
I developed an interest in games and sports when I was an undergraduate. Although I took part in folk dances in primary school and represented secondary school in ping pong and volleyball, they were nothing compared to the heights of participation and success at university level. During my first year in campus, I represented Fourth College in badminton, volleyball, softball, basket ball, ping pong and even hockey. A Zoology lecturer who was a college fellow taught a few beginners including me how to play tennis. When I partnered him for the mixed doubles in the college championship that year, we were the champions. That sealed my love for the game until today.
Tennis has broadened my horizons in terms of meeting people and keeping fit. Every evening, I would be at the tennis courts, either hitting on the wall or playing doubles with people I just met, mostly lecturers who could afford to buy the tennis balls. I later played tennis for the varsity team and went as far as Singapore for a friendly game against the National University of Singapore. My highest achievement in tennis was at the MAKSAK games in Terengganu when I played singles. Negeri Sembilan was the runners-up for the first time in tennis history and lost to Sarawak in 1998. An indoor game I picked up in college was caroms. It was an after dinner pastime when I would play a few games before going back to the room to study. I represented First College against Clinical College that year and we won. I even took part in the Varsity Caroms Open and became the runners-up during my second year. My involvement in aquatics began with my two younger boys who learnt swimming in SMK KGV under Andy Low, the Hon.Secretary of the State Amateur Swimming Association (PRANS). He introduced me to officiating at school level meets. At the beginning, it was a simple matter of using a stop-watch and recording time but with more knowledge gained from attending courses, I am now a Grade 1 Technical Official in swimming and can officiate at national and international meets.
How did I get involved in diving, which is a different discipline from swimming? That is a question many people ask me when they find out I go overseas to judge diving meets. I attended my first diving clinic conducted by an Olympic referee from New Zealand in Seremban in 2005. After passing both the theory and practical tests, I needed to get plenty of local and national experience and be willing to sacrifice my holidays when my services were needed. That was the only way to hone my judging skills. By the year 2008, ASUM(Amateur Swimming Union of Malaysia) felt I was ready to judge international meets and since then, I have been fortunate enough to be sent to countries like Spain, Germany, China, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States. I have led contingents of elite and junior divers as team manager and judged many Diving Grand Prix competitions and World Junior Championships. My motto in life has always been : “Be interested in what you do; be happy while doing it, and make friends wherever you are.” I believe I have succeeded in living my life the way I want to, always bearing in mind the Golden Rule of Life: Do unto others what you would others do unto you.
