In his late months, as Randy struggled with cancer, he did not forsake his strong convictions and took on taxing teaching and guidance tasks. Rather than mourning for his sad fate, Randy let things run their course and remained firm. His desire burned as fiercely as ever. His determination to continue working during his illness was a source of inspiration to students and colleagues.
While his way of handling student problems might appear unconventional, he captured the hearts and minds of many deviant young souls and guided them through the rigours of life. A F.7 student, who was still striving for the AL exams, grieved for Randy's death. He recalled the event three years ago when he had a confrontation with a teacher after a basketball match. He was in towering rage when he was made to stand outside the staff room. Randy approached him with a friendly smile, although they did not know each other. Randy explained to him the importance of cooling down and controlling one's temper. Randy ridiculed himself by saying that he was often impulsive. Randy's frank, open manner touched the student's heart and he refrained from acting recklessly.
Randy was a charismatic teacher who was able to hold his students' attention and inspire them to learn. Some students were regarded as hopeless, but Randy persevered with them. Among many of Randy's staunch supporters are students on whom most teachers frown. His Tae Kwon Do class was composed of intractable students whose schoolwork and behaviour left much to be desired. But Randy accepted them and taught them not only martial arts but also life lessons.
Randy cared passionately about teaching. Even when his days were numbered, he made every endeavour to teach, to mark assignments and to give tutorial lessons. His failing vision and tiring body did not falter in his determination to persist. He was most concerned about the teaching progress of 6C, an outstanding class he pinned all his last hopes on. He exerted himself to improve their language skills with personal attention and supplementary lessons. When he was in hospital, he received dozens of letters of consolation from students. He would spend a sleepless night reading each letter word by word laboriously. It was a tragedy that he died before he could see the fruits of his hard work.
Widely regarded as a man of genuine character, Randy harboured neither secret grudge nor covert hatred. He did not hesitate to speak of his mind and supported causes if he thought they were correct. Randy had a gruff manner, but a heart of gold. Beneath his coarse manners and fierce words were a generous nature and a kind heart. In the world when people are judged by their appearances and when falsehood and hypocrisy prevail, a genuine character is often misapprehended, if not easily misjudged. Few except Randy's students know best his sterling qualities.
Gone are
the days when we were amused by Randy's tremendous sense of humour and mischief,
when we were thrilled to hear his blunt but sincere opinions, and when we
were awed by his impatience with pompous behaviour and officialdom. Randy
will be remembered for many things: for his steadfast fighting spirit that
allowed him to prevail during these painful but valuable months, for his great
dedication to his work and for many contributions in his brief teaching career.
Randy has left but his spirit will survive with us.