The Convent Michaelians   

-         by Ms Shereen Ho ( Michaelian 1965)

Ms Shereen Ho was the Principal of SMK Tarcisian Convent (1992-1999) and the Main Convent of the HIJ ,Ipoh ( 1999- 2003)

Shy, awkward, self-conscious, excited, they stepped out of the safe walls of the Main Convent to gaze upon the vast grounds of St. Michael’s Institution.  The Gothic-like façade stood solid, dignified and perfect , the awesome host to two years of Michaellian life.

What set their hearts beating was the powerful rhythmn of the school band with its captivating school anthem that ushered in the Michaellian spirit.  How proud they were to don the white and green uniform with green ties to match.   

                                                                                                                                                        

Groomed in the ethics of decorum and self- restraint under the tutelage of Mother Pauline, Sr. Fidelma  and staunchly loyal teachers, Convent girls of the 60’s and 70s made the brave crossing into the male-dominated territory.  While ignoring the curious stares and perhaps private jokes among the boys, the girls would not resist the pleasure of being the centre of attention..  With the fluttering of the feminine instinct, it was no surprise that the “Ladies ‘ Room” would often find girls checking their appearance before the mirror.

Form Six in SMI was more than a social challenge.  Being used to close supervision and controls, they soon found how daunting it was to think independently, to be self-reliant, to grasp unfamiliar subjects.  As never before the library became the focal point for desperate efforts to rake for facts, ideas and more ideas to feed  work assignments. No more spoon-feeding from indulgent teachers.  That was where a good number of Brother Vincent’s disciples befriended “The Listener”, a sophisticated  British(?) journal, an epitome of fine language and thought.

The tough intellectual challenge of Form Six life, compounded by thick formidable books, would have been an ordeal if not for the soulful and humanitarian philosophy of La Sallian education.  The Brothers indeed made the ultimate difference.  While Brother Vincent brought his tudents to dizzying heights of Literature and the witticisms of the English Language, Brother Ultan Paul planted the seeds of self-worth into every soul he met.  How could he remember names (even Chinese names) and  personal details of his students long after they left school!

Etched in the memory of many Convent Michaellians were the “operettas” that traversed a wide landscape of pastoral tales (“The Magic Key” and “Robin Hood”) , Asian culture (The Faithful One”) and Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musicals.  The stage was the springboard of latent talents. Oh, to discover one could sing and dance and act! “The school play was an experience of a lifetime, “ says Germaine Liew (“Wizard of Oz”, 1993).The fantasy, the dream, the idealism gave the extra dimension to the academic curriculum. There were even instances of romance turning into reality.