The St. Paul’s Institution Secondary School in Seremban boast a unique tradition. Whenever a student completes their Form Five education in that school, the year of completion is taken as the recognition label of their Class and that label is taken through in years of bonding and fellowship. The strong bonding with their Alma Mater is demonstrated with the huge turn out during their annual Old Paulians Association dinner, customarily on the first Saturday in the month of September.

A classic example is the Class of 86. This year due to the pandemic restrictions, nothing stopped them from holding this customary tradition by organizing a ZOPA or Zoom Old Paulians Association meet on 4th September 2021. A good 82 former students that left school in 1986 joined by former Form Six girls, some hailing from USA, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Australia, China, UAE, Singapore and Indonesia participated in ZOPA. The event was facilitated by Asohan Satkunasingham, who is also the event’s co-organizer. They were feted with talks ranging from wines, giving back to society, career transformation journey and cryptocurrency by Anthony Yeong, B. Ganeish, Khoo Boo Hian and Mohamad Ridza respectively. A special address from their Alma Mater, the current Principal Kalaiselvam Muniandi, made the event even memorable and spoke in great length of the school’s initiatives including the revival of the school’s hockey being an epitome of its sports. He further emphasized that the Class of 86 is a fine example of how former students could contribute back to their Alma Mater.

According to Michael Joseph, “It’s a moment to cherish the flame of friendship built over the last 40 years kept lighted by networking and the creative activities during ZOPA was engaging.”

As for Aldrin, he added by saying, “We believe in the spirit of good fellowship, hence our bonding during school days has kept us closely knitted until today.”

For Bob Siow from Australia, he thanked the organizing team to bring and gel everyone together. Although by tradition a physical gathering is organized yearly, but due to the current circumstances, zoom managed to reconnect and add fun for everyone.

Another of its organizer Tan Yin Pin said that the organizing of the event this year was much challenging in comparison to the past years since we had to ensure the meet over zoom was engaging enough as usually done on a physical meet. The participation from various countries did pose a challenge due to time zone differences but the spirit of the fellowship kept all odds aside, echoing the School’s Victory March.

At the conclusion of the zoom meet, the experience was refreshing, worthwhile and I wish to thank everyone who took the pain and efforts to participate, added Tan.

(Asohan Satkunasingham is an author, progressive human resources practitioner, high impact corporate teacher and Chairman of Persatuan Usahasama Perkembangan Ukhuwah, PUPUK.)