One Teacher’s Warm Hug Turns Viral Gold
When the buzz buzzed for the wrong reasons, Teck Whye Primary’s own Azlina Hassan showed why real teachers are still the real MVPs of the day.
What’s the Story?
On a sunny Thursday (Nov 22), a video captured Azlina giving a squeeze to a young student as he went to grab his Primary School Leaving Examination scores. The clip? Shot straight from the boy’s mother, who later posted it on Facebook.
Azlina’s been around the corner for 29 years and she’s made a habit out of giving each kid a warm hug whenever results roll out. “Sometimes people forget that a simple hug can change everything for a teenager,” she told the Straits Times, adding that readiness for the next school level doesn’t only mean acing Maths or Science – it also means carrying the values learned in school.
Why It Pops in the Feed
- The raw sincerity of the hug – no filters, no camera tricks.
- Azlina’s decades of experience, proving that patient teachers are still relevant.
- The video warmed hearts everywhere: 1,570 reactions and 500 shares by noon.
Other Teachers Doing the Same Real‑World Magic
While the headlines sneak around with “flirty” or “lewd” teachers, a handful of educators are smashing it in a wholesome way.
- Steve Culbert – At Gates Elementary in Michigan, he stepped in to conduct a father‑daughter dance for two girls who lost their dad.
- Ms. Maya Pena – Gave each new student a “welcome hug” when their first day got them ejected from navigating the school’s maze of lockers.
- Mr. Leonard Rho – A history teacher who whipt his class with a disciplined but ever‑smiling “R.I.C.H.”—Rapid, Inspiring, Caring, Hospitable—hug that made the science lesson unforgettable.
- And those teachers that never show a picture of their official badges on LinkedIn – because they earn their brag‑rights only in the eyes of the kids.
Takeaway
Look, our classroom superstars are really the ones doing more than just churning out test scores. Whether it’s a heartfelt squeeze, a patient listen or a charming dance, their gestures prove that a teacher who cares earns the kind of respect that spreads just as fast as a meme – and just as fondly.
Who’s the New Rock Star in the Reece Family?
Steve Culbert turned out to be the unofficial hero of the Reece girl squad. When the sisters’ dad slipped into a coma and was later taken off life support on September 19, it was Steve who kept the family from drowning in grief.
On the night of the dance – October 13 – Steve and his wife swooped in like a superhero duo. They pulled the Reece daughters from their cozy cardigans, fixed their hair, fussed over a dress or two, and then—foi!—whipped out a limousine to whisk them to the venue. The grand finale? A trip to McDonald’s for some sweet, creamy ice cream. The girls had a blast, and Steve was there, raincheck or not.
- “I wasn’t trying to replace Dad; I was just someone they could lean on,” Steve said.
- “They already had a great family. Their dad was the core of it.”
- “I told them, ‘You don’t need to loop me in like your father; we’re all here together.’”
Steve’s Mission: To Be a Lifesaver, Not a Substitute
He didn’t want to be a vacant placeholder; instead he offered his support and reminded everyone that the family unit was still intact, even amidst loss.
Brains Without a Bow—Teaching Computer Literacy in Ghana
In a tiny town in Ghana, a teacher by the name of Richard Appiah Akoto turned a blank blackboard into a Microsoft Powerhouse.
Betenase Municipal Assembly Junior High School had no functioning computer since 2011, but Richard didn’t let that stop him. Whenever he had to teach coding basics, Richard drew the whole interface of Microsoft Word on the blackboard, along with keyboards, towers, and a bunch of other tech lingo.
- He even drew a doodle of a desktop setup, complete with a monitor and mouse.
- “The kids can see the graph, not just a bare tech list,” he told a local radio show.
- Students were so excited that the next day, a PhD student from the University of Leeds sent a brand‑new laptop.
- Shortly after, NIIT Ghana supplied five more computers to Betenase.
- Microsoft spotted his dedication on social media and sent a professional certification program his way.
The Power of Creativity (and Social Media)
When the story hit the internet, it sparked a cascade of goodwill. Ranges of allies—learners, tech moguls, and enthusiastic students—joined to bring tech tools into that rural school.
Teaching Future Teachers About Flexibility
Professor Amanda Stefanski decided to put theory into practice, because what’s better than showing a class that kids + teachers can go hand‑in‑hand?
When one of Stefanski’s students, Abby Harvey, faced a real‑world problem—no babysitter for her son—She wasn’t about to betray her learning. So, she gave a shining example: she asked the school to let Abby bring her son into the classroom. The teacher took care of the baby the whole class! The lesson was crystal: Education and family can coexist. Msg college believes real‑life examples are the most relevant.
- “Dad,” Abby began while rocking the baby, “would have had a whole new experience. And she didn’t miss out.”
- That whole day was a masterclass in balancing responsibilities.
- Students saw that teachers made room for parental obligations.
- “Give your students a model,” Stefanski told the group later.
A Call for Inclusive Education
Prof. Stefanski concluded: Young mothers do not have to choose between school and family. They could find a win‑win solution, as the class had shown. Yes, you can rock a baby while also rock‑solid grades.
Breaking Barriers: Vision‑Defying Students Chase Music Dreams in Singapore
Picture this: two students with visual impairments enthusiastically ask for a mainstream O‑level subject that’s never existed in Singapore—music. It’s like asking if you can put a vending machine in a library: you might think, “No, that’s not on the list.” But what happens when a visionary steps in?
Ng Sheh Feng’s Game‑Changer
Instead of giving a polite “Sorry, not offered,” Ng Sheh Feng decided to rewrite the rules. Her mission? Convince the Ministry of Education and the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board to add music to the O‑level roster. She dove into a year‑long grind, turning blank lesson plans into Braille sheets, and transforming written notes into oral tutorials. In the end, she proved that a song can be taught in a world that saw music as an exclusive club.
Bright Outcomes
- The two Ahmad Ibrahim Secondary School pupils not only passed but also secured their playlists for future careers.
- Now, 23 students at Ng’s school are tuning into music—proof that when you remove a wall, the whole room fills with melody.
Ng’s passion is off the charts—she walked past the stereotype that “music is for the elite” and planted a flag that says, “Hey, we’re all in this together.” She’s determined to make sure nobody feels that a goal is out of reach.
What’s the Takeaway?
When you pair a little perseverance with a lot of support, the impossible becomes a number on a score sheet. These students went from “No music” to “Yes, please!”and now we can all laugh at the old notion that music was a forbidden fruit. Their story leaves us with two simple truths: music is universal and the only limit is the one you set yourself.
Shoutout to Ng Sheh Feng, the real DJ behind turning silence into symphonies!
