To be remembered...

A few years ago, A, a young colleague of mine who has just completed his Ph.D, from my old place, (Sheffield, United Kingdom) came up to me and said, “Somebody sends his regards,” smilingly he added, “he still remembers you, you know?”

I was flabbergasted and so I asked, “Who?”

“B, my supervisor while I was doing my Ph.D,” his smile getting wider, “he is a well known consultant to well-known companies now, back there.”

“Okay, thank you!” said I, “send him my regards in return, the next time, you get in touch with him, all right?”

“Fine!” said A, walking down to his office which is right down the corridor.

A few seconds later, my mind which was in the playback mode, suddenly stopped short. Of course! I remembered B, a young man back during the days when the campus was at the present site of UTP. Who wouldn’t?

I taught a common course, where all students from the different engineering schools would have to take. B was from another school. Not from Electrical & Electronic Engineering. That fateful day when he saw me, his face was full of distraught. I could tell that he was not happy.

“I would like to take up Electrical & Electronic Engineering. But I was offered another course,” B said.

I sat in silence, listening for more. To provide him a chance to pour out all his feelings. After he fell silent, I suggested that he meet up with the Dean of our school. A few days later, B was back, his face gloomier than ever.

“Any luck?” I said, to trigger words from his mouth.

He gave a wry smile, shook his head, and dropped his face to the floor.

“Okay...You reaaaalllyy, reaaalllly want to do E & E, right?”

“Yeah!” B said, his mouth curved downwards.

“Then, by all means, try going somewhere else.”

His eyes opened wide and so I sprinkled some spice, “Why not?”

A few months later, B came to bid goodbye. I was so glad to hear that he could get to do what he wanted so much to do...that was the last that I heard of him...the year...in the early 1990’s.

I am really grateful that B still remembers me, after all these years. I am glad too that he has achieved his dreams..and to be really successful in his field. And not only that..most of all, to be able to produce more electrical and electronic engineers himself..up to postgraduate level..

Truly...to be remembered...after such a long spell...is the greatest gift in life...Praises be to God...