FollowToday marks the beginning of the SPM written papers, and what a way to kick-start the exam season — with Bahasa Malaysia, the must-pass subject that decides the fate of the entire exam. No matter how many As you score in the other papers, BM (and Sejarah on Wednesday!) are the gatekeepers. No pressure, right?…
All posts in Cassandra
From Picture Books to Prizes — Cass’s Beautiful Journey as a Reader
Cass walked through the door today, looking as calm and collected as any normal school day. Then she casually said, “I won something in April this year and I only found out today,” and pulled out a trophy from her bag. My heart stopped for a moment. She told me — in the most nonchalant,…
A Whirlwind Week of Flu, Dance Win, and Family Moments
It’s been a rather eventful and exhausting few weeks for us. The pesky Influenza bug seems to be making its rounds in our household. My husband caught it first a few weeks ago, then it was my turn, and now poor Sherilyn has been down with what I suspect is a mild bout of Influenza…
The Midnight Mechanic
If you’re a parent of a teenager, especially one in the thick of major exams, you know the drill. The house becomes a backdrop to their intense, often messy, always exhausting routine. Chores fall by the wayside, sleep schedules invert, and you learn to appreciate the rare sight of a cleaned plate left in the…
SPM Prep, PTE Scores, and a Mother’s Concern
The start of the week brought a mix of relief and celebration for my daughter, Cass. After a grueling three-hour session for the Pearson Test of English (PTE) online competition, she received her score: a remarkable 82 out of 90. This places her firmly in the “Advanced” range of the PTE Academic scoring scale, which…
Balancing Act: SPM and Pearson Test of English (PTE) Finals
Today marked a major milestone for Cass, as her SPM journey commenced with the Chinese oral test. As part of the first group, she was out of the house by 6:45 a.m. and back home before 9 a.m. While her classmates will be taking their turns throughout the rest of the week, the main written…
My Last Parents’ Day After 15 Years
Today may be a Sunday, but it wasn’t a sleep-in day for us — Cass had to be at school bright and early for Parents’ Day and report card collection. As one of the official photographers for the school (she’s in the Photography Club this year), she had to be there early to capture the…
A Peachy Chicken Chop and the Cost of Dreams
Cass’s lunner (lunch + dinner) yesterday was a delicious yet simple homecooked meal — air-fried chicken chop with tomatoes and blanched broccoli. The chicken was marinated with a mix of teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, a bit of oyster sauce, Lea & Perrins, black pepper, minced garlic, dried rosemary, and my secret twist — St. Dalfour’s…
Silver Shine at Skate Malaysia 2025 – Cass’s Big Day on Ice
Yesterday was Cass’s big day — Skate Malaysia 2025, the event she had been preparing for tirelessly for over a month. All the hours spent training, all the sacrifices, and all the juggling between school and skating came down to that one performance. And honestly, I think I was more nervous than she was, not…
The Great Chocolate Chip Heist
Besides butter and ice-creams, Cass also has a serious love affair with chocolate. She especially loves chocolate chips generously scattered on cakes and cookies. So it came as no surprise when I brought home a loaf of double chocolate cake topped with a layer of shiny, sugary chocolate chips, and she immediately asked, “Can I…
Burning the Midnight Oil
This semester, Sherilyn is back at it—running on sheer willpower and caffeine, pulling all-nighters in her university studio with her course mates as they scramble to complete back-to-back assignments. For the past week, she’s left home in the morning and only returned around 7am the next day, barely catching a few hours of sleep before…
When the Music Stops
Last Saturday was quite a significant day for Cass. She headed off to Sunway College to participate in the Sunway Ox-Bridge Essay Competition — a prestigious nationwide event co-hosted by Sunway College and the Oxford & Cambridge Society Malaysia. This annual competition attracts bright young minds from all over Malaysia, and with cash prizes and…
Cass’s Exciting Opportunities: English Essay Competition & Skate Malaysia 2025
Today, Cass shared some exciting news with me—she has been selected by her high school to participate in an English essay competition at Sunway College next month! Out of all the students in her school, only 15 were chosen, and she is thrilled to be one of them. Writing has always been one of her…
The Glue of Childhood Bonds: Cherishing the Moments Before They Grow
There’s something magical about the way children form bonds. It’s pure, uncomplicated, and filled with an infectious joy that makes you wish you could bottle it up and keep it forever. Recently, I’ve been witnessing this magic unfold between my older brother’s twins—an 8-year-old boy and girl—and my daughter, Cass. Every time we visit Ipoh,…
A Walk Down Memory Lane: From Homemade Meals to Cherished Mugs
This morning, as I scrolled through Facebook, a photo of Cass eating her lunch as a 5-year-old popped up on my timeline. It was a heartwarming memory that took me back to the days when life revolved around the kitchen, school runs, and little giggles echoing through the house. In the photo, Cass had just…
Memories Captured by Google Photos: A Walk Down Memory Lane
One of the features I absolutely love about Google Photos is its ability to pop up memories from years gone by. It’s like a little nudge from the past, inviting me to reminisce and walk down memory lane. A few days ago, Google Photos surprised me with a photo of Alycia hugging her favorite Ultraman…