<B>Roshan Seetohul, </B> <I>Managing Director of Euro-CRM</I>

?It?s not so easy to say who was my best teacher. Going back over my schooldays reminds me of a few teachers who have marked my student life. They are the ones that I?ll always remember, not because they were my favourites but because they all contributed to my growth and mindset. I was a student at Baichoo Madhoo Primary School at Quatre-Bornes, one of the so-called 5-star ones. In Std. IV because of my age, I was asked to take an exam go straight to Std. VI. Though there were many candidates, only three of us passed the exam. As there were no vacant seats in Stds VI A & B, we were posted in Std VI C. I remember our teacher, Mr Nowbuth, who never called me by my name but '?Boursier'?. This gave me enough motivation to give my best. Then came the Std VI exams and I got 4 As, quite surprising for someone from the C section. My good results were also due to Mr. Lockman, my afternoon tuition teacher, six days a week for two years. He was a very strict person but full of humanity. One day, while distributing the marked scripts of an English composition, he kept mine and read it to the class. I was scared but then he congratulated me and explained to the class how creative and original my essay was. He explained how each one can have his own bright ideas, thoughts and make it appreciated by others... Since then, I gained confidence in myself and strove to do my best. But one day, Mr Lockman asked two girls sitting in front to hold my arms tight and he spanked with his rotin bazar. My kaki short was torn and it was so painful that I could neither scream nor speak. The whole class remained silent. One of the girls lent me her raincoat to go home. The reason for this spanking was that I had for the second time not completed my homework. The lesson I retained was that homework should be done at home and not at the last minute in class. Whatever you have to do, do it yourself correctly and timely.

Another teacher, Victor Bizaoui was not my favourite but he was the turning-point in my way of thinking and doing. As it took me some time to adjust from an English medium to French medium studies where even maths were in French, I had very poor marks in almost all subjects and sometimes started a test with - 4 marks for not respecting procedures. Mr Bizaoui always looked for me for remedial classes on Saturdays and for four years, every Friday afternoon we played hide-and-seek, though he very often had the last word. He would take me in his car every Saturday for I told him I could afford the additional transport fee and never gave me any opportunity to escape. Later, I realized he cared about my future and before he left Mauritius, he told me that I was an intelligent and capable guy but with bad habits, carelessness and more of a follower... He explained that I was the only one responsible for my future... He asked me to work intelligently and get ready for the future because this country would need people who could make things happen. His advice helped to bring a paradigm shift in my mindset.

During my diploma years, late Mrs Aisha Oozeer also greatly inspired and motivated me while I was cumulating job responsibilities and studies. She taught me that learning by heart meant nothing if tomorrow you couldn't apply whatever you had learned. Though I didn't have the highest marks in all subjects, I achieveda '?sans-faute'?.

Finally, I am very grateful to someone who became my mentor for 15 years. He showed me the way to success through hard work, dedication and passion. Through my obstacle course, with continuous training and learning, Eddy Yeung, CEO of Ciel Textile, helped me find my way and settle satisfactorily in society.?