Lessons from a Cat, an Elephant, and a Dog

This narrative unfolds with three unlikely teachers: a cat named Nana, a Borneo pygmy elephant, and a dog named Dumpil.

In 2001, while starting my teaching career at Sabah Tshung Tsin Secondary School, I had spent 11 years as a library assistant, imparting lessons on maintaining silence. One late afternoon, as I walked home after grading papers, I heard urgent meows. Turning around, I discovered a three-month-old kitten peeking from an abandoned car that had been untouched for years. The tricolored kitten, which I named Nana for her resemblance to a grandmother figure, quickly won my heart.

Nana, whom I adopted, was smart and took her role as my morning alarm clock seriously, waking me up each day at five o’clock by nudging me with her paws. In 2007, my students rescued three kittens from a car engine, and Nana welcomed them as if she were their mother, although she had never been one before. Looking back, I realize Nana taught me profound lessons about love, emphasizing that it does not keep score; ultimately, I learned that she saved me just as much as I saved her.

In 2003, my journey took me to Danum Valley, where I encountered Borneo pygmy elephants for the first time. Their dignified presence in their natural habitat left a lasting impression on me. This experience resurfaced over two decades later when I worked with my Junior 3 team on the Samsung Solve for Tomorrow competition, developing an elephant alarm system to mitigate human-elephant conflicts and raise awareness for the endangered species. Our project earned us first runner-up, reminding me of the impact that initial encounter had on my journey.

Before Nana came into my life, there was Dumpil, a unique dog that my aunt offered from a litter. Named after his Kampung origins, Dumpil grew into an unusual, comical-looking companion with short legs and large paws. He filled my life with joy for three years until I tragically lost him to a traffic accident while hurrying to work.

Despite my initial guilt over his loss, I now choose to remember Dumpil for his joyful spirit. He exemplified that love doesn't require words.

Through the stories of Nana, the elephant, and Dumpil, I learned vital lessons: that love can manifest unexpectedly, the importance of responsibility after moments of connection, and that even fleeting relationships can leave lasting impacts.

Animals quietly enter our lives, offering lessons in kindness, compassion, and reminding us to appreciate simple joys. The most profound gifts do not always come wrapped in boxes; sometimes, they come with four paws, a trunk, a wagging tail, or a tiny pink nose.