Marina Comes Full Circle

KUALA LUMPUR: Her first day as principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS) completed a circle of sorts for former national sprinter Marina Chin.

Familiarising herself: Chin taking a closer look at student activities in a classroom on her first day as principal of the Bukit Jalil Sports School in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

“I was quite excited when I was appointed (BJSS principal) as I was the desk officer in charge of developing and planning the sports school concept in the Education Ministry.

“I remember travelling all over the country with the ministry architects to look at residential schools in order to plan this school,” she reminisced yesterday.

Now, more than 20 years later, Chin has the opportunity to help shape and direct BJSS' course as the country’s premier sports school.

Used to starting work at 7.30am, the former principal of SMK Sultan Abdul Samad, Petaling Jaya, arrived at BJSS bright and early, even before reporting to the Federal Territory Education Department.

Chin was given a tour of the school and later attended her first assembly.

“It’s not altogether new for me as I’ve never been completely away from sports because of my involvement with the sports programme with the National Sports Council and Education Ministry,” she said.

Chin's first speech to her students was short and sweet – she reminded them that their studies and character were as important as sports training.

Chin, who is the first female principal of BJSS, took over from Saidin Osman, who has been transferred to SMK Datuk Abdul Rahman Talib in Lumut.

Marina Chin's First Day At Work