“PETALING JAYA: A massive inferno was seen at Putra Heights on Tuesday (April 1), with flames being seen all the way from Subang Jaya.”

These words, from a report by The Star, echoed in my mind as sadness enveloped me.

On April 1 at around 8am, while we were overseas, I was awoken by my parents’ panicked voices as they spoke with our neighbour over the phone.

“What is happening? Are you guys all right? What do you mean there’s a fire behind our house?” I heard my mother say.

The call lasted about 15 minutes. When my mother put the phone down, she turned to my sister and me – worried tears streaming down her cheeks – and said, “There’s an inferno happening at our house.”

I was in utter shock. The more I thought about it, the more I didn’t want to believe it.

Throughout the rest of the trip before returning to Malaysia, I kept telling myself: “It’s probably just an April Fool’s prank; my house isn’t burnt. It’s still perfectly fine, just like how I saw it when I left.”

But I was proven wrong when I stood in front of my house four days later. The upper floor was badly damaged, with a gaping hole in the roof. The ground floor’s ceiling had collapsed. When it rained, water poured through the hole and flooded the lower level.

I kept blinking. My mind couldn’t process what had happened. I couldn’t accept that the place where I was raised – my safe haven – had been destroyed. This was the very place I called home, where I experienced every high and low, and found comfort, warmth and love. Gone.

Not the same again: Hao Yan outside the home that was once his sanctuary.

Memories of my childhood came rushing back – running around the house, playing with my sister, studying for finals at my desk, sharing family dinners, bonding in the living room.

My family was in a state of sadness and shock. Seeing my mother break down every day made my heart ache. Watching my father juggle work while taking on so many responsibilities filled me with guilt and sorrow.

It has been a month since the inferno. I’m currently staying at an Airbnb. It will never feel the same. Every day, I think about my home, which will take an estimated 12 months to rebuild.

Despite how tough the situation is, I have realised that what matters most is how we support each other as a family.

We’re slowly adapting to our new lifestyle. My sister has returned to school after missing several days due to complications from the fire. I will be pursuing my A-levels later this year.

My parents and I have completed some tasks, such as salvaging what we could and submitting aid and donation forms to the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

There are still many challenges ahead – like finding long-term accommodation during reconstruction and discussing compensation with the insurance company – but we will face them together as a family.

I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my parents, sister, extended family, friends, the government and the NGOs who have provided support during these trying times.

My neighbourhood community has also come together, helping one another at our lowest points.

Through this experience, I have learnt that no matter how tough and challenging life gets, the only thing we can do is keep moving forward.

It’s okay to fall apart sometimes – you can’t be strong all the time. What’s important is how you pick yourself up.

To anyone who has been through, or is going through, something similar: you’re not alone.

Reach out for help when needed. Remember, no man is an island. You don’t have to face everything alone.

What matters most is how you face your challenges – and that you never lose yourself in the process.

Stay positive, stay strong and never give up!

Hao Yan, 18, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education

(Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.

With the theme of the article in mind, carry out the following English language activities.

1 If you could reach out to Hao Yan, what would you say to him? Write a message offering words of comfort and encouragement.

2 In groups, create a “resilience poster” with a positive slogan (for example, “Together We Rise” or “Home Is Where Family Is”). Decorate it with simple drawings, pictures or words cut out from today’s newspaper. Hang your posters around the classroom!

The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) programme promotes English language learning in primary and secondary schools nationwide.

For Star-NiE enquiries, email starnie@thestar.com.my.