Life

Monday, November 19, 2007
I'm back!!

Having MIA (missing in action) for so long, it's time that I return to blogging. Life for me, the past few months, was basically consumed by mountains and mountains of workload. What have I been doing? TEACHING!!!! YES.. TEACHING! I went back to West Grove Primary School to teach as a form teacher. Yet untrained relief teacher.

What was the experience like? Worse than what I had 3 years ago when I was in the same school

teaching a class of 39 primary 2 students. This time, I had 41 primary 4 students. My class, 4H, the second best class of the whole level. So stress for me cos I had to maintain the standards of the class. Many people doubted my ability since I was young and a fresh graduate, and most importantly, what parents are concerned of is the fact that I'm an untrained teacher.

The school actually had a shortage of teachers. Initially I was told to take a Pri 5 EM3 class but then there was another class which they considered more urgent, so they forced me to take the class despite the fact that I volunteered to take the EM3 class cos the teacher who previously took that class had to teach music, and music is not a problem to me. But I still ended up taking my 4H. Destined!!!!

When I first took the class, fellow colleagues, parents, principal and even my students doubted my teaching ability. (my monkeys, admit it. The first day I went into class, u people completely thinking I cannot teach.) By the grace of God, I pulled through the 5 months

with loads and loads of tears and sweat. Pressure from everywhere was certainly overwhelming. I really thought of giving up if it wasn't for the compassion I had for the kids. Pretty poor things cos the class had a few change of form teachers before I took them at the start of term 3. I was the teacher who taught them for the longest period this year. Initially I was only supposed to take them for a term, but the school requested that I stay on to complete the year.

Lots of drama in class each day. A class of funny and troublesome kids I had. Thankfully, at the end of the day, the class did well for their exams. Even the new principal was pretty impressed with the results I produced. I received lots of recognition from my fellow colleagues, my HOD, vice-principal and even parents.

My fellow colleagues all thought that I can teach and they are really a bunch of great people who would always think of funny ways to trick me to consider signing on as a teacher. NO WAY!! Even my HOD and vice principal spoke to me regarding this matter. I remembered when I was in secondary 2, my home econs teacher told me to be a teacher cos she thought I would be a great one. I told her, "Over my dead body." Even dad asked me to sign on. Siao ah. Does anyone has any idea what life was when my day normally begins at 6am and ends at 2am? As a short-term teacher, I wont mind, but I definitely do mind lots about selling my life to the local education system which I HATE. If I ever have the choice and ability, I doubt I'll let my children to be educated here.

One great thing I had was I met my primary 1 chinese teacher in West Grove. She was teaching the afternoon session in the school while I was teaching in the morning. The last time I met her was 10 years ago. Wow... I long knew God pre-planned everything.

Like I say, it was then my calling to teach, to inspire and change lives. Now it's the end of that calling, it's time to move one. The biggest reward I received is a class of loyal and loving children. Thank you to my dearest 4H.

OH, i'm so in love with victorian at {/12:31 PM}