"School of Life"

Ok let me be honest here.

When I finished my B.Ed TESL I wasn't sure if I really wanted to teach. 

I didn't even bother to submit the application form to teach in government high school.

My first thought after knowing I passed my B.Ed TESL was to just stay at home for a while,

resting & relaxing.

But I guess God is so great, HE makes everything easy for me.

I heard that INTEC needed English Lecturers so along with other 10 friends whom I did my undergraduate studies with, we submitted our resumes and were called for an interview.

I basically started working in less than 3 months after my result went out.

So goodbye late nights and hello early mornings.

During my first teaching stint, I was still quite clueless. Even though I used to teach at tuition centres, it's not the same.

INTEC was what I considered my first real job.

And it's gonna be my only job.

You see, teaching is not easy. Whoever says teaching is easy, puh-lease, try taking over my classes for one day only.

Let's see if you survive.

It's hard work. You're not just teaching, you're also dealing with more than a 100 different kids with raging hormones and different personalities.

I have to study before going into class. I have to make sure my lesson plan adapts with every student despite of their level of proficiency.

And don't let me start with marking exam papers, especially essays.

(*_*)

Nonetheless, I have come to loving this job. 

I may not be the best teacher and my class may not be the most interesting class but I have one definite goal -that my students learn a life lesson.

This is all a part of their experience. I was once a student myself so I can relate to their feelings.

Those facial expressions? Those body language? Those sleepy bloodshot red eyes? 

Been there, done that.

If they failed, so be it. They should realize at the end of the day it's all about the effort they put in.

Students these days are too spoilt. Well, some of them.

 But teachers must remind them life is not all rainbows and unicorns and cotton candy.

Nothing is easy in life. Life is always fair but humans choose to be unfair to themselves.

Anyway, there are still times I question myself whether this job is really for me.

What do I do?

I watch great movies. Yup. How fascinating eh?

My all time favourite is 'Dead Poets Society'. That 'Carpe Diem' phrase has stuck in my mind for the longest time. It's just superb. And I still cry buckets everytime they do 'Oh Captain, My Captain'.

Superb.

'School of Life' isn't bad as well. I've always thought Ryan Reynolds can only act goofy but he did terrific job as teacher in this movie.

Try to watch them over the weekend when you're tired over reading students' essays.

Works for me, everytime.

To quote Angelina Schwindt,

"What we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about."