SIR. That’s how I will be
addressed starting next week, July 1, 2014 to be exact. No, I didn’t get knighted
but I will start my new job as a substitute teacher at Carey English School
where I was once a student myself.
I have always respected teachers and the
profession. I have had several great teachers who have motivated me and whose
words have guided me throughout my life. I believe that teachers have a great opportunity
to help children grow up into great persons. Especially in the lower level, I
believe that teaching the students their syllabus is just part of the package
and I felt that teachers have greater responsibility of guiding their students
and preparing them for the future. In my book, a good teacher is someone who
inspires his students and gives them the courage to chase their dreams, big or
small.
I truly believe in the words that
I have just mentioned which puts me under a lot of pressure because I can’t
tell what kind of teacher I am going to be. In spite of my best intentions I
have no experience in teaching, I am very poor in public speaking, I am not a
people person and I am not doing too well in the self-confidence department. So
I have spent a couple of sleepless nights wondering what will happen on my first
day and not that I needed to be reminded at this moment I remember this one
friend from college who passed out in the classroom on his first day as a
teacher. It can't get any worse than that. I know what you’re probably thinking; I am thinking
about this too much and you think its not too hard as I made it sound. You are
probably right but hey, that’s me and I can’t help myself. Welcome to my world.
On the brighter side I do have a
Bachelor and Masters Degree in communication and right, teaching is part of
communication. I’ve learned and written in so many of exam papers in College
and University that teaching in a classroom is a Group communication and I’ve
learnt by heart the do’s and don’ts in this situation. I just need to apply it
here.
Coming back to CES, I studied class
1 and 2 here and it brings back a lot of memories. Some of my teachers back
then are also still working here and even though I am nervous, I do feel like
home already. The school has changed so much since I was a student there. I
remember those times when it rained and we would shift down to a community hall
just below our school because there was a real chance that our school building could
collapse under intense rain. How sir Biaka would give us some of the most
tiresome punishments I’ve ever suffered. How did he even come up with them? He
was pure genius.
Man I’m getting all nostalgic
here, wish I had the words to express what I am feeling right now. I wonder
where my CES classmates are right now? It’s almost been 20 years. Will we recognise
each other if we meet somewhere, or we’d just be like strangers. It’d sure be
nice to talk about the past.
I’ll stop this post here because it’s
getting a bit too long now and I don’t know how to end it. I’ll write some more
later, Night night.
