101 things about teaching
this is dedicated to those who have left, your footprints inspired me to step out of my comfort zone. to those who are serving, i admire your courage and steadfastness in changing lives, one at a time.
It has been quite a while since I did some reflecting. Preparation for chapel did me some good. The last I led was in 2010. And when life keeps you busy, seemingly urgent takes over the important. Life has overwhelmed me. That said, I don’t even know why I agreed to lead worship with the boys. But I’m glad it worked out well because the kids got me excited about songs and got me started thinking about my current state of affairs with Him. Their innocence and sincerity to want to do it right for Him puts me to shame for having walked on this earth longer than they did.
And for these angels, I’m thankful to Him for sending them along my path.
I had a terrible week and it didn’t help that relevant personnels are on their guard, defending their stand and not willing to hear each other out. I decided to take the arrow - after all I have seen worse, this is nothing.
Decided that I shall not stay in office because dealing with adults are just energy zapping, I walked along the corridor of my “favorite class” and looked down the railing. I had no idea what I wanted to do but I stood out there staring while all the classes were taking place. Soon enough a kid walked over and this conversation took place:
SMW: Why are you looking out?
Me: Thinking about life.
SMW: Really? Come, tell me what you are thinking about. I’m a good listener.
Me: *laughs off* hmmm, many things about life that I don’t understand.
SMW: Yeah me too, I don’t really understand much about life too.
And so for the next 10 minutes, we had a good chat about life and its mysteries. About our families and its estranged relationships and about ourselves. Seriously, all these with a 15 year old is baffling. Who would expect that I can find cheers and grace in unexpected places like this.
#52: A date with them - Supplementary Classes!
#51: Texts like these cheer me up..,
2011 Form Class
A sketch I found outside 4S1 classroom.
Word (Taken with instagram)
BFFF (Taken with instagram)
Tonight marks the end of their journey in a secondary school. And like all the batches I’ve taught over the years, each one of them made a delible mark in my teaching career- challenging my pedagogical abilities, questioning my point of views, helping me understand their struggles as a teenager and always reminding me that it is Him that strengthens me in my human failures.
I will fondly remember them as my ‘flagship classes’.
