Sometime ago, the topic of educators came up in my church.
It made me remember how I was as a student.
To all educators out there, passionate to teach your student not only what's in the textbook,
but also the character, life, respect for ourselves and the rest of the world.
From deep down in my heart, I take my hats off to you.
*Salutes
I wasn't exactly a good student.
I don't have the habit to do homework.
I hate homework.
I have attempted to sit down and do my homework,
but I don't think I have ever finished one with all questions answered.
Well, even if there is one, the answers are rubbish.
It gave my teachers a big headache.
Ever since primary school to secondary till poly, right till I graduate with my diploma.
Yup, I wasn't exactly a good student.
I wasn't that bad a student to be involved in fights, smoking, disrespect or other problems.
In fact, I became a student councilor in secondary school (despite not doing any homework).
I'm really a nice person, just one who don't do homework.
At times, I would just try to skip lectures in poly.
Brought a lot of trouble to my friends because the lecturers keep asking them where the heck am I...
(Sorry guys!)
Nevertheless, I became my club's president in year 3.
Well, the leaders and main committee are not chosen by teachers but by the previous leaders and main comm members.
But still... I'm not a bad student.
My teachers, some were good, others not that nice.
Some left a scar and quite a few left an overwhelming gratitude that I don't know how to express.
Let's start with this scar of mine.
It happened when I'm in primary 3 or 4.
As usual, I didn't do my homework. I told this teacher that I didn't bring.
In which, I really didn't.
He gave me his phone to call home so that someone at home will bring it to school for me.
At that time, my house phone number just changed and I had trouble remembering it.
And ended up giving the wrong number.
I guess he thought that I was lying to him, got yelled in a quite awful way, in front of the whole class.
I don't remember what he said, if he had hit me or if it's the whiteboard he hit,
but there are some things that I just can't forget.
That teacher was kind of big in size, deep frown, loud voice. Like an angry bear.
For a primary 3 little girl, I assure you, it is scary.
I think I cried a lot then, till now, I still won't try to approach that teacher.
Although I remember that before that, I quite like that teacher.
This one incident had broke all connection and turned respect into fear.
A pity actually, because he is really a good teacher. =[
Dear teachers, I ask of you to be a little more patient. Teachers are not easy to be, but you choose the job. It will impact many lives and it is up to you to make a difference or you can let the chance go.
Thank you for your continuous supervision on our grades and character.
Many teachers, teach for the sack of teaching.
And ever-so-often, students would be place under the care of a teacher who teach to inspire a change or to motivate them. Those teachers who truly deserve a gold medal.
Thank God, I have met quite a few.
Most memorable ones were in my secondary school.
As always, I was still not doing my homework.
But very very surprisingly, my grades were not that bad.
Sometimes did well, and very often on the border line.
There was this time when I did extremely badly for a social studies test.
Oh man, this teacher called me to look for her during lunch break.
I was freaking scared. She told me to look for her in a you-are-going-to-get-it tone.
So I went, I thought I was going to be scolded and much to my surprise.
She asked me quite calmly what happened to me.
We sat down together and she helped me figured out what is really wrong with me.
And decided that I can't remember the things in the textbook, so she made me buy a notebook and write notes.
I never knew I love writing. Even if it is just copying what on the textbook.
Ever since then, I write notes for all my subject.
I still don't do homework, but I write notes to study for my exams.
What impacted me, is the patience and a heart that cared enough to talk.
It also made me realized that this teacher didn't give up on me.
Thank you, Ms Stephanie Choo.
Although I don't like History or Social Studies, I really liked this teacher. =]
In my family, I am the middle child.
Both my older brother and younger sister did way better than me academically.
I didn't know when it started, but my parents gave up on me in my studies.
They always tell me it will be good enough if I'll just pass.
I thought that it is good, because I won't need to be stress over school.
No, it is not good.
I didn't think so deep into it, and I didn't know how it was actually affecting me.
I can say that it is really bad.
No, It is really not good.
Dear parents, teaching is not just the work of the teachers. Your kids' first teachers are you, yourself.
If even you give up on them, who would they find hope from?
Thank you for my dear teachers, for not giving up on me even though I do not ever do homework.
And thank you for all your patience, although it was already though on you to be facing so many students at the same time, and sometimes also dealing with unreasonable parents.
辛苦了.
Being a teacher is hard work, impacting lives and teach what life is are harder work.
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