The Joy of Teaching

Teaching was never my dream job. It wasn't included in my list of preferred jobs back then. It was not my dream at all. I used to picture myself being a doctor when I was in school. What was I thinking those times, I have no idea at all. I pictured myself being a surgeon, scientist, researcher, singer, dancer, and businesswoman; none of them suit me the way teaching does.

How I Get into Teaching Job

The reason why I get into teaching field is because I studied in TESL for 4 years in UiTM Shah Alam, Selangor.But before I got into the degree program, I studied Banking for 3 years in UiTM Kampus Machang, Kelantan. I realised that I didn't suit banking or business field when I was in the last semester of diploma years. I didn't perform well- especially when I think I'm not that good at Mathematics. That is the main reason why I got into teaching, I think. I wasn't interested in teaching at all back then. I thought, I could be a writer, writing my own book,or working in some institutions dealing with language and translation. But, here I am, teaching pre-university students in a college. 

I can't believe myself that I am now teaching - and it's been 3 years!

I first stepped here into this college in March 2008, 3 months after finishing my studies. How time flies.  I went for a test before I got the interview a month later. After the interview, I received a call telling me that I managed to teach in this college. 

The Place.

I started my teaching profession officially on 3rd March 2008. Everything seemed so strange to me. The new place, home and surrounding. It was quite hard for me to adapt myself, especially the food and the condition of this place in the beginning. I can't believe how far the main city is - that it takes me almost an hour to go to the main city where the shopping malls and the administrative offices of Kedah are situated. However, I found this college beautiful with nice landscape and facilities. I don't really like the town for its facilities though I think the market which is called 'Nat' sells fresh vegetables and other perishable foods. What frustrates me the most is the food. I still have a hard time swallowing foods in desperation; I even cried once because the food was so bad.

The People.

I even think that everyone looked the same-when I was at the district hospital waiting for the doctor to perform medical check-up on me and my friend. It came to me that everyone at the hospital looked similar to each other. It gave me a strange feeling, but now I find no problem with that. 

The Students.

Along the way, I have experienced quite lots of things. I meet new students every year. I get to see new faces after 10 months or so. It is always amazing how students come in various shapes and features, mind all the attributes they have. There are times when I find it difficult to deal with them, but I always find joy in meeting them. Most of the time, it is soothing to go to class and teach the students, minus the time when they ignore me,make faces, looking lost in their own world or trying too hard making me laugh with their silly jokes-which I sometimes wanted to laugh hysterically but holding it so it won't burst out loud and make them laugh at me back. The fact is, I just love to go to my classes and have fun with my students rather than sitting at my desk figuring out which websites should I browse or having to shut my self down from listening to the mumble-trouble of uncertainties and lame topics in the office.

The biggest joy of teaching, to me, is perhaps how students affect my life. 

I had students who are very passive but perform well in studies. Some are very active and naughty, but impress me with good performance too. Some are stubborn and arrogant. It drives me mad, but in the end, some will eventually regret and change. Some are quite close and requires attention all the time. Some are like strangers and never talk to me or seem to care about everything. I get to see all sorts of human behavior when I'm dealing with my students.

The Working Environment.

It is not hard for me to admit that sometimes I feel like quitting the job. 

Yes, I hate the working environment and the conflicts in the workplace. 

I don't favor quite lots of things of being a servant of the government. 

I hate the amount of pay that is not enough as compared to the workloads. 

I hate rumours and gossips. I hate it when people over-react on certain issues; be it Facebook, delegation of work, insufficient yearly leave, medical leave, the process and procedures, professionalism matters and back biting. I think people shouldn't take everything personally, or even take things for granted. I personally believe that if everyone just focus on their job, there will be no issues at all. But, somehow, looking back, I also think that it will become so dull and boring too if there is no issues in life. 

Alas! Life is like that. 

Now, I'm living my life the way I want it to be and I am trying so hard to believe in nothing - just for the sake of being happy! 

If you believe in everything, you will be miserable. 

If you believe in rumours, you'll tend to be worried although it is just a rumours people make over their assumptions - and it is not necessarily true!

If you believe in what people say, it will kill you silently and in the end, your whole life will collapse on you and in no time, you'll find a ruined life and left alone. You'll become insane if you believe in everything.

That is the reason why I live my life believing in nothing. 

Above all, I know that in life, these experiences are very useful in shaping our future and having experienced the most intriguing episodes in my life made me a better person in coping with stress and thick and thin of life.