Opportunity Gone

When dreams are dashed, one becomes disappointed and worse still depressed. Everyone has a dream or even dreams. Dreams will always come with a plan to succeed and have better things in life. Once an opportunity comes, one ought to grab it. Once the opportunity is gone, it’s gone forever. How I wish that I could turn things back to the way they were before? Why wouldn’t someone invent a time travel machine which enables people to travel through quantum?

Money or Family?

Money or family? Choose one. More often than not, most of us are tested with these two aspects. While some may choose money, others choose family. As for me, I always believe that money can be earned and found but not a family. To me, I think that it takes time to build a family. It needs effort, time and love. Without these, family would not exist. Recently something happened in my life which got me thinking. People get angry at each other over financial issues, of which this includes family members. Why must family members squabble over money? Isn’t family tie more important than money? Why sacrifice all the love and camaraderie just because of money? As for me, I would rather lose all my money than to lose my family. Without money, I could still live but without my family, I doubt that I could. It is the best thing God has ever given me, or in fact the greatest gift of all that I could ever ask for. One would be stupid or blinded to not notice that. No matter what it takes, my family comes first, not money!

Happy Teachers' Day!

Guess what, one of my students messaged me at midnight just to wish me happy teachers' day! That really made my day as it goes all the way to prove that there is someone who still cares about what I do! Here are some facts of what teachers encounter in school.

Fact 1: Just 2 days ago, one of the teachers in my school was sworn at by a student. How rude it was.... That's class has always been a trouble for every teacher who goes in to teach. Teacher after teacher complained about their attitude! What can we do as teachers?

Fact 2: The minister will be announcing some incentives for teachers. He will be announcing it during a national teachers' day celebration. Will it be a pay rise? or even some other allowances? Only God knows..... With all the inflation, this will definitely at least help lessen our burden, will it not?

Fact 3: The work of a teacher is no longer teaching! We do lots of stuff from medical care, judge, police, clerk, secretary, you name it, we got it! Really, so people seem to think that the work of a teacher is simple, teach half day and go home.... oh no no no.... that's a stereotypical thinking..... When students fall ill in school, who does the work?- Teacher! When students play truant, smoke, fight, who do all the work?- We! When the office needs to get ISO status and all... who do all the work?- Teachers! When a student needs a shrink, who do they go to? Us! Who.... When.... How.... Which... Why... you may ask...... the list goes on and on and maybe even never ending.... a teacher's job is definitely not easy as it seems.... and our pay... never mind.....

Fact 4: With all the craze about academic excellence around us, teaching is no longer a passion.... it feels more like a competition to see who gets the highest score.... Who needs fun, passion and all... when 'hey teachers, our target for this year is 15 A+s for bla... bla... bla...' reality kicks in..... Is it a passion in reality or a job just to put food on the table?

Fact 5: They say teaching is a work of the heart.... Well it is true to a certain extent.... with all the facts above, teaching is no longer the same as it was 20 years ago..... think about it... do you think being a teacher is that easy?

So as it goes, we who can teach, teach while we who can lead, change! Being a teacher that makes a difference, makes all the difference.... empowering and building human is what we are good at.... We equip our kids with knowledge and tell them life is fun and interesting.... not just academic excellence! It is nothing but a piece of paper.... what we do in class... our attitude towards them... our concern... our energy... these things make a difference in their lives and truly they will remember us... even if they fail in their papers, they will still remember us, for the good that we have done and how we have touched them....

So to teachers our there, pick up the passion, make a difference in young lives, change them, mould them, be the potter and the students the clay! let the difference making take flight! HAPPY TEACHERS' DAY!

Work!

Now that 2010 is gone, here comes 2011. It is barely a week into this brand new year, I am already swamped with tonnes of work! How can I breather! Help! Help! Help! God do hear me from above, help me Lord! I need your help and guidance badly!

It Really Does Feel Good To Be Appreciated!

It has been such a long time since I last posted something on this blog of mine... This time, I would love to talk about appreciation! Recently, I came to know that one of my teacher friend was awarded the APC and I was so happy for her! Looking at the amount of effort she put in her work was and is just amazing! Her dedication, sweat, blood and oh whatever else were to be the potion, were duly recognized! Congratulations to her! I myself felt appreciated in my school recently..... Just today, during one of my English lessons with my second class kids, one of them wrote a comment about me on my piece of paper during one of the set inductions. He or she (i am sure it was a he) wrote this ' Best English Teacher we all had. You just like a friend that so helpful, caring and always mad to. Joking man, good advicer... Thanks for help us'.. (pardon their language)..... I was just so moved to see this comment coming from my students.... Never did I expect them to say this..... All I can deduce from this is that they really do appreciate all that I have put into teaching their class..... After all the nagging like an old grandfather, hair pulling and other stuff too, they were just awesome and that little comment just made my day! Maybe it's because I am an easy going, flexible teacher, and also a person that doesn't seem to go by the books too much.Somehow I just feet more motivated to teach them..... Well, as the saying goes, TEACHING IS A WORK OF THE HEART!