teacher

I have been a preschool teacher for about 8 years now.

I still remember the reason why I started it, I thought that the pay would be high. Trololol.

That showed how immature I was.

I started out by taking my certificate in preschool teaching full time for about 5 months. Fully sponsored by MERCU with allowance!

I looked for a job and got one at Sengkang. Being a fresh graduate, I literally, SUCKED. It is still fresh in my memory. One of the owner of the centre asked me to quieten the children's voices down, I looked at her straight in the face and replied, "I am new in the industry. I don't know what song to sing."

Oh hell yes. I was the type of "teacher" that most company would fire in a minute. I wasn't good at all.

I hated teaching back then. I dragged my feet to work and finally gave up the idea of ever being a teacher.

I worked as a customer service officer for 3 years.

In that 3 years, I wondered what I could've been if I had tried harder at being a teacher.

I came back to become an assistant teacher at a childcare centre at upper east coast road.

It was fun initially. I even took up my Diploma in Preschool Teaching which was funded by the company. Until they promoted me to become a form teacher.

I guess I wasn't ready. I didn't do a good job. I was demoralised when I was expected to do the things that I really do not know what or how to do. I wasn't strong in curriculum I wasn't strong in aesthetic set up. But that centre did teach me one thing, class management (and also toilet washing, I had to wash the toilet all the time, go figure)

The next step was when I changed as a teacher. I joined a private kindergarten as a lead teacher.

I learnt how to work as a team. I learnt how to delegate. I learnt to be expressive and creative in delivering the lesson through the lesson plans given. I felt like a real teacher. The only problem was, that centre emphasised on international students and it had no benefits for child of staff. (I found out I was pregnant then.)

I then took the biggest step in my entire career as a teacher. I joined an organisation that changed my life. This time it was back to childcare.

I was back to square one. I was not good. I could not keep up. I had to prepare lesson plans. I had to do up the environment. I had to plan an event and organise meetings for that event. I had to go through SPARKS. I was chased by principal, vice principal and senior teachers alike.

But I did not give up this time. The 1st year was very rocky. But what the principal said to me, changed how I perceived things.

"You reminded me of myself as a teacher. I used to be afraid. And i wasn't good too. But I worked hard to get to where I am now."

I promise you. She is one of the best principal I have ever worked with. No doubt she is strict but if your organisation have someone like her as your principal. Get ready to see miracles. That was what got me thinking. How can someone this amazing be like ME?

I took her words positively. I challenged myself. That was when I realised what I needed all these while. I needed MYSELF.

I pushed MYSELF further. I pacified MYSELF when there was too much work.

The year after, I took up whatever challenge I can get. I had a few difficult parents. Instead of treating them like a second-class citizen, I gave them the BEST service they can ever wished for. The kind of service where they can't even have that opportunity to pin-point MY mistake because I had everything covered.

I submitted childrens' documentations to parents WEEKLY with PICTURES. I submitted individual children's monthly update PROMPTLY. I submitted weekly curriculum updates PROMPTLY. I replied emails and calls in less than a day. I seldom took MC. I realised afterwards that this helped me focus. I know what I want, which inevitably helped me to plan out and deliver any lesson or environmental set up in the click of my fingers.

The principal praised on my achievements.

And I realised by the end of the year, I am ready to take on a bigger role. Not there. But elsewhere.

I left. But after I have proved to myself that i can be better. I can be a good teacher. It was all within me this whole time.

I am now a senior teacher. And I see myself, (just as how I used to be when i just started this journey), in some of the teachers I am mentoring.

I am glad, Allah guided me to go through so many channels so that I can gain those experience to make me a better person.

I am not harping on how good I am now. I still have yet much things to learn. But I am trying to make a point that people can be better, with a positive attitude in hand and strong determination.

For that, I would like to thank everyone, not just the principals but also my colleagues and course mates who have helped me in my learning journey in becoming a better teacher.