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March 10, 2011

friday. epiphany




one of our first tasks set in sociology was a reflective first-person narrative focusing on the one moment we realised we wanted to be teachers. here's mine.

My admiration for the teaching profession started in primary school. I don't remember a lot of my time there. I don't even remember much that i learnt. I, like many kids my age, was transfixed by my life at home; going through my parent's divorce. I think this is the main reason i looked to my teachers for a solid and dependable role model. Someone i could rely on; someone who was there for us every day without question. I remember in grade four or five; I would hug my classroom teacher every morning. I was the "huggie monster". I was an affectionate child for sure.

There was no one moment where i decided i would make a good teacher. For me, it was more of an already established fact that i would enter this profession and enjoy it. I can't remember a time when i wanted to do anything else for a living. I have no real back up plan and i have never even considered not being a teacher. Sometimes this worries me - as if I’ve made it all up in my head and stuck by it without questioning why i want to teach. But mostly it just makes me feel happy. I think subconsciously knowing I wanted to teach from a young age made me value and respect my teachers, even in high school.

Attending a state school for all 12 years was an interesting experience. Some of the teachers we found to lack the basic grammar and literacy skills that we as students had already mastered. Although this was frustrating, we took solace in knowing that the majority of our teaching staff were good at their job, and loved doing it. Their enthusiasm about learning was almost inspiring. I found my favourite teacher in my favourite subject at high school - study of society. I found that I definitely enjoyed humanities over science and maths, mostly because i enjoyed learning from such a colourful and joyful teacher.

In a way, I’ve been observing the education system most of my life. We all have. How that works out for me, however, I’m yet to find out.


bye for now
xR