Tuloy Pa Rin

I was just inspired by the new McDonalds commercial about welcoming changes in one's life. Katulad na lamang ng nasa commercial, she remembered what happened on that specific space inside a McDonalds store. Pero, kasama siya sa buhay ng tao, nandiyan pa rin ang "space," nandiyan pa rin marahil ang bakas, pero tuloy pa rin ang awit ng buhay niya.

Then this. This screenshot is about my conversation with my student. I opted to erase her name and her picture (pasalamat ka na lang sa akin!) to avoid future problems. Kung babasahin mo ang kanyang rant sa akin, probably maiintindihan mo siya. Pero mas kilala ko siya. Okay naman ang mga outputs niya, but I just don't like, bluntly, her attitude. Napagalitan ko siya once dahil sumisigaw siya sa klase habang nagtuturo ako. I don't know, maybe this is her way on coming back to me.

Ang pinakamasakit lang ay ang linyang "honestly, I didn't learn that much in the class." I know my failures, hindi ko naman itatangging hindi ako nakakapasok sa klase nila. Hindi ko naibabalik ang mga outputs nila. Hindi ako naging correct example for them to become their professor on that subject. They didn't see my efforts; what's important for them is themselves. So it triggered my decision. Pagod na rin ako sa pagtuturo, pagod na rin ako sa pag-iintindi sa mga estudyante. Pagod na akong maging guro so I need to do have a break.

But I was a bit concerned. If not teaching, what others job might I get? Sabi sa akin ng best friend ko, why not to try training. Why not trying corporate jobs? Kapag sinasabihan niya ako ng kompanya, my question is always "as what?" Oo nga, takot ako. Teaching is my comfort zone. Why do I need to look for another job? I am good at this. Then, I went back to this screenshot. This student hadn't learned anything from me. A good friend of mine which was my former professor told me, "Zieg, why do you have to consider her opinion. She is just your student!" Everybody agreed. Sino nga ba siya. I am not belittling her but she is ONLY my student.

Or this is only because I am just tired of being a teacher. I am enjoying it, especially when half of your dear students love you and the other half is not. I taught in different set-ups: elementary, secondary (high school) and college. I also tried teaching in Special Education due to the fact that Kuya Bong is autistic. I realized na iba ang pagiging kapatid sa pagiging SpEd teacher. Nasubukan ko na ang lahat. Siguro naman, this is a good reason to put my teaching into a halt (in the meantime).

Sa totoo lang din naman, apektado rin ako ng K-12. Admittedly, I knew only a little about it and I don't understand its mission. Matagal na siyang implemented pero ang pagkakaroon ng Senior High School ay hindi ko pa rin ma-digest. At dahil nakapagturo ako sa college, ramdam ko ang effect niya lalo na sa mga universities na walang "contingency plan." Mayroon sa ilan pero kulang pa rin o mali pa rin.

Dahil dito, I put myself into another circumstance.

Then an opportunity came. It was not actually given to me but to my best friend. A very good kind of work. Still inclined in education, still be able to teach but not "teach" but to "mentor" or "coach." A leap upward, a supervisory job. Nasa education scene pa rin ako pero mas complicated ang task, mas nerve-wracking ang concept. I am about to coach my colleagues whenever problems occur. They consider me as their "master teacher" which in the long run of my teaching career, never thought of becoming one.

I am undergoing training to be a master teacher for two weeks and it has been a great journey. The art of coaching is still in its work and it is not easy. Yes, I know how coach does and works but doing it and working it is not an easy task. You have to consider so many things: emotions, behavior, professionalism and ethics, feed backs and all sorts. Aside from the work itself, I need to consider also the things I am about to digest when this thing begins.

So somehow, I am just like the girl in the McDonalds commercial. Looking for an opportunity (just like looking for a chair) but then I saw teaching again. I just looked back to where I was and I still felt the pain but I pushed myself because I believe teaching is where my heart and my life belongs to forever. So, I sat down to the chair (the opportunity is to become a master teacher) and everything went okay.

Tama, tuloy pa rin! And I welcomed change.

Toodles

Video courtesy of McDonalds YouTube channel.
Image courtesy of Edu Jobs for Flexible Practitioners