Not Just a Job but a Passion

 

" Teaching is not a profession; it's a passion. Without passion for your subject and a desire for your students to learn and be the best in the world, then we have failed as a teacher, and failure is not an option." -John F. Podoji.

" Teaching is not a profession; it's a passion. Without passion for your subject and a desire for your students to learn and be the best in the world, then we have failed as a teacher, and failure is not an option." -John F. Podoji.

Teaching is not something I have to do; it's something I like to do. Teaching is a sacred job, and it's one of the most challenging and intricate jobs because it deals with students' minds and demands a lot of patience, wisdom, and knowledge.

For me, teaching is not a part-time job because to teach means to think of my students all the time, to indulge in their problems, trying to do my best to help them, to think of new activities, search for new tools, trying to find the best way to deliver the information for them. I don’t want to be just an instructor, but to be a person that students trust, respect, and love. I teach orphans and underprivileged students. These students have many psychological and social problems. Most of them suffer a lot, so I must understand them and be there for them. Someone once told me that to be a good teacher, I must be fair, firm, and friendly. The secret lies in these 3 f’s. I’m trying to apply this in my teaching. 

Be a Nice Memory

 Teachers meet many students every year with different personalities, backgrounds, and ways of thinking. And they forget about most of their students after a couple of years, but those students may never forget them or their words all their lives. The teacher's words may accompany the students all the time, settle down at the bottom of their hearts. Students remember the words that hurt them the most of the words that make them happy and affect them.

I still remember two teachers from elementary classes. One that I love the most and the other mmm, I don't at all. The first teacher is Mr. Khaled. He told me once in a low voice when I solve a difficult Mathematics problem that he was quite sure that I'll solve it. “You are brilliant.” I loved the subject because of him, and now I'm a Mathematics teacher. I smile every time I solve a difficult problem and feel confident; whereas the second teacher told me when I asked him about something that this was a stupid question, and one like me should never ask such a question, I felt embarrassed, and after all this time, I still remember how I felt.

" Please taste your words before you spit them out"(Rishab Uttarkar) because they might become the only memory from you. Say nice and sincere words, encourage your students, and remember to plant the seeds of good memories with your students, make your students smile when you cross their minds and think before you say something that might hurt others. 

Impossible Mission

Being a wife, a mom for three kids, a teacher, and a student simultaneously is not easy at all. It’s like having an impossible mission. Sometimes, while trying to manage all of these, I forget to take care of myself. 

I admit this year was tough. I faced many challenges and had my ups and downs. I felt depleted sometimes and cried. I had many responsibilities, and I wanted everything to be just perfect, but unfortunately, this didn’t happen. 

But at last, I realized that I am not a superheroine. We are all humans; we all make mistakes. Life is not perfect, and so we are. It’s ok if we felt tired and if we failed. We have to try to balance and give ourselves a break sometimes. The most important thing is that we can't quit; this is not an option. We must stay strong and achieve our goals in life.

Unforgettable Memory

I still remember the first time I started teaching. There was that little boy that was always standing near the window looking outside. I asked him many times to sit in his place, but he refused. I tried to make him engaged in my class but with no use. I didn't know what to do. He refused to do anything except looking out from the window. Until I discovered that his parents were divorced and put him in the orphanage without seeing him or taking him home even on summer vacation. He felt that he was in prison and missed them. School and lessons meant nothing to him, and I couldn't blame him at that time; he was a lonely little boy. That's why he was standing all the time beside the window. After this, I tried harder to encourage him to participate in our discussions and activities; I sometimes succeeded in letting him enjoy the session and making him smile. Still, most of the time, I didn't. I wish there was a happy ending for this story, but unfortunately, there wasn't. Next year I didn't see him, I asked about him, and they told me that the school administrator asked his parents to come and take him during weekends at least and they refused so maybe they took him to another place. Till now, when I remember him, I feel pain in my heart. I wish I could help him, but at that time, there was no phycologist at the school, and I didn't have enough experience to deal with such a case. I wish life wasn't so hard on him.

A Great Instructor

Thanks for online learning that allows me to meet Dr. Amal Farhat, the EDU 561 course instructor at the LIU.

She is one of the best instructors I’ve ever met. She’s passionate about her job, a hard worker, and the most important thing is that she is so patient. Dr. Amal never loses her temper or complains, although we ask many questions all the time. She’s is a warm, enthusiastic, caring, understandable, and considerate person who is always ready to help us and make sure that we feel comfortable and at ease. She listens to us with her sincere smile, thoroughly explaining the material, making everything seem so clear.