This post is a bit late for HWTD greetings because it should be on October 5. Still, I am making this post to share my stories of becoming a teacher.
When I was little, during our graduation day, we had this part of the ceremony where you would say what you want to become someday. Guess what? Of course, I said, “When I grow up, I want to be a TEACHER.”
My mother is a teacher, and my father is a postmaster and a licensed teacher. I did not choose to become a teacher when I decided on my bachelor’s degree. I took a BS in Biology and a major in General Biology. It was a preparatory course for Medicine. However, I did not pursue Med because of financial limitations, and honestly, I cannot imagine myself saving lives – I am unsure if I can take the pressure.
When I graduated, employment opportunities aligned with my finished degree course were scarce, so I opted to become a research analyst in one of the BPO companies in Davao. I was OK with my job, but I came to a point where I wanted more. I want a job where I can share what I know. I want something that can propel me to success because I was feeling stagnant already after almost 4 years of taking non-voice tasks.
And so, I decided to take a Teacher Certificate Program for Non-Education Professionals (TCPNEP)
I worked double time during those days (I was still working with the BPO company while studying. I had my classes from 5 PM to 9 PM and my work duty from 10 PM to 7 AM) when I was enrolled in this program. I was earning ‘Education Units’ to allow me to take the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET), and thankfully, I took and passed the LET in January 2014). I resigned from the BPO in December 2013 and was unemployed for 6 months after that. 😀
I am not totally unemployed because I had a freelance writing job that helped me earn money while waiting for a teaching opportunity in my hometown, Monkayo.
June 16, 2014 – I became a teacher officially after having my first class ^_^
With my 9 years in teaching, I can say that this profession is indeed a noble one, not because of what they say that all professions are products of teachers, but because of the nature of it — having the opportunity to touch the lives of many learners and seeing those once our students who are now professionals. It is like having a spot in the world where you can contribute so much because the underlying value of this profession is SERVICE.
Why do I love to TEACH?
While others see this job as an easy one, I would disagree with that. I can say that it is a tough job because you will exert so much effort to give the value of your time spent with your learners. I enjoy teaching, but I want to become an effective teacher. That is why I plan, change my ways, and study what works best so that my learners can learn what they need to learn from me.
I hate to say this, but reality check, some administrative tasks are killing my love for teaching. I was hired to teach, but I seldom go to my classes because of the meetings and the other non-teaching tasks expected of me to deliver. I am a very competitive person. As much as possible, I always want to give the best of what I can, but it is always discouraging when I am too burned out to deliver quality instruction.
Still, I want to say that I LOVE teaching. Whenever I am too tired to wake up and start my day, just being with my students for an hour or two gives me the boost to continue my mission in this world: to serve these young people who will become great leaders of their generation.
I always want to invest in myself to serve them better.
To all the teachers out there, my grand salute to you! We are all doing our part in this world. We should be proud of that!
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