teaching is a work of heart

Last week, I went back to visit my form 3 kids in Muadzam Shah.
Much to my surprise, since they didn't know that I was coming until they saw my car in the school compound,
they greeted me with a perfomance!
I was so touched by their gesture. The whole batch gathered and delayed their outing and stuff to meet me.
I questioned myself, what did I do to deserve all this?

 The Xylomix- cool dudes with wicked dance moves and incredibly fluent in English of course ;)
A teacher is not supposed to have favourites but yeah, they're my favourites ;)

my  favourite girls. my first batch of girls when I started teaching back in my practicum heydays. It's interesting to see how  they have blossomed into fine ladies.

my homeroom babies. they even bought a cake for me eventhough I was a horrible mother to them. haha

truth to be told,
a short visit to muadzam is just what i needed.
I was feeling really down at my new workplace.
I had a hard time to adapt.
I did not enjoy teaching there at all.
At times, I feel like I want to quit and just give up teaching.
It took a lot of me  to teach a bunch of students who didn't even want to learn, who are just there to waste their time because their parents sent them there.
It was a struggle to teach a group of young adults who should have at least some basic English after 11 years of learning in school.
I felt like I was in a battlefield each time I enter a class full of students who didn't even know the difference between "he" and "she", "his" and "her". seriously, they're THAT bad.

But then again, that is my role as a teacher.
To provide them with knowledge, and to guide them.
To EDUCATE regardless of race, gender, and learning abilities.

The visit to Muadzam reminds me of who I inspired to be back when I was still a student-teacher.
M*** Muadzam Shah has a special place in my heart ; a place where I truly enjoy being surrounded with kids,
where I truly enjoyed being in class
where I feel fulfilled.


don't get me wrong.
the workload was no joke. it was hell.
but I really enjoyed doing the most important thing there- teaching.

Yeah, so from that short visit,  I learned to put my prejudices aside.
My new students (and future students) may not be as brilliant as my old students (heh. I never appreciate how brilliant they were before. After seeing the world outside, I realized that they are indeed, a brilliant bunch),
but my new students deserve as much (perhaps more) attention, and love, and care like I used to give.

anyhoo,
just in case I lost the pictures in the future
Here's some reminder, that a teacher has an impact on the students.
So Sha, stop complaining, stop being lazy and play your role well.

The Most Cheerful Teacher Award- I have been tested with tremendous hardship by The Almighty, but I found solace  and happiness in the classroom :)

 301 <3 i="">

 306 <3 i="">

 The Form 3 boys during my farewell party

 My class, 402 <3 i="">

 My final day in school, in front of my own class :D

Thoughtful gifts from the kids. Some of the kids whom I taught last year found out about my departure the very last minute. They had no time to buy gifts but still wanted to give me something. So in the end, they just wrapped up  whatever they have: maggi, biscuits, sweets.

 It was really cute. hehe

last but not least, THIS