It was a great honor to be part of the just-ended NYA volunteer program. As a graduate of Agricultural Technology, teaching mathematics and integrated Science was my least-expected first job after National Service.
I started work the first day I reported on duty. I was assigned to teach mathematics and science after I was taken through a brief orientation. Abe Halperin School Complex is an amazing school. The environment and social facilities around the campus make teaching and learning very conducive. The school also has modern teaching tools that make teaching very effective.
I was first assigned as an assistant teacher in basic 3b. My senior colleague whom I worked with was a very generous and selfless teacher. Madam Ruth trained me to become a better presenter in less than a week. Teaching was a very new discipline to me. I had challenges with class control and fluency in presentation. Madam Ruth was very patient with me as she took me through various lessons on teaching techniques and how to control your class. It did not take long before I learned everything. In no time, I was doing well with class control and English proficiency. I won best teaching assistant for two consecutive weeks before I was promoted to the position of main classroom teacher.
When I first reported, I had other challenges outside the classroom. One of which was food. Staff was not allowed to buy food outside the school premises during break time. And since I did not have any means to bring food from my home, I had no choice but to rely on the school catering. The food seemed palatable to almost everyone, the students and the teachers as well. Everyone but me was having a feasting break hour. The food problem came with other insecurities outside the classroom such as how I was valued and respected as a volunteer. Everyone who knew me was aware that I was working for free. Working as a school teacher is already considered to be a peasant job and to think that someone was a teacher without even this peasant salary. Was I even considered a teacher at all? These problems were tough to overcome. Even though everyone in the school treated me with all the respect I deserve and even more, I still had thoughts in my mind that I was not worthy.
It took a whole paradigm shift to realize that I was doing my best and that my best was appreciated by everyone. I started making friends, eating with my students, and hanging around with them during break time.
It did not take long before it was time for exams. This was one of the busiest weeks in the school. The exam took two weeks to complete. Contrary to what I expected based on my previous experiences in other schools. the students were rather excited about the exams. I invigorated most of the subjects in my class. I marked the scripts immediately after they were done and submitted them to the head teacher for inspections and corrections.
The following week was our vacation week. The vacation week started on Monday and ended on Friday (the final school vacation day). Academic activities were not to take place again until the next trimester.
This was the week with almost everyone was most excited about. The students were engaged in activities such as football games, volleyball games, variety shows, and others. The most interesting activity for me was the fashion runway show my students and I did in our classroom. My girls and I modeled to our fans (the boys) in our classroom as I played music from my phone. We had loads of fun.
Vocation Day finally came and we were all excited about it. My students brought food for themselves and me. I received lots of gifts from my students that I was very grateful for. We had a great feast. We partied and danced until it was finally time for the headmaster's closing assembly. It was difficult saying goodbye to my lovely Engels.
Abe Halperin School Complex will always be a home to me and I can’t wait to visit my students again.
Thank you for reading. I appreciate your time.