The Saint Chronicles

Saturday, January 27, 2007

Okay. I had the most startling revelation today at dinner with some friends whom I have met recently. They think I look more like a Science/Maths than English teacher! I was more amused than anything else. I was, afterall, a former triple-Science and double Maths student in my secondary school days who nearly ventured into medicine if not for the dwinling interest in one of the former. That is another story all together of course.

Seriously speaking, what does an English or Science or Maths teacher look like? I do not deny the existence of stereotypes - even that of teachers. Thankfully, the image of a teacher has undergone a nib-tuck-like makeover in recent years. As for myself, many years back when the circus all started, I certainly did not want to be that dull and distant (D&D and dead too!) teacher in today's contemperary and exuberant world. I mean, I cannot imagine myself today as a student, sitting in class listening to the monotony of some former teachers and perhaps being gratefully distracted by the occasional droning fan and straying fly leaving a spluttering mess when their worlds collide. Enough said. The seven-and-a-half years had been a swell ride.

I will take this opportunity to answer some FAQs I have encountered lately along the corridors.

1) Why are you back in school?
I come in 3 times a week to help out with the STEP UP programme and relief teaching - think teacher WITHOUT the admin work, CCA, volumnous essays and scripts to mark and various multi-tasking projects. This arrangement complements my tuition assignments perfectly.

2) Does this mean tuition is bad business?
God has been so good by blessing me with amazing results with 95% of my students whom I slog to get there of course. So if you think I sell the magic-results pill, think again. Nothing beats sheer roll-up-your-sleeve-and-start-digging hardwork for those under me. So how am I doing in this area? Without mentioning numbers, I can only say this : I am overwhelmingly and amazingly blessed.

My current existence is perhaps best summed up by a favourite poem (which coincidentally a Sec2N1 student, Eugene -great choice dude!- showed me just last week) and a groovy Madonna song which I will include below :

The Road Not Taken
Robert Frost

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

jump
Madonna

There's only so much you can learn in one place
The more that I wait, the more time that I waste

I haven't got much time to waste
It's time to make my way
I'm not afraid what I'll face
But I'm afraid to stay
I'm going down my own road
And I can make it alone
All work and no fighting
I'll find a place of my own

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don't ever look back, oh baby
Yes, I'm ready to jump
Just take my hands
Get ready to jump

We learned our lesson from the start, my sisters and me
The only thing you can depend on is your family
And life's gonna drop you down like the limbs of a tree
It sways and it swings and it bends until it makes you see

Are you ready to jump?
Get ready to jump
Don't ever look back, oh baby
Yes, I'm ready to jump
Just take my hands
Get ready to, are you ready?

There's only so much you can learn in one place
The more that you wait, the more time that you waste

All work and no fighting, I'll find a place of my own
It sways and it swings and it bends until you make it your own

I can make it alone

I took the plunge and I am still enjoying the great view!

So today I am not the English, Literature, Maths or Science teacher. It is an ideal arrangement which I am extremely grateful for and one that is the envy of many friends. I do not take this window period for granted of course, not knowing how long it will last. But as long as it remains open, I will explore the woods.

stan
UPDATED @ 11:14 PM

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