In the twinkling of an eye, the
first week back at work is done. Nine more, and then it’s time for the next
holiday. In those nine weeks, so much will happen. We’ll complete the
registration of new students, know how many students we’ll be teaching, draw up
class lists and be assigned our ‘guardian’ classes. We’ll meet our new students
in their class groups and start with orientation, which can be done in an
interesting way. As a creative person, I
believe every part of life can be infused with creativity – nothing needs to be
done in a tried and tested way, if you have the will and energy to make it fun
and different. Then I remember that I work at a government educational
institution where, unfortunately, a certain mindset prevails.
Today, I walked in on people talking derisively about me and the way I
express myself. People whom I'd regarded as friends. Awkward. To spare them the embarrassment, I pretended I hadn’t
heard. The fact that I’m writing this at
all, means it was significant to me. The main significance is that I prefer to
know who’s genuinely friendly and who’s faking it. Makes life a lot simpler. The
clarity is liberating. I have no loyalty towards the fakes – absolutely none. I
happily turn my back on their limiting, parochial energy.
After the sorting and orientation of new students,
we start with our year’s work. I like to start with the end in mind – one of
the points in Stephen Covey’s book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”.
I give students an overview of the year: the dates of the college terms and the
end-of-year scenario, explaining how many tests, pracs and exams are done, and
what the pass requirements are for my subject, English. I advise them about
strategies to meet deadlines and to ensure the heavy workload, across their
subjects, stays manageable.
Like all educators meeting their
new classes I explain the class rules. I refer them to the college’s Code of
Conduct, in display in every classroom, and I explain the chain of command.
I always let the students talk to
me, in my first encounter with a new class. I keep it simple, because I teach people
whose mother tongue is not English, but I make sure I hear everybody’s voice,
and I give everyone my full attention as they speak. Over time, I reinforce, by
example, repetition and consistency, that in my classroom we speak and listen
to each other with respect. It’s very interesting what comes out in the way
they introduce themselves, that first day – very often, the first impression they create
is exactly who they are for that whole year. Sometimes, though, people undergo quite radical change in the course of a
year.
By the end of the first term, our
students will have had about seven weeks of lectures and three weeks of
assessments. Some of them will wonder what they’ve let themselves in for (we
teach the first year of a three-year course), while others will be visibly
blossoming.
And then we have a short break,
after which we have the second term. I’ve been given a 6-month contract (my
third successive one), which means I have peace of mind till the end of June.
Better than being unemployed. This is one area of my life where I crave
certainty and peace of mind. I’ve seen the dark side of the moon – don’t want
to go back there, ever.
*********************************************************************************
I’ve been reading odd articles,
recently, about introverts, and have come to accept that, even though I am a performing
musician and a teacher, I am actually an introvert, needing vast amounts of
time alone, seeking out solo activities. I read about someone who said that
he’d worked out that he needed two hours by himself for every one hour with people.
I haven’t come up with quite so mathematical an approach, but I can relate to
that sentiment. If I’ve been surrounded by people all day, I look forward to a
quiet evening. If I’ve had a few days, even weeks, where I feel my need for
solitude has been frustrated, I’m quite happy to forego big invitations, even
at New Year’s Eve, to spend time by myself. I did it this year again. If you
take a controversial decision and YOU’RE at peace with it, then you know it was
the right decision.
One of the benefits of increased
self-awareness is that you start to understand, and be more confident about,
the choices you make. The better I get to know myself, the clearer my life
becomes, and the more at peace I am with my strong yearnings for particular
kinds of people and experiences.
In conclusion, while I feel
stifled in some areas of my life, flying my flag at half mast, choking on the
toxic air I’m forced to breathe, I have to say that I’m excited about the new
beginnings that lie ahead - one, in particular. But, more about that over the
next few weeks.
All I know is, I’ve been
journeying in a certain direction for quite a few years, and I have sailed some
stormy seas. The truth is - no matter
which way I look at it – I’m still on course. And the people who understand, appreciate
and celebrate that, are the ones who really matter.
