Do you want to be a Teacher?? Errr...

“What do you want to do in the future?”

“What kind of job do you dream of?”

“What will you do to make a living later on?”

“What is your dream?”

And all the question ended up with one answer only.

“Well, I don’t want to be a teacher.”

I thought that being a teacher would do the same thing over years. Wake up earlier, wear a formal uniform or clothes, go to school, teach children or adolescents, go home, give mark for the students, and do the same things everyday.

I am someone who get bored very easily. I like moving around, I want to have a dynamic life, I don’t like staying inside room all day long. Then, I though that being a teacher didn’t suit me at all.

But, I kept teaching at that time for one reason. I wanted to make money.

First, I applied in one institution which became a bridge for a teacher and a student. So, they would  seek for the client for us, and we would come to the client’s houses to give extra lesson, English lesson, for sure. Then they met me to one student in Ambarawa. That was my first time teaching human, ehm..teaching children. In the beginning, there were two students. One was junior high school student and another was senior high school student. But, just in some months, they quitted. All of them quitted. I failed and ended up teaching their youngest sister who was in the forth grade of elementary school.\

“It is not my field, but I have to survive, again, for one reason. It is the only one I could afford to make money. Since I get bored easily, being shop assistant was not me, at all.”

Started from 2011 until now, I still give private English lesson for her, she is going to the sixth grade of elementary school now.

The second chance, I was once invited by one of my friend to replace her teaching English in elementary school. Ya, it was really elementary school. I became a real teacher who taught many children in one room at once. I taught every Saturday started from 7 am on time up to when the school ended. Together with the other friends, I survived for two months only. Once my friends quitted, I followed them. But back then, I gained so many experiences teaching children. I taught the first, second, and third grade of elementary school students at that time. Everytime they were going to go back, they kissed my hand and said thank you. And I said thank you to God giving me a chance to experience such an incredible thing. But, since I don’t like children, I don’t want to be a elementary teacher later on.

The third, I was accepted in one institution which offer many extra lessons at once. So, they have many teachers from all subjects, including me. Together with my friends and through my friend’s recommendation, I could work there as English and Indonesian teacher. Still, the reason is the same.

“What did I prepare?”

Love. I prepared nothing because I always taught them based on their materials in school. I prepared Google everytime I didn't know what to do or I forgot about the material. As time goes by, I get used to the way they work, and I can fit myself in it. I gain so much knowledge about English material, grammar, and it enrich es me a lot.  I gain so many experiences being English and Indonesia teacher for elementary, junior high school, and senior high school back then. And I still work there.

The fourth, I have ever taught senior high school students in my ex-high school. At that time, I had a wish to have a teaching practicum in my ex-high school. Thanks to God, my wish came true. I could teach there for about three months. Well, I had to have a lot of patience since they were all grown-up students. After all, I enjoyed it a lot. At the end of the semester, I asked them to write suggestion and impression about me, and I gained a lot of good impression and suggestion. Thanks for all students there! I am so grateful. Here is the letters.

Last, since I have nothing to do nowadays, I applied in one of English courses near my campus. But last month, I had another mission. I want to try something new in teaching. Also, this course offer English lesson based on Cambridge curriculum. Ehm... I mean the material is taken from hand-book from Cambridge. It reminds me when I learnt English in my first semester, because we used the Cambridge book and the material was totally good and interesting.

This course offers English lesson for public, so many people from many different background knowledge come together for one reason, to study English, for different missions as well. Some want to continue their study overseas, some want to study in flight attendant school, some want to have a better job, and other different missions.

And once in my life, I realize that it is the most interesting teaching experience that I have ever had!

I meet many different people with different background, of course with different characteristics. Some are chinese, some come from Medan, Riau, and near Timor Leste, and some are local people. Some want to speak more, some want to master the grammar, and others want to be able to understand people talking in English.

I have to meet their need. I can meet different people, share knowledge and ideas, and exchange the experiences we have.

I am on fire teaching them. For me, teaching is learning. They learn something from me, and I learn something else from them.

I like speaking in front of people. I am talkactive person, and I like trying something new. And this chance offers me anything I want.

I though that teaching was boring. But the perspective changes once I get here. For me, teaching is gaining something new, teaching is not merely about delivering knowledge, but it goes beyond it.

I realize that I’m not well-paid now. Nevertheless, I do realize that the one I need now is not merely about money, but experience. To have experience, we have to have experience. Once we have a chance to have experience, then just take it. Later on, with the experience in hand, we could take one step ahead to the more interesting experiences and the better payment. Just go up step by step, because in life, God never provides escalator. Those who don’t have willing to get through the challenge and step in stair by stair then forever they stay in the same stair. That’s what books tell me.

Still, I have other dreams I need to accomplish. My study is reaching the end, and my real journey is waiting in the front. If I have chance to be a teacher, I want to teach for public. I want to meet many many new people and share many many ideas. I want to teach English for certain purposes. I want to teach people with different job and try to fill in their needs. I dont’t like children because they are noisy.. hehehe..I don’t like adolescents either because I can easily get irritated with the way they treat teacher, haha.. I like teaching adults because I don’t need say ‘please be quiet’ since they can control themselves and it is more challenging since I like trying something new and something I have never done before. But still, I can deal with all kinds of students. It is just the matter about how I feel.

Oh my, I have so many dreams actually. I hope I can reach every dream I have. I am young, I have ability, I have chance, and I have God. I have long long journey to go, and I will enjoy every single step I take while looking for a better path along the street. In God’s hand, I’m praying.

And here I go.