Who would Have thought?

At the end of the week I'm feeling a sense of accomplishment.
I feel like I am in such a good space and starting to love what I do.

I think for the most part of the year I was resisting the change that i was going through. It is tough to go from being a full time student to working full time and being a full time student. Honestly it is tough, but when have I ever backed down from a challenge?

I really have high hopes for the school, I'd like to see some changes in the music department and I will honestly be the change next year or even next term. I want to start a marimba band at the school but I know it will be a great challenge as I will need to crowd fund like crazy. I think I will put it as one of my 3rd term projects and maybe ask the matrics for some help, make them a part of it.

My students love my classes. I don't try to control and micromanage everything because that is not how life works. I let the learners learn holistically so that they can contextualize the information. I think this is a better way of learning to be honest and I wish I would have had more of that in school.

Who would have thought that I would stay out of choice? not me... but here I am loving the job I do.
The school has so much potential, if only everyone opened their eyes.

Attachment: My Kids

So as most of my friends and family know, I'd really like to move overseas next year.
Well on Friday I had a change of heart. I really want to be here for my kids.

My kids, at what point did I get so attached?
When did I start seeing them as my own babies?
I never thought I'd be that kind of teacher but here I am...

I want to stay until my grade 10's are in matric but suddenly that's 3 years away and do I really want to be here for that long?

My struggles to fit in and conform with lack of guidance have finally resolved them self. I feel more in control and better to work with. I feel like my co-worker and I are finally working as a team and he has admitted that he does not know everything. I think it was hard for both of us as we both needed more guidance and mentoring. It is tough but I feel like I can get a hold of it all.

 So I think I still have lots of thinking to do with regards to my plans for the upcoming year.
None of my plans are set in stone but I do feel the need to stay just a bit longer than I thought I would.

United we shall stand...

This week I had a meeting with my supervisor and my co-work with whom I've had some disagreements. One thing they don't teach you about  at university is that conflict arises and how to deal with it when it does. 

Two weeks before I considered walking away from my job because I did not need this kind of negativity in my life. But, I did not. I stayed. Not for myself but for the learners. With me leaving they would be disadvantaged, that is not fair for them. So I chose them over myself. I decided one more selfless act could not hurt too much. 

We were back on speaking terms and the department is functioning a lot better. It is still really difficult to work with someone who as new to the system as I am. I am just taking things as they come. 

This week was Freedom Day and today is Workers' Day. Our school is very different from the previously model-C school's I was exposed to. The principal blatantly acknowledged that we are not free in this country. Many of these learners are victims of minimum wage modern day slavery. He acknowledged that our president is not acting constitutionally. These are things one would not hear at just any school. Our school has a history of political affiliation with teachers victims of the apartheid government. 

Being at this school is very educational. I get to learn about the life of the average person. I accept that I have lived a privileged life. I am slowly realizing how I have lived many struggles but with a privileged many will never have. 

Amandla.