What keeps me going on as a teacher?

The time is 5.30a.m. I woke up around 4.15a.m. and failed to fall asleep so decided I might as well get up and start my day earlier.

Yesterday was not a good day for me as I did not receive my slary due to someone else's irrespondsible working attitude, yet I am lucky as my Principal helped to settle the matter there and then when I told her what has happened to my salary and consulted her on action to be taken. Ok, one problem solved, though I still need to rush to the bank after my extra class with the Form 6 students to activate my Public Bank account as advised by my school clerk, according to her, commercial banks are faster in processing the transactions compared to BSN and it is better to receive my pay through Public than BSN.

Ok, just when I tought that 'uh, at least a bad day with good ending...' Then, well, yes, Then.

My student stayed back after the extra class and talked to me on the subject I am teaching and saying that it is very burdensome for them to spend time on this, and it seems like it is not worth the effort as there are another 4 subjects which require more focus and memorisation. At the same time, the student felt "guilty towards the teacher (which is me) teaching the subject as it is not the teacher's fault but my own problem, some other friends als have the same feelings, that they regreted having to register for taking it he second time. But it's not the teacher's problem, it's ours"

I was still figuring how to respond to this when a question was thrown to me "What keeps you going on as a teacher? Don't you feel bored having to teach the same subject year in year out? And having to face the students who don't really want to learn or who do not do well?"

Well, I'd skipped the part on my conversation with the student thereafter as it did not concern what I'm about to write.

If I were asked this question few years back when I was still a primary school teacher, even in early June where I have yet to teach secondary school, my answer would be 'the satisfaction that comes with my work, seeing the children learning more and more each day, seeing them progress and grow with them...'. Now, the satisfaction's still there but it's not that alone. It's the interaction with the students, and their trust in me. They are individuals with different backgrounds, and bringing with them all sorts of questions/problems. Through the limited hours allocated for the lessons, I came to know them, and they'd talk to me after the lessons, on doubts they have in life, their family, their studies, friends, relationships... I personally think that it is more than what's in the books that a teacher should pass on to the students, it's attitude towards life and values to hold on in the ever-changing and challeging life.

Of course I have my problems, lots of problems actually, but I'm able to face them with faith in God and support from loved ones, and these are the little things I want to share with those who came to see me. Yes as teachers the results of your students will tell others how good you are, but if my students are only able to score well in the exam but suck in life as a person, I'd see that as my failure rather success. I'd rather them to be able to success in life than just on paper, though paper matters a lot i today's world. I am not a good example, to begin with, so i choose to be a sharer rather a role model, and pointing to them the good ones so that they may follow them.