MY FIRST GRADUATING CLASS
My Journey for the past 10 months with IPG
The first class that I conducted finally graduated and in a few months time, they will be holding their graduation certificate on stage with the graduation robes.
Thinking back the past few months ago when I first step into the classroom with my section head, I was seriosuly not ready to be a lecturer. And that was 10 months ago. I did not know what to do and do not know how to handle the students. The students are really different from what I had experienced before in my previous workplace.
Everyone is dress in uniform, and they look very young and not knowing who am I. The only thing I had in mind was will they be able to accept me as their lecturer and as their new class advisor. The first class that I am going to conduct is having the students to work some projects with me and to strengthen their design skills. It was quite scary when they look at me with the look of 'who do you think you are'. But at least I am able to take control of the class and everything went on smoothly with the help of my section head. thank God.Working projects with them gaves me a further insights about them and getting to know them individually is something I learnt to understand further about my students and I tell myself that I will always try to be there for them. At last my project assistant joint me to take care of the projects with the students. Thank God again that this assistant of mine is really close to the students and he will be the one telling me about who is good and who should I look out for and stuffs that a lecturer will not see in details and that only the assistants able to see the details of everything.Time flies of fast and I know that I had been very strict to my students. And I also know that they do not like to follow the rules. They always break the rules no matter what kind of punishment given to them. I did not understand why do they behave that way and they are naturally rebellious. In my heart, I was telling myself, 'if my kids are like this, I will get them to climb the stairs up and down for a thousand times!'!!.Really stressed out period but at least my students get the job done, pass with flying colors and tha da..That was 10 months ago..Three months ago..I am going to take the same class again and I was thinking that oh no..I am going to face the same problem again. Having rebellious kids around me and there goes problems and problems again.And true enough, they really gave me cold shoulders because they know that I will give them alot more works and pressuring them for quality works. They were so rebellious and that you would not want to imagine. Crappy works, vulgarity here and there, cold shoulders..sigh..i gave up and I broke down in front of my colleagues...sigh..And my this colleague is really nice...she told my students what had happen and explained to them why am I treating them this way. At least there is someone out there who shows me the end of the tunnel there are still some source of light...Thanks to my colleagues who gave me support and finally I see a changed in my students attitude and behaviour. And this makes me think that I need to change my approach.All these while, I realized that I had given the wrong impression and used a different approached in approaching my students. At least they changed for the better and they also realized the need for them strive harder in everything they do. i am glad that they realized it earlier during the semester.The time comes for the first presentation to be conducted between both classes. And that was the first time, I saw smilling faces in each and everyone of them. They had placed all their heart and souls in the projects and after the presentation, joy and smile was seen sparkling all over the auditorium. They know that they had done well and they had made me proud. very proud of my class.Second projects comes running in and they promised me that they will work doubly hard for the projects. I would not say all of them placed their heart and soul but at least they are able to continue with me and the rest of the class to try their best to complete the module.Time flies very very quickly when the least unexpected students placed the greatest effort to strive the best out of him. This was like such a miracle that I will not forget.But before that, about three weeks ago, I remember to called into my section head office, one of my student was caught red handed with inappropriate attire and with possession of cigarretes. That was the time that I told myself that I have never seen such a face with full of vengence and revenge. I am so afriad that he will blow up and take a knife either murder someone or himself right on the spot. Trying talking to him comes to no conclusion, just words of feriousness and revenge is all in his mind. He broke down and started punching himself vigourously and throwing tamtrum on solid metal bar in the room. Me and section head was really stunned and do not know what to do. But then at least he calms down a while later when he comes to his senses.
And again yet another set of presentation comes and go...
Having all these ups and downs makes me understand further on my students and makes me closer to them. It is a joy and calamity that come to think of it as a lecturer and as a friend that I have for my first graduating class. And because of all of you, my tears are rolling down with joy to think back the struggling period of understanding each other and the squabbling of different opinions.
Thank you IPG for making me proud again and to have you in my mind always. Love all of you and you will always be in my heart.
