Intersection 31

When determination and convention meet...

Change is the only thing permanent in the world. While I am strongly attached to the previous sentence, I find myself facing the difficulty of presenting change to the people around me. There is a fine line between looking like a 'know-it-all' and expressing a potentially good idea for the betterment of the status quo, and I cannot entirely dare to make a bold move now.

What a shame.

Not that I cannot stand by my decision (if ever) to begin change, but there are a lot of factors I ought to consider (and reconsider) if ever I do decide to make my foot take a step forward. I guess there are things that are very much intertwined with convention, including the insinuating close-mindedness of beings. Age ideally earns wisdom, which is not always the case. I do have a certain respect for people who have a good number of years on their shoulders already, but I cringe at the fact that potentials are lost because of how other people perceive a situation. Experience ought to make us better ... certainly not bitter.

I have a long way to go, whether it be in my career, in my personal life, in the improvement of my belief systems and eventually my character. Many people will have to be a part (and depart) from my life for me to learn certain things. Many situations will test me to bend rules or my convictions. Many things will aim to try to affect me in ways I have never imagined. Many more strikes will life give me before I can define how determined I can really be.

Convention and change. Two words wrestling in my mind at the moment. They probably can never see each other in the eye, but is it possible for them to compromise? Can I ever understand the balance of both in the choice I ought to make? Must I sacrifice my need to change the status quo just because convention makes things easier? Or can I rock the boat of convention to allow the water-like change to flow into convention's holes?

I hope you find something conventional to challenge.

Until the next determined move,
Myra

(The photo is mine :) )

Intersection 30

When an unexpected situation and hyperactivity meet...

Today, I have experienced being a substitute adviser of a Grade 1 class - a very overwhelming experience I don't know how to begin talking about.

Meeting 20 children at once is something I have not anticipated recently. I am fond of dealing with children, but being a class adviser seemed to be too far out against my interest. I know children are hyperactive and playing is one of their primary activities, but watching almost everyone in class attend to a different thing or game made me want to get out of the classroom. But I didn't.

The children I have dealt with today proved my adoration for children. They may be too chaotic often. They spill their drinks or are clumsy with their things. They may tease each other with sometimes senseless words (or jokes), but then they eventually play with each other after a few minutes. They may accidentally (sometimes intentionally) hit their classmates, but they will be interested in a game or a toy. Children are cute packages of contradictions. Some pupils randomly gave me a hug or told me I'm kind, even if I've raised the tone of my voice to get their attention. Some pupils do not need supervision while they are copying notes while others constantly update me about what word they're currently writing down. The entire day was definitely full of these kinds of things - happening almost at the same time.

*sigh* I still feel too active for my own good right now. Though I didn't have my recess and only spent five minutes for lunch, today has been packed with lessons I cannot learn in school. My respect for teachers has increased so much, that I would want to give every teacher I ever had a Thank You note (and a day-off for them to pamper themselves). I didn't even notice that I stood for hours straight, consciously checking on every child in class. What an example of sacrifice teachers truly make!

Having written a post about being a teacher, I feel proud about giving it a shot. I now know that I can handle a class of children. but I have plenty of things to work on. I missed the guidance office in that short span of time, and I can't imagine myself being an official class adviser anytime soon. Well, let's see how things will unfold.

I hope you find an unexpected situation you can be hyperactive about.

Until the next situation,

Myra

(Credits to clipartpanda.com for the photo)