I was sorting through my emails and deleting emails from many years ago when I chanced upon this email which I had sent to a tuition centre in 2008.
Reading my response brought back a few memories.
:)
Here's the entry:
Question: What would you consider as your biggest achievement and why?
My biggest achievement is effectively reaching out to the students that I have taught in different yet, effective ways. For instance, I have been teaching this boy called Benedict since he was in Primary 3 in 2006 and when I first had him in class, he was a very reluctant learner and a difficult child to work with. He sulked, cried, fussed and simply refused to do work. However, I worked with him using both "hard" and "soft" methods and made him understand why his mother had enrolled him in the enrichment centre and what he should do to be a good student. Slowly but surely, he became less prickly and more receptive. Today (2008) as a Primary 5 student, he is a very earnest learner who is conscientious and tries his best for every exercise and asks questions when in doubt. I am very proud of him. Additionally, it is heart-warming that now, Benedict is very close to me and he comes to me to chat when we have some free time after his class is over. Making such meaningful connections with students and in the process, making positive differences through teaching, like the one mentioned, are my biggest and most fulfilling achievements to date. Last but not least, another aspect that I am certainly proud of is that my students stick with me for the long haul as they have fun learning together with me and they know that I am truly sincere in guiding them.
I remember Benedict fondly. 12 years have flown by swiftly. He is now (2020) 23 years old and I believe that he must be doing well in life.
All the best to all the students whom I have taught before.
I wish you all well, always. :)
