I don’t really plan on becoming a teacher. That’s for sure! The chaotic work schedule, noisy kids, and teaching responsibilities aren’t really my thing. But the pandemic has compelled me to be one.
My younger sister’s online classes started earlier than mine, and since my parents are busy with their online meetings and webinars and my grandmother doesn’t know how to use a computer, I am the only one available to help her.
However, her online classes were not as easy as I thought they would be. I and my sister were very perplexed by the online platform her school is using for lessons.
The site is difficult to use, lessons in the form of videos load too slowly, and the teachers discussing on the videos sometimes speak too fast.
It was agonizing for me to supervise my sister, as she took down notes of the lessons presented online and as we navigated through the mishmash of video classes on the platform.
But I accepted the task of helping my sister with her online classes, so I had to be the teacher she needed during this time. I had to be patient yet efficient and effective if she has to finish and complete her tasks.
I remembered what my mother said in one of her webinars: that for “teaching and learning to happen during the pandemic, everyone needs to reframe their lenses in order to accept the changes in the way teaching and learning is done now.”
And reframe my lenses, I did! I had to see things like a teacher would do to be able to support my sister’s learning.
I finally had an idea how to teach and assist my younger sister in her online classes. I was the teacher I never thought I was! Now, my younger sister knows how to use the platform a bit. It was painstaking, but fulfilling in the end.
I suddenly remembered what my First Year adviser told me about how fulfilling it was for a teacher to see their students succeed. It was the same feeling I had assisting my younger sister.
Indeed, it takes something special to become a teacher. It takes commitment to be able to help another who knows less so that they can have a chance to become better in life. This is just one small step forward for me and my sister, but who knows? It may lead to bigger things for us in the future.
I may not be a true teacher yet, but I’m happy to be given this chance to serve as one at home.
The author is an incoming Grade 9 student at Quezon City Science High School.