I was absolutely stunned when one of my friends commented that my facebook status were getting very dense and absolutely puzzling. So for her sake and also in the spur of a moment I decided to change it and make it simple by stating that I like someone in my class
I had some of my classmates telling me that they know who 'he' was and that he was kinda cute. I was bemused. It is amazing how we react (including myself) when someone says that. We assume that it must be a particular person who has diverted your interest and in my case it is a guy. That got me thinking, what if my interest was for a girl? Not that I am saying it's not or it is. And what if the intented meaning of the word 'like' is actual a form of admiration for a classmate? It is fun to let everyone go in circles for a while. But then what happens if that happens in school?
You see I had a rather interesting incident where I was very friendly to one of my colleagues and some of my other staff and students starting asking me and him if there was something going on between us. Thank God I was only there for a while and it died down after I left. I sometimes wonder what would have happened if I stayed longer. Perhaps it would have put a strain in our relationship as friends. Such rumors can go out of control when it is not handled with care.
But it is not just such rumors but also small casual behaviour. My friend was telling me that her male friend met her outside school and they were rather close and he usually hugs her when he sees her. He was standing outside and as she walked to greet him she was wondering how she was going to greet him because she was so afraid that her students may see her hugging him. When she reached him she looked around and then hugged him. For once she was so consciously aware of herself as a teacher.
That got me thinking, how much is the job going to control your life? Is it going to change you as a person? Are you going to be a role model at all times? It seems teachers are now like celebraties and students are like paparazzi. I have to watch myself every time I am out because there is a persona I have to carry out. Many may see it as a bad thing, at least I did a few months ago. Now I have learnt to see the good part of it. I have learnt to be more fashion conscious (though I am still learning) and witty (when I have to answer questions from my students) and I am also currently learning to handle rumors. What to say and when. I am not an expert and I am learning. It is not easy but it is really a learning journey for me.
Sometimes I feel being a teacher is so much challenging than begin a local celebrity. It is an intellectual and physical challenge. I think being a teacher in today's age is more than just being noble job. It is a glamorous and dangerous job and trust me it takes more than just passion to teach.
