Photo illustration: Novita Eka Syaputri
This article is part of the Teachers' Notes series on beginning teachers' career expectations.
Hopes and dreams are inevitable for everyone, including myself. Although I've fulfilled my dreams one by one, I still wish to move forward and grow. Having hopes and dreams makes us human.
A Role Model for Students
I am no longer a small child. I am a teacher for children striving to reach their aspirations. In this global, modern age where technology advances incredibly fast, I want to balance those influences with local culture. I want to become a role model for students; a modest, well-mannered teacher who mastered technology to keep my students from falling behind.
One other thing I want to achieve is to form a competitive, high-quality, modern, and honest work culture. I want to create activities focusing on students’ and teachers' development. It is not an easy feat and it takes time as well as much support from many people. However, nothing is impossible for a noble cause.
Reaching hopes and dreams can't simply be put in words. It has to start from within oneself. Teacher may be capable of guiding their students but the system and work culture need authority and power to change. A decade might be enough to make this comes true, even though it has to be done bits by bits.
A Well-Established Career
After ten years of being in this profession, I still long for a more mature career. I am still collecting as much knowledge and experience as I can. As a beginning teacher with capability, work ethic, and a thirst for experience, I have to be engaged in school business. Everything helped me to become strong, resilient, and wise in front of problems in case I am given greater responsibility.
I am planning to get a post-graduate degree in order to reach my goal. I hope the universe allows me some chances. Seven or nine years later, at the age of 35, I want to become a school principal. Being a principal would allow me to create a system and culture that I've envisioned, even in a small scope. It is not a problem to contribute to a smaller institution. Instead, losing passion and impulse to change is worse.
The hopes and dreams I’ve mentioned will never become true without support from the local government, department of education, school principal, my fellow teachers, parents, and students. I hope the top-down system can create a positive work culture in a competitive, free-from-nepotism institution.
*This Note was written by BR, a primary school teacher in East Java.
**All articles published in the Teachers' Notes are the views of the authors. They have been edited for popular writing purposes and do not represent the views of RISE Programme in Indonesia or RISE's funders.
