Photo illustration: Novita Eka Syaputri
This article is part of the Teachers' Notes series on beginning teachers' career expectations.
It is not an easy feat to become a teacher in the future. I hope my passion for teaching students will not wear off over time. I need to remember that I've chosen this path [of becoming a teacher], so I need to take responsibility.
In the next decade, I want to be a teacher beloved by students and their parents. I want to become the reason parents send their children to the school where I teach. I want to always inspire people and never give up.
Even though I've had my ups and downs, I should not let my guards down. I have to be consistent with my choices and remember my goal of serving my country.
Not Easily Pleased with Achievements
I have a positive working environment, a supportive school principal, and helpful friends. Although our school is not large, I'm sure my colleagues share the same purpose to create a fun school and beloved by the people.
When I successfully become a civil servant, I hope I will not be easily pleased with my achievement. I know that keeping up my excitement has been difficult lately due to being in a comfort zone for the past year during the pandemic.
Being a prospective civil servant suddenly becomes a burden. I began to worry about being a teacher paid by the government but falls short on my work.
I keep fighting against my laziness. I have to be productive and devote myself to education. I hope, in the next ten years to my retirement, I'll always brim with enthusiasm and whole-heartedly serving the country.
Keep on Innovating!
I promise to become a teacher who is always hungry for knowledge, not easily discouraged, and never stops innovating.
It is true that one of my motivations [to work as a teacher] is to earn a living, but I do not want to make my salary my main goal. There is no point in being a wealthy teacher but not doing our best for Indonesia’s education.
For me, success is being able to take students to what they aspire to be. Seeing their success is the most beautiful thing, an extraordinary achievement for me. I hope I can always inspire students not to be easily discouraged by the circumstances and stay focused on their goals.
*This Note was written by DP, 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.
