Photo illustration: Tony Liong
This article is part of the Teachers' Notes series on “If you could go back and start all over again, would you still become a teacher?”
Peacefulness, a joyful heart, and being a good listener are the things I've received from being a teacher.
The joy I felt did not come from my salary nor my position but from enjoying communication with students at school. So, if I could repeat the past, I would still become a teacher because I know how I enjoyed this profession.
For me, someone who knows how to enjoy their job and their passion are lucky. They will stand tall and fight tooth and claw to overcome any hardship and problem.
My Calling since Childhood
Being a teacher has been my calling since I was in primary school. I love sharing things I had, including my knowledge. At the time, I made study groups for children in my village.
Still, the passion to become a teacher once died when I was in junior secondary school because I did not study well. That was before I met inspiring teachers in senior secondary school and got the full support from my parents to fight for my dream of becoming a teacher.
Proving to Oneself
My journey to becoming a teacher was not easy. There were many ups and downs, including financial problems because I had to study in a different city. When I finished my study and became a teacher, I got to prove to myself that I was more capable than I thought. This process made me more determined to become a teacher.
Character building during my teacher training continues until now. Many unexpected things happened that made me someone flexible, willing to learn, and with integrity.
*This Note was written by RCA, a primary school teacher in Central 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.
