A TUTOR AND A HALF

  MY FIRST SOURCE OF TEARS AS AN EDUCATOR SENT TO A PUBLIC SCHOOL Right now, I look at those days and I smile but to be honest, at the beginning of my journey I did a lot of crying. I was that fellow that left the training institute with a lot of anticipation and passion, I couldn’t wait to meet my pupils and start the transformation journey. I went all the way to ask questions and document what the expectations of Teach for Nigeria were and I was ready to stick to them with everything I had. Ah! Trust me nah! First week of resumption, I was already bringing my laptop, tablet, and all the other gadgets I had for classroom illustration, taking my pupils outside the class for some natural engagements, changing my class sitting arrangement, and having special greeting styles with my pupils which were not the usual “kneel down to greet” approach I met there. One thing I didn’t know was that my assistant head teacher wasn’t happy about most of the changes that came about when I joined t...

                                     A LETTER TO MY 2 YEARS AGO SELF By this time two years ago I was in a dilemma, at that point, I had received my employment letter from Teach for Nigeria and though I was excited about the role, I was scared and anxious about how things would pan out; moving from Jos, Plateau State to Ijebu-Ode in Ogun state. I wondered if I would fit into that environment considering that I did not understand the Yoruba language. Right now I look at those moments and I smile because if I had the opportunity to meet my 2 years ago self, I would have alot of things to say: Ah! Agnes, you worry too much, I understand that this trait makes you over plan and over prepare which will be a plus as time goes on but babe, I need you to CALM DOWN (in Rhema's voice) because everything panned out well at the end of your fellowship infact you did amazing. You see this your work ethic, it...

The motivation for this topic is credited to a coaching platform that I signed up for recently and I am grateful to my coach Ms. Mary Orji for all I am learning in the cause of our 10-week inner-circle programme for educators. Growth Mindset revolves around believing that things can become better and that there’s the possibility that something can progress for the better opposed to the fixed mindset where the belief system is that things would most likely not change for the better. A fixed-minded educator believes that there’s no way an educator can make great impact, be popular and still make money off teaching by investing in themselves enough that they themselves begin to become value creators, fixed minded educator places the power of professional development in the hands of the employer while an educator with a growth mindset believes that we can change our lives and advance our careers even within the education space, he believes in putting in the work to produce results. Agnes O...

    1.  Waiting to go somewhere where the grass is greener: Truth be told, a lot of teachers are in the teaching space because “Nigeria happened to them” which is the main reason why we have a lot of tutors who at the most hate their jobs and at the least are going through the motions so they can have credit alerts at the end of the month. From my experience I have come to the realization that the grass is greener only where it is watered, so whether or not you are in this practice because you love it or you just had no choice, the fact is, you’re here now and the good news is that there are principles that would stand you out if you apply them irrespective of the reason why you’re in the space. I understand that this is not where you want to be but what if you’re there at this point in time for a reason? would you rather just be unhappy at the moment whilst you wait for what you want to come? If I were you, I would find a way to have fun with what I’m currently doing, ou...