I have quit teaching

Today I manage to log into my blog and make this update. I have almost forgotten that I have this blog. After 10 years of teaching, at last I manage to leave. The whole process of leaving this career started at least 2 years ago. I have to make sure that all things are in place before leaving because I do really love my school and certainly would not want to leave the department or the management in a fix.

Right now I am still trying to adapt to my new job i.e. home maker cum artrepreneur. It is not exactly working out well at the moment. I have overestimated my ability to manage time with the task of caring for my boys (2 + 1(husband)) and coming up with my series of creative products for teaching of art. Sigh...

Time flies when you are in a rush

This is a brief report of the time spent in the last 10 days. On 26th(Monday) and 27th(Tuesday) of June, I was in school attending a course on 'Understanding by Design' with Susan Clayton. I must say it is worth it as I will need this understanding to come up with impactful and meaningful lessons for my students. On 28th(Wednesday) and 29th (Thursday) of June, I attended the 'Teachers' Conference'. Again this is something I would not want to miss. There was lots of sharing and I am inspired by Mr Liew Mun Leong and teachers from Mayflower Sec and Northlight Sec.

On 29th, I also have to rush back to school and have holiday lessons with my 4NA and 5NA. It was quite a mad rush for me and I end the day with Migraine. I decided that I am going to give myself a break and rested on the 30th. Unfortunately, my migraine lingered on till Tuesday.

I persevered through workshop with Art Club, lesson on Monday with 4NA, Tuesday lesson with 4NA and 5NA and Wednesday Lesson with 5NA. At last, I am done with these classes for the moment. I really hope these students can have self-discipline and do the what they need to do for the sake of the future.

Work Review. This has been something that has been on my mind. I need to get it out to Mr Ho, but since holiday started last week, I have hardly any day off. However, God always make sure that all is given will not overwhelm me. I was really thrilled when Mr Ho allows me submit it at a later date. Now I can truly leave for the camp with ease. My Church Camp which is starting tomorrow and ending on the 9th June. Believe it or not, we have to report at KCPSS at 6.30am and I am still awake typing away. I guess I am just too excited.

Man and the force of Nature

Today is a day that is quite challenging physically. I woke up with my migraine still there. I had this headache problem for a couple of years and it has got worst during the last 8 years of teaching. Sometimes I just wish to call it quit and leave teaching althogether but I hang in there.

I woke up a couple of times to check my boys, Qian Yi and Qian Peng. As usual, they always kick away their blankets. Like what any mother will do, I got up and set things right. Motherhood has certainly made me accountable to these 2 lovable boys.

Poping in a third tablet for the week, I set off to my school and tried to get all things in place for my art workshop with Art Club. Our project is quite an interesting task. We have been given a wall to decorate. This wall has numerous strand of corroded excretion oozing from the top of wall. It is quite a digusting sight.

Frankly speaking, I did not take on this challenge without first trying to get Mr Zainal, our VP, to try to solve this awful wall with real technical solution. He convinced me that they have tried to seek professional advice and all can do nothing about the wall and its excretion. As always, I love to be given problems that require creative ideas.

With much given time, I was able to sort through my thoughts and as always, God is there for me. I figured out that these natural formation of lines is a combined effort of man and the force of nature. The work of nature required of us to work along side with it. With inspiration from the book of Ecclesiastes, I reckon that that is 'the Big Idea' I want the Art Club members to take away from the workshop.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
From The Holy Bible (King James Version)Attributed to King Solomon

To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sow; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war; and a time of peace.

Indeed, there is a time for everything. These verse has helped me much and I believe it can also help the Art Club members to gain insight into the forces of nature and the work mankind can contribute, be it positive or negative. There is a natural force to seek equilibrium in life. Our very existance may just be God's way to use us to proof to others that He exist.

I was glad that I have done this project with Art Club.

My first entry

This is indeed a very special day for me to decide to take on this task. I had wanted to start a blog but many thoughts held me back. I gave myself excuses like the usual 'NO TIME', 'TOO BUSY with kids' and 'There are BETTER things to do' etc. At last, I decided to go for it. Thats a pat on my own shoulder.

I know nobody might even read all these now, but I hope when someday when I have to leave this place, many people who has somehow cross my path will know of how much they meant to me.