from http://www.bpsd.org/williampenn/room103/whyteach.htm

What Do Teachers Make?

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.
One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued:
"What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

He reminded the other dinner guests that it's true what
they say about teachers: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach."
To corroborate, he said to another guest: "You're a teacher, Susan," he said.
"Be honest. What do you make?" Susan, who had a reputation of honesty and frankness,
replied, "You want to know what I make?"

"I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I can make a
C+ feel like a Congressional Medal of Honor and an A- feel like a C+ slap in
the face if the student did not do his or her very best."
"I can make kids sit through 40 minutes of study hall in absolute silence."
"I can make parents tremble in fear when I call home."

"You want to know what I make?"

"I make kids wonder."
"I make them question."
"I make them criticize."
"I make them apologize and mean it."
"I make them write."
"I make them read, read, read."
"I make them spell definitely beautiful, definitely beautiful, and definitely beautiful
over and over and over again, until they will never misspell either one of those words again."
"I make them show all their work in math and hide it all on their final
drafts in English."
"I make them understand that if you have the brains, then follow your heart
... and if someone ever tries to judge you by what you make, you pay them
no attention."

"You want to know what I make?"
"I make a difference."
"What about you?

Another version: from Ms Tan's facebook page
The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life.. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued, 'What's a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?'

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: 'Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach.' To stress his point he said to another guest; 'You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?'

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, 'You want to know what I make?

(She paused for a second, then began...)

'Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could. I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 minutes without an iPod, Game Cube or movie rental. You want to know what I make?'

(She paused again and looked at each and everyperson at the table.)
''I make kids wonder.
I make them question.
I make them apologize and mean it.
I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.
I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn't everything.
I make them read, read, read.
I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.
I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know in English while preserving their unique cultural identity.
I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

I make my students stand, placing their hand over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag, One Nation Under God, because we live in the United States of America.
Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.'

(Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)
'Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant...

You want to know what I make?

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr.CEO?'
His jaw dropped, he went silent.

Today’s my fourth time at BHID, and the first time being part of the committee and hence being at the Under-the-sea station to guide both volunteers and residents, and also taking part in the setting-up process, and taking photos of our activities etc.

Compared to the first 3 times, today I felt really busy with the multiple roles. As compared to the first three times when I only had to passively follow the residents around and guide them along in the games. Truthfully I did feel it was a bit boring last time, especially because I couldn’t communicate so well with the residents at the start and was feeling lost and wandering whether I would continue to volunteer here, esp on a sat morning – traditionally a time for me to wake up late and laze in bed.

The first time was with SM, I was pretty lost as to how to interact with her, and she was new to me as well. Plus she has quite a reserved character and I didn’t know what to do, it became a bit awkward at times, and old volunteers would come over, help chit chat a bit etc. But in the end, I was quite relieved at the fact that she gave me a huge hug and a kiss on my cheek before she went off for lunch. (=

The second and third was with SH, and today I actually felt quite bad that he’s without a volunteer attached to him as I was with the under-the-sea station and taking photos around. Sighs. I hope he understands that it’s not that I abandon him there. The previous two times he would always hold on to my hand when moving around, and sit on my right, very close always. And last week when I went a little away to tell them the story of saying thank you, he looked a bit insecure. Today when I looked afar at him, I could see he was looking at me. Sighs. Oh man. I tried explaining to him that I have to help at other places that’s why I cant go around with him today. I hope it’s ok.

And actually, I have grown to love this bunch of people, whether the volunteers or the residents. One thing I realized is that how simple happiness can be. When I am feeling rather tired from lab reports, or studying, or getting emo about being away from home on weekdays, the laughter and chatter from the residents and volunteers, and some valuable friendships from this place have really brought a significant amount of joy and laughter into my life. How much more laughter that I experience on weekdays when I am either with xuanny or alone in my room in pgp!
The residents’ friendly disposition really touches my hearts. I never realized how much the acknowledgement of someone’s efforts, presence and just saying hello, and heartwarming hearts make a person’s day. Everytime I turn up at the gate of the home, one of them would press the button to open the gate (actually I think that’s quite risky u know, opening without checking the visitor’s identity), then they would wave and wave happily from affair at their canteen, and how enthusiastically I would try to wave back. Haha. Then when u go up to the multi purpose hall, how they would say hello, shake your hands, give u a hug, and come to tell u about their life, their family, what they want to do etc. It’s just like kids, but they aren’t really kids. Haha. I don’t know how to describe. But that hugs from the residents really really make me smile, and seeing how they enjoy the activities (actually I think they prefer the company more than the activities la) really make me think that the morning spent is worthwhile sacrificing my sleep for.

But a very important thing I learnt today was how much a person’s presence matters to someone else, and how much more I need to learn how to communicate with them, not only through words but also actions. At the start of the morning when one of them was hugging very close to me at the start and I was with her, but I couldn’t understand what she was trying to tell me. It was also a mistake that I left her a while to attend to someone else cos I realized she felt that I was abandoning her to someone else and kind of ignored me after that. Sighs.

This communication thing really matters a lot in order to serve the residents better. And I need to learn how to speak and understand dialects. Today was exceptional in the sense that quite a number of them actively came and chatted with me, and I was quite happy to be listening, to be chatting, yet I know that I can do much better. I don’t know how to. But to know better what they mean behind their actions, how to interpret and decipher what they are saying, to get to know them better, and to think of how they can benefit more from our activities and better integrate into our society.

But don’t u think they need more than our weekly visits to integrate into the mainstream society? Here our activities are streamlined for them, and it’s not really our society in general.

Let me be committed to this cause, a cause which I didn’t ever planned to take. It was pretty coincidental that I came to volunteer at bhid, how I got to meet suhui, and admired how xinyi carries out her work so professionally, and this entire group of volunteers plus those who have already graduated who still come back to help.

So… after this blogpost, it’s time to go back to type the post for the official bhid rvp blog, hopefully with more ideas to blog now (=

Just a random musing that i didnt want to delete:

Things that I never knew
Invigilation – my gosh, it can get really boring’
Teaching – lesson prep – my gosh, it gets really long.
The fear of so many pairs of eyes staring at u
Admin work can drive u mad: collating questions, surveys

Havent visited here in ages as i lost the desire to actually type out what i think about.

this time, it's after reading wuzhen's blog, and after watching this channel u show about stars volunteering at places around the world, that require our care and concern. wuzhen was blogging about her inspirations from the sharing by the northlight principal during induction on monday.

Somehow i felt really touched on monday, sherrie was beside me. though i managed not to tear (not like the first time i watched the "make a difference movie" and the clip about how a jap teacher was touching the lives of children who lost their parents when i literally teared), i felt simply very touched by the dedication of this principal and her teachers. her teachers who paid for passport-making of these kids who didnt have passports such that they could go malacca for their learning journey, teachers who thought of their innovative ideas to help these kids, eg maths trail at terminal 3, camps where these kids and their parents come together to learn new skills together and be together. these kids are just like any other, although they had failed psle a couple of times, and at the bottom 0.5% of their respective cohort. But they have the compassion, unlike us, to reach out to the elderly living near their school campus. They started this project to change the lightbulbs in the houses of these elderly. One of the elderly actually told the kids this, today u light up my house, tomorrow someone will light up your life. and i would say, the kids are indeed lighting up somebody's life through their efforts.

I was really touched by her sharing, her sharing was very inspiring. and hopefully her sharing has also touched the hearts of these scholars who have promised to the interview panel, that they are the ones who would make a difference in the lives of the next generation, and who mould the future of the nation.

i remembered all these very inspiring sharings, those by ms dorothy tay of TIP training in Jan, the Dunman High principal during scholarship tea session. it is god's gift that these people manage to have the dedication and commitment to these kids, to education.

perhaps more than just dedication, it's love, that is patient, to carry on helping these kids, waiting for them to open their hearts just to embrace the world more, and making positive changes in their lives.

Sherrie was with me, and we decided to actually request for a short attachment at northlight. but of course, we were thinking whether it's even possible, cos we have different holidays, we have our respective school attachments to fulfil etc.

And though i felt a calling to help these underprivileged kids, i wonder how much can i commit? i was doubtful that i have the love for them, it takes so much more passion than usual to teach them. Would i be tired halfway and give up? Would i be able to sustain? if i decide to help them. It would be really unfair to them if i give up halfway.

And i think about the kids whom i met last year in cip. i kinda missed them. and perhaps because of the cip last year, cos of the tv show, cos of kids' outreach at church that day, cos of these inspiring stories from these principals, i think i have decided to engage in volunteer work again, in nus. let me be a light to others too.

do watch this if u have time, it never fails to inspire me everytime i watch, this year at the tip training, before i went to the interviews, at the scholarship tea session, and today (=

http://www.makeadifferencemovie.com/

After i reached home at 10.30pm, i took a bath, and quickly sat down to submit online brightsparks application form for caas and dsta, both which i have already completed this morning. and at the last minute, i decided to fill in the form for mas as well, hence the rush to answer their questionnaire - ie essay - but my answer was so short it's not an essay.

and here ends my request for scholarships - i think that's all i want to apply for. even for these 3, there is not much point to it, as my areas of study are not really going to match. i m prepared not to get them, it's just that i choose to believe that at least i did try to apply.

ok there is no logic to this. this sounds dumb on my part.

then i was free, momentarily, to do other stuff that includes things like facebooking, surfing blogs, chatting on msn, checking emails, keying in timesheet, thinking about uni courses, staring into space, typing this, thinking about life....

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yesterday was my actual day of birthday, i did feel slightly disappointed that most of my friends werent free to celebrate, or rather, since friday was a better timing for everyone to meet, and friday is actually eliz's actual day, we shall meet on friday instead.

BUT RO was free to go bugis with me! yay! thanks my dear girl! i was wearing this new dress i bought last friday (sarah's birthday celeb) and wearing a black blouse as a "coat" cos the new dress is slightly revealing according to my standards.

Hence i needed a cardigan/coat/whatever u can have on top to cover part of my shoulders.

And poor RO had to accompany me one whole day to find one. one that's pleasing to the eye at least, and not too expensive. if i didnt rmb wrongly, i think i easily tried on at least 20 pieces, and also dresses and skirts and blouses and what not. basically i was in a shopping mood. i want to buy stuff to wear. i m turning up in school in plain colour tee shirts most of the time.

tada. after exploring the entire building of bugis junction, i managed to get a "coat" that's 29 bucks. the price is okay to me, considering that it's so difficult to even find a suitable one. well. 29 bucks that it may be then.

and i managed to get a skirt that 29 bucks too, half price from its original. my conclusion is that the original is overpriced. still the same style as my usual skirts. ok. at least there's a new print. at least.

it's very hard for me to find clothes that fit as i m getting too fat. that's a fact i cant deny actually. and i m not that rich as to buy anything that fits. hence although i go shopping rather frequently, i do not actually spend very frequently. Yet, when i do spend on clothes, i spend more than others because i cant get something that fits and has a lower price easily.

and we had lunch too. just chatting about our holiday life in general. and i was entertaining her with my stories of last week's relief teaching and gossip and well, we could talk non stop. prob it shows how close we are? we could constantly find things to talk about, not having that kind of awkward silence with some of my acquaintances.

and if i rewind the time again, before rachel reached bugis, i was replying smses, and answering xiaowen's questions - by phone. and inevitably talked about uni and scholarships and future plans. at this point of time in life, this is just a common topic.

then i took a mrt ride to novena to meet my parents for dinner. a nice meal at xiang gang jie. with a super delicious dessert of yam paste to top up everything today (=

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Friday:

morning, woke up earlier to type some scholarship application stuff before meeting xinyuan. again, i was on the phone call with xiaowen as i couldnt figure out the references thing on brightsparks.

basically, brightsparks wanted to have 2 people that can be your character referees. but they dont need u to attach copies of their references. they only want the teachers' phone numbers and email addresses.

Since they mentioned phone numbers - which to me, is a very personal thing, i didnt want to put the numbers down without their permission. and hence i called xiaowen to ask what i was supposed to do.

so she said, message them, ask whether they agree. lol. i should have thought of that right. dumb me.

so on my way to the mrt station to meet xinyuan, i was messaging mrs jalleh and ms clara lee.

then... me and xinyuan had a great time at Square2, where she tried on lots of clothes and bought a few pieces. It's actually super duper fun to shop for clothes! but that's provided u have the spending power to buy whatever u like. she being the cute self is very suitable for the korean style of fashion that square 2 offers.

then we had swensens at united square for lunch! it was considered cheap in the sense that we took a lunch promotion set, that includes a soup, main course, drink, and dessert. each of us spent about 13.50 which i thought was worth it for the quality of food and the environment. Both of us agreed that it was just a luxury to be able to come out, shop around, enjoy a full set of lunch and chat. hmmm. when we start work again next week, we wouldnt be so free then.

Personally, i do enjoy sitting at some cafes or restaurants (food courts sometimes are just too noisy) for a nice meal and spent the afternoon there. Being able to relax at such a place is an ultimate luxury as i m earning so that i can spend.

then we crossed the road this time, for novena square. there was a dress that i could fit in! but

i just randomly thought of something. there was a day i was having lunch with Ms Ang, and i asked her, whether i did do my tutorials last year? cos i know that i wasnt very consistent in doing tutorials de, esp in other subjects. chem was probably my most consistent one already.

She gave me her opinions as a teacher, that she doesnt believe in forcing students to do tutorials. because she believes, if the student likes the subject/teacher, and wants to do the tutorials, he or she would gladly do it.

i agree with her stand.
but as a student, it is also true that i may like you, but i just have "no time" for your tutorials. This was what happened to me for math last year. Sorry Mr Cheng!

well, truthfully i always dont do tutorials. math, bio, econs. i would do those for chem and gp actually. my tutors didnt come after me for not doing tutorials. at the most they asked, who has not done this this this question, and if i m honest that day, i would confess. HAH. As a half-teacher now, i understand how sad it is if students dont do your tutorials! u stand there, and ask, and half the class says no, and u wonder whether it's that they dont regard ur subject as important, or they are just too busy to do their tutorials, or what not. then u wonder whether u should scold them. u wonder what can make them do their tutorials more regularly. u wonder whether it's your fault that they do not do their tutorials. then u feel sad.


and of course i hope that when i go to uni, i would do tutorials.

i m worried.

firstly, my A level results. coming on friday, 2.30pm.

guess when i found out. yesterday 1pm. mins before meeting. LOL.

during the meeting, mdm wee asked whether anyone got the last year's A level bio paper cos she keep on hearing that the epistasis question is very interesting, and very hard to do.

and she asked me whether it's true. hahha. LOL.

err. and i laughed.

then mr nah says ya he has a copy. then the other teachers say there should be extra copies around. he said he used 20 mins to solve, she said there werent enough info in the question to solve, he asked whether i knew how to do.

LOL. i said i didnt know how to do.

he said, i can show u the paper.

and i went, laughily, I DONT WANT TO SEE. let me get my results first.

MY GOODNESS.

and they said, results are coming rite?

and i was like, yes, friday, 2.30pm, i received message from my friends already.

I m currently typing the scholarship application essay again. this time round, probably i will be able to finish it. for results are going to be released soon and i have to complete it no matter what. anyway, i do feel that everyone should have a try in typing this essay as it forces you to evaluate yourself as a person, to be able to pen down your beliefs and values in words. it makes you think, how your actions have reflected your values and beliefs.

As i realise it's not that hard to find my blog online, i shall lock entries to friends only from now on. Dearies who still want to access posts here, please add as friend. (=