Lessons from the Past: Unlocking the Voice of My Quiet Schoolgirl
Delve into the depths of childhood memories as I reveal how they have shaped my teaching methods to inspire my students.
Hello! Welcome back to my second article, friends. I usually get such questions as ‘What are you doing here in school?’ or ‘Why did you become a teacher?’
These two questions have been echoing in my mind as I navigate the halls of my school. But it was through the eyes of two particular students that I found the answers.
One girl, with a vibrant personality, carried sadness in her eyes. The other, always seated silently in the front row, reminded me of myself as a child. Together, they ignited a journey of self-reflection, transporting me back to my own childhood, filled with humble beginnings and the joy of learning. Today I will tell you about one of them. Join me as we delve into my past and rediscover the innocence that shaped me, as I seek to reignite that same spark within my students. Let's go!
Quiet little schoolgirl
On a calm Saturday morning, engrossed in my research for my M.Ed. (Educational Administration) program, a notification on the LINE application caught my attention. To my surprise, it was a small schoolgirl’s sticker brown bear from the quietest student among the 311 young minds. She is in seventh grade. This semester, there are nine classes in this grade, and I teach all of them.
Two girls, in particular, have piqued my interest over the last seven weeks. One girl was upbeat and talkative, but her eyes were sad. Another always sat in the front row of the class but she never spoke to anyone in the class, including me. She’s the real deal. In her eyes, I see myself as a child.
So, open your mind as we embark on a journey through my past together.
Childhood
Images from my childhood resurfaced, revealing a tanned girl dressed in a second-hand school uniform who would arrive at the school before the gates opened.
I was an early little bird, and I loved school.
Going to school was like a precious gift. I enjoyed learning new things. I enjoyed my second-hand school uniform and the scribbled textbooks.
When I got the school uniform and books, my mom used a razor blade to carefully remove the name of the previous owner embroidered on the shirt and wash it clean. Then I used indigo powder to dissolve in water and dip the shirt into it. So that the light blue color helped to camouflage the shirt to look like new.
As for the books, I eagerly flipped through them, using an eraser to remove as many pencil marks as possible. Especially in the exercise book, and that’s why I knew the lesson and got the answer before the semester started. And, of course, I was a teacher’s beloved student.
When I was young, I never felt that I was missing anything. In elementary school, life lessons, and rules were simple and I followed them naturally:
- I had good grades because I was a diligent student.
- I was frequently in the small school library to read books.
- Not only I had good grades, but also my behavior.
As a result, I was selected to compete in academic skills that helped me then to get my scholarship.
Why did you become a teacher?
Ok, it’s time to tell you about some of my teachers who were great examples to me. In short, they inspired me to be a better person.
My Great Teachers
If you are a good student, teachers are especially kind.
As a child, I had a great opportunity from my teacher. I learned new things, and learned many life skills. When we were young and responsible, our teacher assigned us duties to help supervise and maintain cleanliness. I would purposely go to school to ensure my friends were fulfilling their duties and that everything was clean before we began studying each day.
Some teachers may have a strict reputation, but there are also those who are kind and understanding. Some seniors may warn younger students about a teacher who is strict and inflicts too much pain, causing students to avoid them. However, I have never experienced this.
My home economics teacher took notice of my punctuality and active participation in her class. As a result, she taught me how to prepare soy milk, donuts, and waffles. Together with a few friends, we sold soy milk in the morning before the national anthem line, and during lunch break, we made donuts and waffles.
On the teacher’s son’s birthday, I learned how to bake a cake, which I brought back home to enjoy. Additionally, the teacher also taught us how to make liquid soap. At the end of the school year, the teacher generously shared the profits from our sales with me and my friends.
I assisted my Thai subject teacher in preparing documents when she was getting ready for higher academic standing. One evening after school, she asked my parents for permission to let me stay longer at school. I had dinner at her house and while working, she kindly brought me warm milk to drink and even made me orange juice on some days. She paid me for my help and also drove me home.
It’s definitely not about the money but it’s a good opportunity to learn.
During weekends, my teacher’s son, who was studying computer engineering, showed me how to use a computer, scanner, Microsoft Word, and how to print documents. It was amazing to discover the opportunities for education beyond high school. I realized that my teacher must have gone to university before becoming a teacher. This made me curious about university life, which I knew nothing about since no one in my family had experienced it before.
Then I talk to myself, “OK, Noi, let’s become a teacher.”
Nowadays
Here we are at the current moment about my quiet little girl. A school teacher told me something about his job a week ago. He meant to help the girl feel more confident and encourage her to speak, but he accidentally made her cry. So I told him what happened in my class then.
The same child, my quiet girl who didn’t talk to anyone, not even me. I never made her talk, though. I just gave her a small piece of paper and a pen and told her she could answer if she wanted to. She wrote down the answer after that. We talked to each other this way.
Sports class on Tuesday.
When I showed other students how to serve a table tennis ball, she came up behind me and quietly spoke to me. She was about to say something, so I moved closer to her.
The girl whispered, “Teacher, I’m ready for the practical skills test,” her voice was barely above silence.
When I read her messages today, they were the newest. She sent another one, “Teacher, can I have a link to the Unit 2 test?” When I sent her the link, she took the test. Along with turning in the exercises from the week before until they are all done.
I learned something from this situation: “Let us aim to become the kind of adults we admire.”
Students are willing to go to great lengths to achieve their goals, and when they have a positive relationship with their teacher, their intentions are usually good in all their actions.
Not force, but motivation.
Conclusion
Through my encounters with the quiet girl, I stumbled upon a unique form of communication. I discovered that by providing her with a pen and a small piece of paper, she felt empowered to express herself. Witnessing her transformation, I learned the importance of motivation rather than force when nurturing young minds. My own childhood memories became guiding stars, reminding me of the immense potential within every child. It is with patience, understanding, and a belief in their innate goodness that we can shape their futures. As I rekindled my passion for teaching, I embraced the opportunity to help my students grow into the adults they aspire to be.
This journey of self-discovery and connection has taught me that even amidst the complexities of education, it is the innocence and wonder of childhood that holds the key to their limitless potential.
In this case, with a quiet student, I tried to be gentle and caring, like a little elephant, instead of rough and strong like a big bear.
Thank you for being a part of my journey.
If you found it interesting to read about certain aspects of village life in Thailand, I would greatly appreciate your comments and feedback.
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