Indeed, it was a tough –roller coaster – demanding year [2021] altogether grappling with COVID-19 pandemic and academic hassle. For me it was a year with a new experience to maneuver, having to know and adapt with new people and places.
Having worked with people of the same background, it wasn't so difficult getting along with them. Although it took some time and space, I became part of them and the system.
New to the campus, except for one, I couldn't deny any other responsibilities assigned to me. I requested school management to give me a few Chemistry classes to keep flow in the subject matter, should I have to handle it in future. After all, it is my bread earner!
I was given the class teacher-ship of class 10 D, the class with 8 girls and 15 boys. The section is well known for academic deficiency and ruggedness. As agreed with the academic head, 23 heads seem ideal to manage. However, over the course of time, many changes took place –merging, reshuffling and shifting of sections. So, 3 girls and a boy were pushed in making a total of 27. This arrangement was made to decongest and create academic balance in all four sections of ten. In the next week, I got 3 more new admissions making the grand total to 30 heads. However, looking at the manners of Bhutanese classroom, I was thoroughly distressed. I choose to teach in a classroom of not more than 24 students.
I am made to face a brand new group of people, eager for their first lesson. To begin with, I said heavily, you have got to understand that life won't be easy here. You must learn to sacrifice and possibly need to increase your GB [gigabyte] if you wish to prosper in life.
My first lesson was basically to bring them on board. So begin with school policy. I gave utmost importance to punctuality, absenteeism, mental wellbeing, self-care, waste management and littering. However, a Chemistry lesson has always occupied the greater share of discussion. As I delve deeper into the euphoria of chemistry, the classrooms become filled with happiness, excitement and engagement. A topic such as Royal Vision, leadership, hydropower and taking care of government property have never failed to inspire us.
We emphasized two things. One, we have taken punctuality so seriously. Initially, I saw a few of them have had tough times but slowly all of them have managed well, while the second was to give the very best of our collective effort in morning SUPW. We believed in teamwork and collaboration. For all our workmanship, we were in 7/26 positions. This was our biggest achievement of the year.
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| Achievement of Merits |
With constant battle between COVID protocols and academic pressure, few boys started to be irregular with many excuses. So by Mid Term, 4 boys have left the school. One boy has to leave school for his frequent absenteeism, while the other three have taken their own decision to quit schooling. Now one boy is taking care of his mothers business, another gentle man joined the Royal Bhutan Army, the other chooses to become an Automobile Mechanic and the other boy is helping his parents manage some home affairs.
Finally, class 10 D shrinked to 12 girls and 14 boys. Despite many odds, I still hope to complete the year with them happily. I wish everyone to successfully complete the BCSC exam. I am happy to share that each individual is special, gifted and divine.
We have done our own share of work. We have achieved what is expected of us. We were in the ring throughout the year. We learnt to give our best and present ourselves in the best manner possible. We were "Hummingbirds" of our own on the campus giving our best to every single activity.
As a teacher, we can do so much. There are endless opportunities to change someone's life. We are educators and trained to make a difference in someone's life. So I made 30 precious "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" in Damphu Campus and –beyond.
As we are looking forward to closing the long academic year, we are also looking to a fulfilling and a memorable year ahead. More than a class, we became part of a big family.
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| Class of 2021, 10 D |
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