LIFE!

One of the problems I have as an educator is that I am very stingy with my compliments. In fact, I tend to like to point out errors or things I do not like rather than encourage the students. When I do not think something is done well, I find it hypocritical of me to say that it's good just to spur the students on. Even when the students did awesome, I also have this tendency to just say a quick 'good job' instead of making them feel so important for having done something great.

At least for 2009, I thought I could be more generous with my comments. There is no harm in going more social.

I was presented with this opportunity to change today. I passed by the notice board and two students were trying to decorate the notice board for 2009. Honestly the background is too "ethnic" and dark for my liking. (It looked like it belonged to one specific race). [I had always preferred bright colours]

Then I thought I shouldn't impose my ideals of what is nice on others and went ahead to take a closer look. "Is it cloth or is it paper?" I asked the students regarding the background.

It was cloth.

And so I proceeded to express my interest in it by asking if it was bought or if it was donated by some students. Maybe you may think these were very silly questions to ask, but they really weren't. We shouldn't make assumptions like these because if it was really donated, the student would have felt noble over that question.

But it was bought and so I said, "It looked quite nice". I wondered why I used the word quite because I knew I wouldn't call it nice but at least I tried. And the students looked happy.

And so I did a good deed today. I also emailed another cross department colleague thanking her for helping me to monitor the stduents for the rehearsal. And after doing all these, I actually felt more human and great.

Resolutions for the new year may be very daunting and vague but starting from my everyday life is at least taking a step forward.  And it is something worth smiling about.