The Final Post

This is it. This is really it. This is my last blog post about mentorship and my experience in the program. A lot of people would probably ask ‘Did you really like your placement or are you just saying all this stuff because it’s a school assignment?’ If I’m being completely honest, I loved my placement in mentorship and I wouldn’t change anything about my experience. I was skeptical at first when I saw that I was placed in the achievement centre, mostly because it wasn’t a ‘real’ classroom like all the other ones I’ve been accustomed to in high school. Truth is, I was being painfully ignorant. I didn’t even know what they did in achievement before I was placed there. I learned a lot of important lessons in that class just as much as I did any other. I didn’t know that there were systems in place for people doing credit recovery or a catch up credit or anything along those lines. I was so humbled to see that perspective up close and personal. I was so surprised to learn that there were so many students struggling in the background. I had been so caught up in my own grades, my own student life that I was completely glossing over the other students who aren’t as academically strong. I’m glad they have the proper resources to help them succeed in achievement.

Everyone learns differently, but sometimes students need extra resources and credits that simply wouldn’t be possible in obtaining without achievement. There are so many different ways to teach kids that I hadn’t thought about before. Teaching also forces me to remember my basics in math, since that's what I was teaching everyday. I’ve found that, through teaching, I have a better understanding of the content and I found myself explaining lessons in different ways to see what worked best with each student. I am not a very patient person. I’ve tried tutoring my sister at home before and I often end up getting frustrated because she simply cannot understand what I’m trying to tell her. I feel like, through my placement, I’ve learned to be more patient with others. To let them have time to process the information that I’m instructing them on and offering help when needed. Again, everyone learns differently at their own pace. I’m glad to have grown in the sense that I understand why some students have a lot of hardships in school.

Education is different from opposite perspectives. As a student, it’s stressful putting all of that trust into teachers to teach them the content. We worry about deadlines, assignments, the next test and keeping our grades up for university. As a teacher, I feel that it’s just as hard if not harder than being a student. Teachers have to plan lessons and ensure that each student succeeds in their own degree. They also have marking, making tests, writing report cards and going to meetings with the board. The workload is still there. I feel like the main difference is that teachers have to find the right way to teach students information to appeal to all the different types of learners. Dealing with students who are unmotivated, acting out of turn, and simply dealing with their own motivations too. Yes, there is a ton of pressure as a student, but as a teacher, I feel like they deserve credit where credit is due and I don’t think a lot of students realize this.

Since taking this course, my career plans haven’t changed. I still very much want to go into the computer science/software engineering field, but at least I know now that teaching is something I don’t mind doing and I found that I’m pretty decent at. I can definitely carry that into my field, regardless if I choose the career path of a teacher or not. Teaching also helps me retain information better. I think it’s because I study best when I say the information out loud and explain my thought process. This course has also taught me about different personalities and learners, which will certainly be very helpful in university along with the new study method of teaching others.

I really can’t stress enough how wonderful Mrs. Fernando and Mr. Morris are. They’ve taught me a lot, like how to dress professional and still have a killer outfit like Mrs. Fernando, or that giving students nicknames is totally cool like Mr. Morris does everyday. In all seriousness though, the most important lessons they’ve taught me is that if you need to take a break, take one and that it’s okay to ask for help if you need. I can tell that they care a lot about their students, me included. Taking breaks is something I’ve found that really does help. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or frustrated, it’s okay to take a step back and recover your bearings. Mrs. Fernando admitted that she needs to take breaks sometimes too. Asking for help, or asking them to take over a lesson if I’m unsure of where to go next, is the second most important lesson. I’ve learned a lot simply from just observing them work. I used to be horrible when it came to asking for help because I wouldn’t want to admit that I didn’t know what I was doing. I think that achievement, since it was so out of my comfort zone, forced me to ask for help. That in turn helped me understand what I could do to improve. Those two lessons are certainly going to stick with me for a while after my time in achievement.

If I were to give advice to other people taking the course, it would be to enjoy it while it lasts. There are plenty of ups and downs, but there are students who genuinely look up to you to be a role model. Someone they can depend on for help when they need. Be patient with them and be prepared for whatever obstacle you may face. If you ever need help of any kind, your mentorship teachers are always there for you.

I’ve definitely grown as a student and as a mentor from being in this program. I have such a profound respect for the teachers now than I had before. They have a tough job and I admire them for it. I wouldn’t change my placement or my actions in the achievement centre for the world. Thanks to Mrs. Fernando, Mr. Morris, Estelle and Coli, my time in the achievement centre will be memories to cherish for a very long time.

Since this is my last post, I grabbed a quote that really summed up my mentorship experience. In addition, I’ve decided to make some memes myself instead of looking on the internet for them.