It’s funny how life works out sometimes. There are a lot of unexpected twists that amuse us when we reflect back on them. When I first started college, my goal was to graduate and get hired right after. Simple, right? I was determined not to get stuck unemployed, and I had this clear vision of jumping straight into the workforce as soon as I had that degree in hand. The unexpected realities of life brought my first employment experience in a completely different direction than I anticipated. I was pursuing a BSBA, Major in Marketing Management, and my very first job was not even related to it. Before my graduation, I had already been hired, and upon realizing that I’d be stepping out into the real world, it made me feel heavy pressure. I suddenly realized that all the theoretical studies from the past years and extensive study were about to come to an end. The time had come to use the knowledge and skills I had acquired. But, like many other recent grads, I also had no idea what specific career I wanted to pursue. But for the meantime, I wanted to begin working on anything until I discovered my professional direction. That’s when I accidentally came across a job I didn’t plan for at all: teaching English as a Second Language (ESL).
P.S. The school is like a resort, hehe.
I learned about this chance to work through @brandonwrites, my high school friend who happened to be working at the same school. I just knew that his recommendation arrived at exactly the right moment, so I wondered, "Why not do it? This could be a good way to earn some money while I figure things out.” 😁 The job opportunity gave me the possibility to make money until I figured out a better plan for my career direction. Saving funds for my future job hunting has given me enough motivation to begin teaching, even though it stood outside my professional background. Although, you know, I was still uncertain of the exact institution I wanted to be in, I just felt like I needed to begin somewhere. Somewhere that's uncertain, but at least I'm moving. As they always say, one step at a time.
If you might have wondered, what exactly was my job?
Unlike other ESL institutions that have been doing their classes online, ours were face-to-face classes. I think that was even better, though, because there's really an interaction happening, which was the best way to build a connection with the students. Also, I was assigned to be a speaking teacher. I had 11 classes per day, and every class had a different student. So, that means I had to deal with 11 different attitudes and personalities per day, hahaha.
Also, Wednesdays are the students' favorite day of the week because they don't have classes. It's either they go to a zoo, parks, resorts, visit museums, or anywhere that's interesting. It's also the day when they'll go shopping, and sometimes we teachers are assigned to accompany them at the mall.
How was my experience?
Well, what was supposed to be just a simple step of saving money has honestly become one of my treasured and valuable experiences. This job felt like I was not working at all. It was like I was just socializing with a new bunch of people. It was just for a month, but the teaching experience and friendships I've made with the students and co-teachers have genuinely made everything so easy and worthwhile. Honestly, this was a job that was just for a short period of time but has been so unforgettable to me. You know, because of the people I've been with, the students from different countries that I met, and most especially the amazing experience.
What are some of the reflections I have had from this job experience?
It wasn’t always easy. I admit the challenges were soooo real, especially since they all came from different countries. But I have learned a lot, especially when it comes to flexibility, adaptability, patience, and the ability to handle challenges with grace, which has genuinely benefited me in my chosen path right now. At the age of 22, I am now a banker. I believe this is already related to the course I took in college. So for you guys who are still uncertain about what you really want in the future, I just want to let you know that the path to your real career isn’t always linear. Just like me, it's okay to start somewhere unexpected because after all, life is about learning, growing, and discovering what works for you. :)
To end this blog, please allow me to share the letters I received from the sweet kids, my students. Those innocent souls honestly made me shed tears on our last day of work.
