As I reflect on my time teaching in a rural area, I am reminded of the profound impact it had on my life and career. The experience was both challenging and rewarding, shaping my perspective on education, community, and personal growth. During my service year as a core member I was posted to Ebonyi state in one rural area, omo my first day trying to locate my PPA was so tiring I couldn't get the school easily because there were no sign posts to locate it. The bike man that carried me down there self did not know the school we passed the front of the school twice and did not know that was the school, ah!! So frustrating at first I was like "shey NYSC dey whine me" lol, I told the bike man to stop and let ask the people in this community thought it's sweeting the bike man as he was carrying me tro and fro because is money was increasing the more.
I dropped to ask one person that day so disappointed the person did not understand English language. God was so good while looking, I saw some men drinking in a shop and I went there to ask them, oh! Sorry it was the bike man that asked them using their language and they replied pointing that's the school over there, the bike man then told me they said that was the school over there. I was like where exactly coz I can't see any school around o, the man pointed it to me behold it was an uncompleted building well roof but no door neither did it have windows. It was a holiday period though maybe that's why we find it difficult to locate it, had it been it was during the school section we could have detected on time if we sight a student in uniform. To cut the story short that was how I started my journey as a teacher in that village.
I was staying in NCCF family house in town till when the school resumed. When the school resumed I left the family house and to the accommodation provided. Hmmm, this was another experience entirely in that village no light no toilet we make use of the bush anytime we want to empty our bowel, thank God they have a small covering in the compound where we take our bath, we call it bathroom lol.
I can't forget the day it rained heavily and wind destroy our so called bathroom very sad mo where to bath the next day but when we came back from school I and my fellow copper asked the house onwer for nails and hammer to repair it. I can't forget the day I went to shit in another person cassava farm coz all the bush around has been cleared because it was another season of cultivation then so every one where clearing their land for farming. I sha manage manage to locate one cassava farm land to do the do, smile. Not quite long going through the process, the owner of the land just passed by and she saw me omo that moment en! It seems to me like the ground should just open mouth and I should enter to save my face at that moment. The woman started lamenting using their language thinking I understood the language, I couldn't say anything all I was just saying was abeg no vex, Biko no vex.
There are many challenges though, just to mention the above little , I continued my teaching but at first it was not funny but later it became interesting. The rewards of teaching in a rural area far outweighed the challenges. I had the opportunity to build strong relationships with my students, their families, and the community. The close-knit community fostered a sense of belonging and support, which was evident in the way everyone came together to help one another. I was touched by the resilience, determination, and enthusiasm of my students, who despite facing numerous challenges, remained eager to learn.
In conclusion, my experience teaching in a rural area was a defining moment in my career. Despite the challenges, I found the experience incredibly rewarding. It shaped my perspective on education, community, and personal growth, and taught me valuable skills that I continue to apply in my professional and personal life. As I reflect on my time in the rural area, I am reminded of the profound impact that dedicated educators can have on the lives of their students and the communities they serve.