Know Your School Day

University of the Philippines annually celebrates its KYSD or the Know Your School Day every January. It is a two-day celebration wherein the students replace their teachers and they teach their other classmates. This activity is unique because where can you see students teaching their own classmates.

I had experienced being a teacher for three years. Since second year, I chose to be one of the student teachers because I wanted to feel how a teacher feels. At first, I think that being a teacher is very easy. All I thought is that teachers are very grateful because they have schedules like the students. They will also have their summer break like the students. They are not like other professionals who work during summer. I never thought that it would give so much stress.

This year’s experience of being a student teacher is different from my previous experiences. In the previous years, I taught the subjects that I really like. When I was in second year, I taught Algebra and Biology and in third year, Chemistry. And this year, Economics??!

I never thought that I could handle a subject like economics because I am not that good in this subject. Economics is not my field of expertise and I have my lowest grade in this subject.
However, this reason never became a hindrance of teaching Economics. I really did my best on the day of teaching. I, Olga and Michelle did prepare for a test.

When the three of us were in front of our classmates, there were butterflies in my stomach. I really felt nervous because it takes so much confidence to stand in front of so many people. Nevertheless, I did not quit. Then, we started conducting the test.

At the start of the test, my classmates were already complaining because they did not know that we will have a test and they had not prepared for it. All of them were very noisy and they keep on protesting. But we still continue to give them the test. In each number, they were asking for clues because when Sir Montaño gives us test, he provides us with so many clues. There came a time that almost everyone is talking and the room was already full of carbon dioxide. The room was already like a wet market and we could not control them anymore. Nothing came into my mind how to make their mouths shut. So all I did was to strike the table. They all became silent. I keep on saying that they should not be so loud and they must not keep on complaining because it is not that easy to be a teacher, to stand in front of so many people. After that, they already shut their mouths and we continued the test. I never thought that I could do that.

I was very thankful that we already finished the test. And I have realized that being a teacher is not that easy; it requires so much effort. To be a teacher, you must have patience to your students. You must also be hardworking and diligent in preparing your lessons. And most of all you must have the passion for teaching.

Thank you for all the knowledge that you have imparted us and for the experiences you have shared. Thank you for the guidance and support and for everything. Salute to all the teachers!!!