Long Term Plan

"So, how do you see yourself in 5 years?" was one of the steering questions I had to answer for my interview of the position I currently fill: a primary school homeroom teacher.  Though I answered it well, this question has been the most contemplated one since that interview took place. 

This evening I really took my time to ponder and came up with a long term goal.  So I tried this process by identifying who I am now and compare it to who I was 5 years ago.

5 Years ago, I was a 20 year old.  I was a university undergraduate who started to pursue the passion in pedagogy by being a private tutor.  At that time I had no idea of whom I would become in 5 years though I had known that I love teaching, and make others feel better by helping them to learn better. 

Now, I am 25 years old, a grade 3 homeroom teacher in one of the most prestigious schools in the city.  This is my first year as a primary school teacher, so I still have millions of things to learn. I am enjoying every step of it, though some could be challenging.  What I have right now is better than what I envisioned then.

Yet I come to a realization that now isn't lasting forever.  I still have to expand my wings.  The "how do you see yourself in 5 years" question needs to be carefully thought and answered.  This point I already have an answer.

Five years from now I see my self as a guidance counselor.  Everyday I meet many kinds of students with their unique personalities.  The ones that take my attention (and time) mostly are the misunderstood ones.   In my honest opinion as an educator, these students often get left behind and pushed aside because their teachers (which includes me) often don't have space and time to facilitate the needs of these kids, which is a deep personal approach.  They need someone to listen to them and be connected with. I need that person to assist me... and maybe I need to be that person to assist other teachers.

 Therefore, this moment, let me state it.  Within the next five years, I will look for a stair to climb myself up to be a school guidance counselor.  I will look for Masters program in Educational Psychology... hopefully get a scholarship (or find a way to fund it myself) and be the change I want my school to be.