During my interview with Dr. Anna of EduFocal, she asked about what inspired me to become a teacher.
Questions like these make me feel so excited and be more proud to share my story and how everything connects, and I did justice to the question. But I would like to share this with you;
My journey as an educator began unexpectedly after I left secondary school in 2007/2008. Unsure of what my next step would be, I paid a visit to my primary school teacher, Mr. Boat- Busayo Toriola who runs a private school in Papa Ashafa, Agege Lagos. That's the street where I grew up before we relocated to Sango Ota.
LITTLE DID I KNOW THAT THIS VISIT WOULD CHANGE THE COURSE OF MY LIFE.
During my visit, Mr. Boat and I stopped by a computer and business center. To my surprise, I witnessed an eight-year-old boy confidently working on the computer. This was a revelation for me, as I had always associated computer usage with cybercrime due to negative experiences with my schoolmates.
I was also following my parent's advice, not to join such a group. So, don't be surprised. 😀
However, seeing this young boy engage with the computer without any involvement in illegal activities intrigued me.
ARE YOU FOLLOWING ME? 🥰😀
As soon as I returned home, I excitedly shared my discovery with my parents. I expressed my desire to learn this skill and attend the computer center regularly. They supported my decision, and I packed my bags to stay with Mr. Boat in Agege while pursuing my computer training.
Living in a school environment with Mr. Boat, I dedicated myself wholeheartedly to my computer classes. However, fate had other plans for me. Due to a staff shortage at Mr. Boat's school, he asked me to manage the basic 6 class. Although taken aback, I couldn't refuse the opportunity.
Before stepping into the classroom, I stood in front of a mirror.
YOU CAN IMAGINE WHAT I WAS ABOUT TO DO, RIGHT? 😀😅
I was imagining myself confidently leading a class of students. I rehearsed various scenarios, from managing noise🔊 to collecting assignments 📝😀. With this inspired determination, I entered the classroom and brought my imagination to life.
THAT WAS HOW THE JOURNEY STARTED. ✌😍
This experience opened my eyes to the joy and fulfillment of teaching. Before this, I had never considered becoming a teacher. My aspirations lay in engineering, specifically electrical/electronics or computer engineering. However, the satisfaction I derived from helping students improve their literacy skills and nurturing their confidence ignited a hidden potential within me. I worked "7 am to 7 pm" as a teacher and it helped me build my resilience skills.
This same experience helped me leverage my sense of humor, a gift I cherish, in helping my learners love learning. I learned and practiced patience, perseverance, excellence, determination, and grit as I had to deal with kids. It also improved my self-esteem and more.
As I continued teaching at Mr. Boat's school, I also seized the opportunity to enhance my digital skills using the available computer systems. Day and night, I found myself troubleshooting, designing, and typing, fully aware of the advantage this knowledge would provide me.
Over the past 14 years, my teaching career has taken me to different schools across Nigeria, spanning the North-central and South-Western regions. In each educational institution, I have left a lasting impact on the lives of my students and colleagues.
14 YEARS DOWN THE LINE,
📝I have taught in more than 5 different schools, across Nigeria, both within the North-central and South-Western parts of the country. I not only teach but left a remarkable impact on the lives of my learners and the workspace
📝I have my B.Sc. (Ed) degree in Health Education from the University of Ilorin.
📝I am a registered Teaching Professional with the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria
📝Trained a winning team for the 2021 Beyond School Community Challenge.
📝Won the Best Teacher prize for the 2021 Beyond School Community Challenge
📝Served in several community development and education for sustainable development projects across 4 states in Nigeria, including my role with KLCI.
📝 Trained over 1000 students on Design Thinking, Global Citizen Education, and Sustainable Development Goals.
📝Lead a team of winners for the One African Child Innovation Challenge
📝Founded Literacy for African Child Education and Development
📝Co-founded Community Tech LAB with my students
📝Emerged as the First Prize Winner for the Teach with Tech Challenge
📝Two years fellowship with Teach for Nigeria
📝About 3 years journey with Lagos State Teaching Service Commission
📝 Preparing my students for national and international opportunities, among others.
My journey as a 21st-century educator continues to inspire me. I am grateful for every experience that has shaped my capacity as a teacher and for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of amazing students and young people.
Afeez Olalekan SAKA ©2023
#Sakaspeaks
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