Finding Balance in the Midst of Teaching, Family Concerns & Professional Growth

by Liza Astrologio Sannadan Consider this: a female married teacher who juggles her time from sun-up to sundown will have to think of the needs of those around her as natural re uirements in the fulfillment of her roles! "ife# mother# provider# shock absorber# confidante# troubleshooter# and so many other tasks that challenge her ability to maintain her feet on solid ground! And take note# we$re still talkng about these varied roles that are still within the confines of her home! Add to the whole e uation her obligation to her teaching profession % the transformation from a home-maker to a career woman as soon as she steps inside the school grounds % and presto# we have a person who is always challenged by the difficulty of multi-tasking# and yet remains efficient enough! &veryday! 'y anyone$s standards# the ability to keep up one$s level of efficiency despite the presence of so many setbacks and problems always become the goal of people employed in the formal setting# especially teachers! (or one# there is the time element to consider! (rom ):** A+ to ,:** -+# an elementary teacher will have to deal with pupils who have different learning needs# including the need for attention % something that they all crave for! A teacher then becomes very adept at child psychology % a function that is somewhat grayish in her job description# yet accepted wholly by her and by her fellow teachers without ualms! .he goal# everyday# is to project the classroom as a fourwalled /home away from home0 in which children can learn while at the same time having fun as they establish their very first attempt in socializing! .o achieve this image of a classroom in the eyes of children# instead of seeing it as threathening# a teacher will have to create a learnign environment that her pupils will love going back to! .hey must look forward to filling their chairs the ne1t day# so-to-speak! 2t$s not easy! "hile her hands are full in dealing with her young wards# the teacher will also have to maintain standards that are attached to her profession! 3ne area is her personal advancement! Like all careers# the teaching profession also re uires teachers to move up the professional ladder# from one rank to another! .his will assure that standards are indeed being observed# since no one wants to be stuck at a certain station allthroughout one$s tenure with the 4epartment of &ducation! 'ut then again re uirements have to be met % like additional schooling and other advanced training activities that will further e uip teachers with enhanced vision on the fulfillment of their roles! 5eedless to say# when a teacher decides to advance in her own field by responding to this challenge on going up the professional ladder# then her daily hussle becomes even more complicated than before!

6et people see teachers everyday# but without being aware of this complicated drama that ensues at home# at school# at the faculty# inside her classroom# inside her professional circle % then home again# where she also performs une1pected e1tra tasks# like sometimes looking into the concerns of her immediate family# as the need arises! "hile she accomplishes her current roles# she never forgets that % before all these % she is also a daughter# a sister# and thus automatically compelled to look back# to love and care! At the end of the day# a teacher rests with the thought that she has somehow fulfilled what was thrown her way % and if not# she embraces the promise to do better the following day# knowing that a day$s worry will always find answers! And thus continues the merry-go-round of challenges from home to school# then back again to home! 2t is a cycle# and it is difficult7 but then teachers have mastered the skill of resiliency as well! And being one of the first seeds of inspiration for young learners % there is nothing that elementary teachers cannot handle! .his is our mark# and we live up to it# regardless of the cost!