Insights on my First-Year Teaching Experience: Integrity in Serving Children

By Maria Yavala

My first year of teaching was quite a challenging experience, like being thrown down a steep cliff!  I eventually overcame those challenges. I am sharing this story in the hope that other youths can learn from it – that sometimes you embark on a new job and you feel so nervous. But afterwards, you realise that the fear was all in your mind and that praying and getting help from your peers and colleagues are important.

Being part of the Youths for Integrity has helped me to learn new skills in photography, health foods, film making. These experiences are meant to help you to be positive in dealing with challenging situations!

I had an interview at one of the private pre-schools here in Suva. This  was an inclusive school which meant that they also enrolled children with special needs. I asked them when they’d let us know of the successful applicant and they said they would make contact on Friday. Friday came and and I was disheartened that I didn't receive any phone call.

Weeks went by! I kept praying asking God to help me get a job so I could help out financially at home with my parents since I am the eldest of seven children. I had to make a difference and be a role model to my siblings.

As I was sitting watching my siblings go to catch the school bus, my phone rang.  It was from the pre-school where I had been interviewed. They asked if I could start right away.

Time came when I was  in front of the pre school gate. The school manager told me the class I would be taking and she also informed me that I would be assisting one of the teachers. There are 4 classrooms consist of sunshine babies from 0 -1 and there's the sunshine class consisting of 1 to 3 year olds and the paradise class aged 4 to 6. The star class had children with special needs.

So I was assigned to be in the paradise class as an assistant teacher helping an experienced teacher.

I witnessed how some children are still transitioning from home to school and it is hard for some as they tend to cry whenever their parents leave.

The routine of the school was simple; when the children arrive we give them some activities to keep them occupied and at 9.00am we start with our morning devotion and then some colourings to do at 10 o'clock and then their morning tea (recess). After that we do circle time in which we have sing-along followed by outdoor activities and then lunch. The half day children are taken to freshen up before their parents come to pick them up. The full day students have their shower and nap time around 3.00pm. They get ready to to have their afternoon tea and wait for their pick-up.

It was exciting for me to go to school seeing different multiracial students  and trying to win over their trust so they can be comfortable with me.

I was also asked to handle sunshine class (1-3) since I was under probation. The board wanted to see how I could handle them as well as changing diapers, potty training and socialising.

It has been a great learning experience.

I encourage our youths to have a positive attitude and to pray whenever they face challenges. Be sociable and learn to interact and learn from your colleagues.