This morning was the last meeting of my first class at RMIT, teaching Work Place Preparation course to students who are preparing for their internship before graduating from the university. I used the last hour for closing ceremony, when we sat in circle to share our thoughts, learning, and emotions to each other about the last eleven weeks we spent together. One student turned off the light, and the candle was passed from one student to the next in warm atmosphere.
Moment like this reinforced my passion in teaching, where I could see the immediate impact I left on my students. Students shared about how much they enjoyed my daily theatre exercises for ice breaker, how friendly and comfortable they felt in this class, how much learning they got from their classmates, and the growth that they have acquired in just eleven weeks. I looked around the fresh, young, energetic, thoughtful, and beautiful faces around me, and I knew why God brought me to this place in this work at this time.
And when they took turn to thank themselves, their friends, and me, inside I was grateful to mentors who helped to shape me. Brother Phong, who always made his workshop fun by personal sharing. Victoria Rue, who taught me that theatre was the best way to bring out the positive side of a human being. Diane Tillman, who taught me that the best way to teach is to live your living values in the classroom. Karen Anton, who showed me that by respecting and caring for others, I would receive the same thing in return. And many others who had left many lessons in my life that helped me to be an effective teacher today.
Since the day I worked in RMIT VIetnam, I started to see my dream career rolling out in front of me. The last twelve years of painful exploring, searching, and redefining prepared me for this new role very well. Without them I do not think I could fulfill my tasks in such a confident and effective manner.
I love my work, and I wish that many people can say the same thing about theirs. There are moments when the politics in my workplace scared the heck out of me, dampened my enthusiasm, and caused me to doubt about my abilities. And then when I saw the sparkles of understanding in my students' eyes, their enlightened face after a counseling session, all the obstacles seemed so small compared to the joy they brought to my life.
September 8, 2009
Saigon, Vietnam
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