Last Week As A Teacher...
It's day 201 of documenting 2025.
It's a Happy Sunday indeed 😊
You know why?
This marks my last week as a secondary school teacher!
After it ends, so does my teaching job.
I would admit, I'm a little bit excited to be finally relieved of that stressful job.
But come to think of it, 🤔
There's no job that doesn't involve some sort of stress.
It's all up to you to pick your poison (not literally...).
What matters is the cha-ching in your bank account...you know what I'm saying? 🤑
Anyways, after the school vacates, it's all study for my exams.
This time, it's POST UTME.
JAMB is done and dusted ✅
This time, it's either I pass or I don't.
Either I qualify or I don't.
I did some research and turns out, my university of choice usually processes admission late.
Other schools have started releasing their exam forms...but my school of choice, they haven't even started their semester exams!
That means more time for me to study.
As I study, I also have a service to offer....that will bring in some cash 💰
No online business for now, that's on hold.
But my Selar Store is always open and I have several free resources you might be interested in.
Alright, alright...
Let's see what we have for Highlights today...and after that, we'll see what we can learn from Marcus Aurelius.
365 Days With Self-discipline
📌 On Teaching Others
Teach others what you are learning. You become what you teach. You teach what you are.
"When you attempt to articulate and explain a new concept to someone else, you understand it and internalize it better yourself.
You only really know something to the degree to which you can teach it to someone else, and have them understand and apply it in their own lives."
Quote by Brian Tracy
Here’s an ingenious way to become more self-disciplined: while learning how to strengthen your self-control, regularly share your lessons with other people.
Teaching is a powerful way to make the knowledge you already have in your head become more organized and better internalized.
Another wonderful way to teach others is to participate in online forums or on social media sites. Teach others how you succeeded with your goals or how you successfully overcame a recent temptation, and you’ll not only help them achieve their dreams, but also solidify your own success.
Last but not least, if you aren’t willing to teach others, teach yourself by journaling.
Jotting down your insights, lessons, and conclusions will also serve as a valuable tool for self-improvement.
How ironic!
When I was just talking about how stressful my teaching job was, today's Highlights gave another perspective.
One that I totally agree with 💯
Let me tell you something,
When I was about to start the teaching job, I had the mind of studying for my exams as well.
I didn't know that teaching is a quite demanding job.
But then, I was like,
"Since I'm also preparing for my exams, I will also learn as I teach the topics...and I will understand the topics better."
That was it....but along the line, I couldn't find time to even study one topic.
One thing that defined my own experience as a teacher is the ability to relate with the students.
Most of them saw me as a nice person (but not when it was exam time 😅).
I didn't force them to do anything...or to even listen when I was teaching.
A trick I used is that I would face the students in front and teach them only.
Then the ones talking will notice that and be like,
"Miss Uche (what they call me), you're teaching only those in the front...that's not fair"
And I would be like,
"You're not listening....if you want me to face you as well, then keep quiet".
It works....9 times out of 10.
Another trick is what I would call, "The Inclusion Syndrome".
I used this when I newly started teaching.
So, what I would do is....I would type in my phone, the names of students that submitted their notes for marking.
I taught 4 subjects....and I kept the students names in one note.
Most times, the students would be curious to see if their names were on the list.... meaning their notes are complete.
This worked every time 😄
If their name was not on the list, they would vow to complete their notes and submit on time.
Just for me to type their name in my notes app.
Some would even want their name to be first on the list and therefore, they would submit their note first.
Then I would check if their name was on all the subjects list.
If so, they would be like,
"Miss Uche, my notes are all complete...I'm not owing you any notes again!"
And I would nod.
Mission accomplished 😉
It was really interesting, being a teacher....and a class teacher.
Some of my students are rebellious but they all respect me...in and out of school.
They also enjoy having me around...such that they would come to the other classes I'm teaching and be like,
"Don't try to stress our teacher"
I would just laugh and chase them out of the class.
Despite all this, I won't say I'm going to miss being a teacher.
Why? 🤨
Because, thinking back on my own performance, I would say I could have done better.
There were certain rules I could have enforced, certain boundaries I could have set.
Besides, the education system in Nigeria is handicapped right now.
Can you imagine?
JS3 students taking the BECE exam and the answers being sent to them?
I would know, because I was one of the teachers in charge.
There was nothing I could do but to comply and "help" the students.
And some of the students in question don't even know how to read!
I'm telling you! 😒
So, I say it again...
I won't miss being a secondary school teacher.
I prefer teaching students one on one...that's when I can focus on making the student understand the topic properly.
I can also handle a few students...
Maximum of five.
But a whole class?
That's a real headache...and I had lots of headaches during the past few months.
Headaches that were not worth the paycheck.
I may sound blunt, but it's the truth.
And I'm just telling you my own story.... that's how it was for me.
You might be a teacher...and it might be different for you.
Please don't judge 😌
That's all for my reflections on my teaching job.
Quite interesting stories, right?
Anyways, let's get a lesson or two from the reflections of Marcus Aurelius.
Meditations
📌 Book 4
31. Love the discipline you know, and let it support you.
Entrust everything willingly to the gods, and then make your way through life—no one’s master and no one’s slave.
32. The age of Vespasian, for example. People doing the exact same yhings: marrying, raising children, getting sick, dying, waging war, throwing parties, doing business, farming, flattering, boasting, distrusting, plotting, hoping others will die, complaining about their own lives, falling in love, putting away money, seeking high office and power.
And that life they led is nowhere to be found.
Or the age of Trajan. The exact same things. And that life too—gone.
Survey the records of other eras. And see how many others gave their all and soon died and decomposed into the elements that formed them.
But most of all, run through the list of those you knew yourself. Those who worked in vain, who failed to do what they should have—what they should have remained fixed on and found satisfaction in.
A key point to bear in mind: The value of attentiveness varies in proportion to its object. You’re better off not giving the small things more time than they deserve.
33. Words once in common use now sound archaic. And the names of the famous dead as well: Camillus, Caeso, Volesus, Dentatus . . . Scipio and Cato . . . Augustus . . . Hadrian and Antoninus, and . . .
Everything fades so quickly, turns into legend, and soon oblivion covers it.
And those are the ones who shone. The rest—“unknown, unasked-for” a minute after death. What is “eternal” fame? Emptiness.
Then what should we work for?
Only this: proper understanding; unselfish action; truthful speech.
A resolve to accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, flowing like water from that same source and spring.
I kinda understood the first lesson... although the last two sounded vague.
So, I got a little help from my AI assistant. Here's the breakdown:
31. “Love the discipline you know…”
He’s encouraging self-mastery and acceptance of divine order.
Let your personal discipline support you; it anchors you.
Let go of trying to control everything. Accept life’s flow without being a tyrant or a servant to others. It’s about inner freedom and composure.
32. The repetition of human activity across eras...
Marcus reflects on the cyclical nature of human life; how people from every age engage in the same basic routines.
Despite all the striving, achievements, and dramas, they all vanish.
The lesson: don’t get overly attached to temporary pursuits. Be intentional with your attention; not everything deserves your focus.
33. Fame fades, names are forgotten...
Even the most celebrated figures become dust and myth over time.
If that’s true for emperors and heroes, what about everyone else?
So, chasing fame is empty.
What truly matters is understanding (wisdom), selflessness, honesty, and graceful acceptance of whatever comes.
Key themes
* Focus on what you can control
* Accept what life brings
* Don’t waste energy on vanity or small things
* Live with clarity, virtue, and humility
Something to keep in mind as we go into the new week.
I wish you well, my friend...no matter where you're reading this from.
Just know that things will fall into place, even though you may not understand right now.
I believe so 😌
That's all for today's post.
Thanks so much for taking some of your limited time to read this post now.
I appreciate that 💜
I'm Duon Ada.
I'm documenting 2025,
And I'll see you in the next one.
Peace ✌🏼
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