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| The writer believes that a beautiful camaraderie makes life a wonderful journey. |
Men are likely to
develop a fatherly feeling most possibly after they are blessed with their first
newborn, but there is a different kind of fatherhood.
I used to be the only male hostel warden for four years
in two different schools and the experience of taking care of hundreds of
teenagers has made me a father of many children.
Having to work shifts, including on weekends,
public holidays and school holidays, it is not surprising that many are
not willing to take on this job. When
I first became a warden, I found the job torturous and unworthy, but, with time,
I learned to manage my stress better as I began to believe in the silver lining
behind every cloud. Instead of thinking that I was a teacher who was forced to
juggle heavy workloads at school and at the hostel, I decided to view my additional
responsibilities in my teaching career positively for the sake of retaining a
healthy work-life balance.
When it comes to dealing with underprivileged students
with myriad personalities and attitudes, a warden needs to have courage,
determination, patience, endurance and, most importantly, effective strategies and
techniques for the betterment of the students.
The
children’s well-being had always been my concern. It was exhausting and
tedious to supervise them daily but that was what
made our chemistry grow stronger.
Teenagers love fun and entertainment. This explains why an
occasional movie treat is necessary to give occupants a break from studies and
help them experience an enjoyable hostel life. I
believe this activity had helped the students and I forge a close relationship
as we spent the quality time together as one big family, and the fact that some
students were able to explain the lessons learnt from the movie proved that the
session was an effective way to develop children’s creative, critical and
reflective thinking.
Since
good motivation is what makes children strive and succeed, my hostel had
invited professional speakers to carry out motivational talks on various topics, including education, religion, health and safety. In fact, we were honoured to
have New Sunday Times columnist, Dr Koh Soo Ling, who came all the way from
Ireland as a speaker during the Teachers Day celebration two years ago. My
students were inspired and enlightened with Koh’s friendly approach, as she touched
on the topics of studying abroad and achieving dreams.
Dealing
with children’s misbehavior at the hostel is inevitable. But, it is important
for wardens to handle the situation carefully and wisely. I had sharing
sessions with many offenders. When we listen to their
explanation and do not blatantly blame them for their mistakes, we will be able
to identify the root causes that will help us solve problems efficiently. Likewise, effective communication between a parent and a child can make all the
difference.
I
am glad that my four years of blood, sweat and tears had paid off.
Happy
Fathers Day to all gentlemen who carry out their parental duty wholeheartedly
and love their children unconditionally.
Courtesy of New Straits Times
18 June 2015
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