Everyone has his/her own preferences about professional and personal life. And there needs to be a balance between the two. If the balance is broken, things can get really bad.
Working at the university, slowly and slowly I started feeling that my personal life is getting eaten up by my professional life.
I did not get time to prepare lectures in the college because of the paper-work (which had to be completed in college). I can not even think of going to class without the lecture prepared. That would be injustice to the students, to my job and to myself.
So, I prepared lectures after coming home. I studied till mid night and sometimes even late than that. This repeated 6 days a week.
The whole scenario made me think :
1. Where exactly am I heading?
2. Am i getting closer to my family or am I getting away from them?
3. Staying awake late night daily can affect health too.
Another thing that started demotivating me was salary cuts.
The organization had a policy that the new employees can not go on a leave within the first month of their joining.
I needed a leave, and I took it. This resulted in a salary cut. I did not feel happy about it at all. And there were many other scenarios that could lead to salary cuts. :-)
But still.. my main problem was still that I was not getting time for my family and myself. Even when I was with my family physically, something about the job used to go on in my mind. This made me frustrated. I started losing temper at home and would then feel sorry about it.
I gave the whole thing a thought and in the very first week, it started getting clear in my mind that I wont stay in this organization for long.
I again had options here
Either I could move to some other educational institution.. OR I could get back to the software industry. Getting into another educational institution would be a risky step. Whereas, I can get stable again in software quickly. So, I started thinking about getting into software once again.
My colleagues always helped me and tried to convince me to stay. I was very happy to see such helping colleagues. They would make every effort to get a new guy understand the processes and get adjusted at the place.
But still, I felt that the reason for which I entered teaching will be dumped somewhere and my personal life will be ruined if the things go on like this.
Then one day, one of my best friends called me up and during the conversation, he asked me "Khush hain na" (Are you happy). I usually dont lie... So I straightaway said "NO".
He was shocked and quickly got into the details. He works in FIS too. So he asked me If I would like to joing FIS again then he can talk to the management on my behalf. I gave it a thought and it took me just some seconds to decide. I said "YES".
He talked to the higher authorities. And to my surprise and good luck, they agreed happily.
I will always be tankful to my friend for this.
The university had a policy of two month notice period. I did not server it and resigned with immediate effect. I paid two month's salary as a compensation and got my certificates and the relieving letter.
The monetary loss did not affect me at all because I again gained a lot during my stay at the university.
1. I got so many new friends.
2. I got an overview of the education system.
3. I got to know how it feels and what are the circumstances when you stand in the class as a teacher.
4. And the biggest benefit... i realized that my decision of moving to teaching was not wrong. I enjoyed each and every moment of it.
But it does not mean at all that I will not be faithful to my software job now. I will put in my 100% efforts here too. And will plan something like guest lectures in educational institutions. So, I will have the best of both worlds.. :-)
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Fresh Starting in University
Having the appointment letter from the university with me, I drove towards the university campus. Upon reaching, I headed straight towards the HR department.
Its my day of joining here :-).
I reached a bit early and had to wait. I was filled with confidence that I am going to enjoy my job, because I love to teach. I was excited too.
The wait became a bit longer. Other persons who had the same date of joining started arriving too. I started interacting with them. Some of them had just passed out from the same university while some had experience of many years at different places. Some worked in BPOs earlier. I made almost 5 friends.
But the waiting period was not coming to an end. I started thinking about my interview at the university. When I got selected after all the rounds and also got the salary I demanded, it was the time to sign the acceptance letter and to hand over the academic certificates as security.
At that time, I dont know why, but I got a feeling that something wrong is going to happen. But I ignored the feeling thinking that it might be just a mind game as the mind may be showing its resistance to the change. I handed over the certificates, had a look at the acceptance letter. It was very long. As already many people had signed it and it was also getting very late in the evening, I signed without studying it thoroughly.
Sitting in the waiting hall, all this came in front of my eyes and that strange feeling that something is wrong made me a bit nervous. But I recollected myself and got over the feeling quickly.
Soon, an HR representative came and the formalities of joining started.
Upon completing the formalities (which took almost the whole day), I was alloted my department by the dean.
I came to know that I will not be going through any induction session as I joined late and the induction session got over some days back.
The teaching was to start from the next day.
I got my time table and started with the classes.
From the very first class, I got sure that my decision of switching to teaching was very correct.
My Views about Teaching
After interacting with the students on the first day, I felt that a teacher has a very responsible role. The job is not to teach academics only, but to transform the students into responsible citizens. The teachers need to make the students think on their own..
Before a student gets into a professional college, the role of a teacher is a bit different. At that time, the academics need to be taught very thoroughly. But once the students get into their graduation, they should be made capable to think on their own. So, the role of the teacher changes here. The teacher becomes a guide, a facilitator here. Teacher should try to generate the interest for the subject in the student's mind and should keep guiding them. The teacher should only show the path and guide but should let the students think and walk themselves.
The teacher should make the students curious to know more and more. And at the same time, should try that each and every student is moving ahead. Some students need personal attention, otherwise they lag behind.
Well... my views about teacing can go on and on.
But to summarize, I started enjoying teaching from the very first day.
My Teaching Style
My lectures included some humor and experiences of life in addition to academics. I personally feel that only academics all the time can make the session boring. A little deviation is good.
So, the starting seemed to be good. I was teaching, interacting and enjoying.
But, the "something wrong" factor (that came while joining) started appearing.
Its my day of joining here :-).
I reached a bit early and had to wait. I was filled with confidence that I am going to enjoy my job, because I love to teach. I was excited too.
The wait became a bit longer. Other persons who had the same date of joining started arriving too. I started interacting with them. Some of them had just passed out from the same university while some had experience of many years at different places. Some worked in BPOs earlier. I made almost 5 friends.
But the waiting period was not coming to an end. I started thinking about my interview at the university. When I got selected after all the rounds and also got the salary I demanded, it was the time to sign the acceptance letter and to hand over the academic certificates as security.
At that time, I dont know why, but I got a feeling that something wrong is going to happen. But I ignored the feeling thinking that it might be just a mind game as the mind may be showing its resistance to the change. I handed over the certificates, had a look at the acceptance letter. It was very long. As already many people had signed it and it was also getting very late in the evening, I signed without studying it thoroughly.
Sitting in the waiting hall, all this came in front of my eyes and that strange feeling that something is wrong made me a bit nervous. But I recollected myself and got over the feeling quickly.
Soon, an HR representative came and the formalities of joining started.
Upon completing the formalities (which took almost the whole day), I was alloted my department by the dean.
I came to know that I will not be going through any induction session as I joined late and the induction session got over some days back.
The teaching was to start from the next day.
I got my time table and started with the classes.
From the very first class, I got sure that my decision of switching to teaching was very correct.
My Views about Teaching
After interacting with the students on the first day, I felt that a teacher has a very responsible role. The job is not to teach academics only, but to transform the students into responsible citizens. The teachers need to make the students think on their own..
Before a student gets into a professional college, the role of a teacher is a bit different. At that time, the academics need to be taught very thoroughly. But once the students get into their graduation, they should be made capable to think on their own. So, the role of the teacher changes here. The teacher becomes a guide, a facilitator here. Teacher should try to generate the interest for the subject in the student's mind and should keep guiding them. The teacher should only show the path and guide but should let the students think and walk themselves.
The teacher should make the students curious to know more and more. And at the same time, should try that each and every student is moving ahead. Some students need personal attention, otherwise they lag behind.
Well... my views about teacing can go on and on.
But to summarize, I started enjoying teaching from the very first day.
My Teaching Style
My lectures included some humor and experiences of life in addition to academics. I personally feel that only academics all the time can make the session boring. A little deviation is good.
So, the starting seemed to be good. I was teaching, interacting and enjoying.
But, the "something wrong" factor (that came while joining) started appearing.
4 .. 3 .. 2 .. 1 .. Ignition
In this materialistic world, time never stops. And so, the days of my notice period at FIS started passing one after the other.
I dont know why, but I was not feeling like getting separated from the place. As I said earlier that I am emotionally attached to the place, that attachment did not change at all.
On the last day, when I was getting my "No Dues" form signed, I suddenly felt that I am not with FIS any more. But again... it was not a feeling of separation.
After the day got over, before leaving I stood in front of the office building and tried to feel that I am departing, tried to feel that my stay here is over. But even then I could not get that feeling. And I left for my home.
I would like to mention that I got so many wonderful replies to my "Last Day Email" that I was filled with emotions and did not have words to reply them back.
And to my surprise, I got a farewell party from my team. We went to Kasauli and enjoyed the whole day there. I was filled with gratitude.
And then it was time to come back to my home town for a fresh start :-)
I dont know why, but I was not feeling like getting separated from the place. As I said earlier that I am emotionally attached to the place, that attachment did not change at all.
On the last day, when I was getting my "No Dues" form signed, I suddenly felt that I am not with FIS any more. But again... it was not a feeling of separation.
After the day got over, before leaving I stood in front of the office building and tried to feel that I am departing, tried to feel that my stay here is over. But even then I could not get that feeling. And I left for my home.
I would like to mention that I got so many wonderful replies to my "Last Day Email" that I was filled with emotions and did not have words to reply them back.
And to my surprise, I got a farewell party from my team. We went to Kasauli and enjoyed the whole day there. I was filled with gratitude.
And then it was time to come back to my home town for a fresh start :-)
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