Years ago, I was scaffolding a unit of inquiry with my students in Year 3 on workplaces. We all sat in a circle and shared our dreams about what we wanted to do when we grow up.
As each child opened up his/her heart, the dreams became bigger and answers left the traditional boundaries.
When it was my turn, I piped up "When I grow up I want to become a photographer!". A sudden silence and stillness descended upon the class. I had little curious eyes boring into me.... and one of my students asked "But Ms Atima, you're already a grown up!" I had lost my age in the discussion! I quickly revived myself (the pang of disappointment was strong when I realised that I had indeed grown up!) and talked about my love for photography. After a discussion we all came to the conclusion that though I am grown up (technically), I could pursue photography as my dream. A month ago, I did my first course in photography. This morning I saw a beautiful photograph taken by the very student who had reminded me that I was a grown-up! She has taken to the camera and has an eye for photography. God bless! I wish she enjoys and builds her passion. Happiness indeed. This brought back so many memories to life, particularly of the discussion that day.
One of my students said that he wanted to become a butcher, so that he could eat the best meat all the time. Clear priorities. I loved it!
Another one said, "I want to become a CEO." Someone asked him.... "CEO of what?".
"Nothing. Just a CEO. That is what my dad is and I will become a CEO when I become old. Then I will get a Big Chair."
This did not fit in our discussion - partly because everyone else seemed to have an understanding of different types of workplaces but more importantly because others were able to dream independently and talk about what they liked, or wanted to do. No one seemed to be in the shadows of parents or teacher, which I took pride in.... till our friend here decided to stick to his CEO and chair dream!
The next day, I shared this with his mum. She laughed and said that the dining table had a huge chair as the father was a large man and had a chair for himself. Whenever this child went on to sit on this chair, the father would ask him to get off. When the child asked why he couldn't sit on the chair the dad said that it was meant only for CEO's and that he would get it one day, when he grows up and becomes a CEO. That had stuck in so deep that the child had become obsessed by it. The mum said that they were planning to get in a chair for him.
I was amused and bemused. This child was so much in awe of his father (which was not a bad thing) that he was starting to lose his own persona. When I mentioned this to the mum, she welled up. Then on, it became our combined mission to explore things that this one could get interested in and build his passion for. We tried Art, Music, Soccer, reading, writing... nothing worked. The mum finally got him to explore Go Carting. That was it. This child took to it so well, that within a year he was selected by one of the Formula 1 Sponsors for training. The change was incredible. Where we struggled to get him to do half a page of writing, he started asking for homework that he could do during his months of training. I have his newspaper clipping safely tucked away in my happy memories and my happiness file!
I love my students.
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