This is my story... Sibongile Nhlapo

My career of becoming a teacher has made me realise that God has planned our lives. My first year of teaching was full of love and happiness, although I had feelings of uncertainty towards myself and the kids.

I was introduced to Lebone College by Dave Ryan at the end of January and I started in February 2013.  And then I met Mr Thomas  in the morning and  borrowed me a book on that day about teacher’s story, and he introduced me to my mentor Mrs Tshoma who took me to her class- to my surprise her class had an office, this was an extra ordinary space and  she tried her best to make me feel special. I have heard horrible stories about mentor, but she was different, I was touched they way I was treated, if all Lebone staff members are like Mam Tshoma, this school is special.

And I met Mr Cossa and Mrs Tshoma gave me tips on my first day on how to survive as a teacher at Lebone, stupid me I can’t remember a word they said, I was so nervous.

And I look into myself and thought will I be able to survive looking at my background as a person - and will I be able to meet the standard of this school. Truly speaking I was overwhelmed and I expected the worst. Because I know for children it is cruel to take your child to a school where all of the kids there come from wealthy families and parents don’t realise that because this social inequality it is the source of bullying in our schools.

On my case it is the opposite, taking a teacher from a poor background to go and teach students who come from well off families. I was expecting being disrespected by some students or is that my imagination, then I realised I ‘m not the only one almost all the teachers are experiencing the same thing of disciplining children it is the nature of the children, they don’t consider where you come from, all they look up to you as teacher to be their model.

One thing in my case, I am not used to speaking English the whole day, I come from Mangope and UJ (RAU), we don’t take this language so serious on how it spoken. We only use it for academics. One thing I would like to gain is having confidence in speaking the language, because I can. They only thing that disadvantage me is being scared of losing my self of being an African. I want to use the language in my own accent. Something that need me to polish it.

And I received so much love from the children and staff members of Lebone it become my second home. The children of Lebone become my kids – they will greet me in the passages.I was involved with the high school kids but to my surprise even the little ones would come and greet me, it made me feel loved and special.

My typical day starts at 4:00am, i will switch off my alarm and then wake up at 4:30 preparing myself and cooking soft porridge that I will eat in the bus. I will go to a bus stop at 5:30, then Lebone bus will come pick me up between that time 5:30 to 5:45 at Lefaragatlha.

I will greet Malome Elias the driver of the bus at Lebone and the sit in the second row and had my breakfast, then will travel to Rustenburg picking up the kids at the selected bus stop. When I am done eating, I will take out my UNISA textbook and read some chapters. Then we reach Waterfall mall is our last pick up station, then by this time the bus will be full with the little ones from foundation phase, the bus will be so noisy or quite depending on the game for that day if it’s a quite game, or rock paper scissor game. On Mondays the talk on the bus is about how was your weekend.

The students who are passengers at Malome Elias Bus are so close to one another, if you are from that bus you are part of the family. He crack jokes on the bus that made us laugh up until we reach our school. And he cares for the kids, if you miss a bus you must explain your whereabouts or else he’ll never waits for you when you are late.

My mentor was Mam Tshoma, she is full of love and she is always happy, though strict she does not take nonsense from students. I think its because she had a lot of experience with the kids but students like her, her class it is always full of students, including those who are not in her class. Maybe its because of the exchange programme they had with the international students.

Lebone has made me realise that I love teaching because of the opportunities it offers such as the top-notch space and teaching facilities, community services, exchange programme, medical facilities school trips not forgetting sport.

 and most important of all teacher’s development programme such as new teachers cafe, new teachers meet on the second week of every month depending on Mr Thomas who always remind us to attend. This support group has help me realise that the problems I faced in the class of the Grade 9s are a norm. I have to be a strong person not to be controlled but I should maintain classroom management in my class. With teaching you will develop a strong character whether you like it or not. But I love it I won’t trade for any career.