Missing Tutoring

I miss tutoring.

The feeling of sharing students' success and seeing smiles on their faces on the day of exam results, flashed through my mind as I was filing office papers today.

I had been tutoring since the day I started my accounting journey, the day when I was still attending lectures to attain a Diploma in Accountancy. I started off tutoring my younger brother, Syamil, my younger cousin, Sulaima and their schoolmates. He was then in Primary 4. My fees to his schoolmates were only S$15 per subject. Most of them were average students from low-income families. I tutored due to interest and not for money. I was there as a tutor as well as a homework helper. The kids love me and my teaching methods as I grew their interest in the school subjects especially mathematics. I was dedicated to tutoring simultaneous to my studies. As they began to show improvements, I became popular among the mothers the pupils of Dazhong Primary School, where Syamil attends his primary school. Mothers of other neighbourhood schools came to know me by word of mouth. More pupils joined the group tuition, too many that I had to start a new group.

I continued tutoring them until they completed Primary 6, and then Secondary 1. Their Primary 6 results were my biggest achievement. Pupils who were in EM2, including Syamil and Sulaima, were posted to Express Stream. Most of those who were in EM3 were posted to Normal Academic Stream. I was proud; both for their achievements as well as mine.

I stopped for a while after attaining a Diploma to work for a MNC here.

I continued tutoring after having Nurul as I left my job to be at home taking care of Nurul until she was 1 and a half. I expanded by tutoring 'O' level mathematics as well as Principles of Accounts (POA).

I got another job and another and finally at an Audit firm but did not stop tutoring. I saw success after success and began to realise tutoring is part of my life; a skill that is gifted to me. I was taking up ACCA at that same time.

Shaista was born. I became more occupied.

It is now 4 years since I last tutored.

I miss tutoring. I really do.