Teaching is hard.
Some days are harder than others.

I’m usually tolerant but this Tuesday, the dam broke and I lambasted my uninspiring class for about 15 minutes, mentioning all the different ways they have brought grief into my life. In the midst of my bellowing, I told them about how the students from an ex-form class pooled their money together to buy a box of Ferrero Rocher for me on Teacher’s Day. Yes, I meant to insinuate that my current form class was treating me very shabbily.

Today, a boy just quietly left this packet of Ferrero Rocher at the teacher’s table. And in an instant, I realised that while words of affirmation are my love language, thoughtful gifts can warm my heart as well. It uplifted me so much that I subsequently spent 15 minutes on a 1-to-1 coaching session with a student (instead of frantically vetting through School Graduation Certificates - yes the dreaded season of the year is upon us). You know, spreading the love I felt and paying it forward.

Teachers need encouragement too. And I realised that just having one kid understand what I was getting at would help me power through another day.

And I think Ferrero Rocher will have a special place in my heart from now on.