She was lying on the floor, gasping for air...
It was five o'clock in the afternoon and the rush hour traffic heading out from New York City, back to New Jersey was just getting started. Hundreds of thousands of cars were finding their way back to all of the smaller cities around New York. This was my first day of work at Computer Learning Center in Paramus, New Jersey. I was supposed to sit in on a class, observe the interaction and the dynamics, and prepare to take the class over from the current teacher.
Fair warning for new teachers and adult educators:
Schools and educational institutions often hire new teachers to fill a gap, to replace an instructor, or hire someone, because none of their staff is qualified and skilled to teach certain technical material. They may or may not give you fair warning about known problems with the current instructor or course material.
This was the case with Nancy, a twenty-two year old instructor who promised me the I can sit in on her class to ensure a smooth transition.
Instead of keeping her promise, she prepared a trap.
I have arrived almost an hour early and went upstairs to the teacher's room.
Nancy was there with several other instructors. She was laying on the floor as fellow teachers were standing around her.
She was gasping for air; however, upon closer examination, I've noticed that she was fine, she was just exaggerating.
The neon lights flickered outside, on the building, as they turned on. The sign said: Computer Learning Center. It was big, bright, and promising, unlike the chances of success, after what happened next.
She was on the floor, unable or unwilling to move, just half an hour before class. The other teachers seemed unfazed; this was not their first time witnessing such an incident. She was my bridge, she was my hope for transitioning from primary school teaching to educating adults.
It would have been a smooth transition. I sit in on a class, observe her teaching methods and interaction with the students, and create a lesson plan. Go home, spend a few days preparing the material, and provide the best lesson I can. In a professional environment, where instructors help each other and management knows what real training is, you have a chance to become successful. This was not one of those environments. It was a swimming pool, with very deep water everywhere. The pool could have sharks or alligators; I had no idea. Surprisingly, in a few minutes, I had to test the waters.
"Just give her a couple of minutes, and she'll be fine," Garry said, his long, thin frame hunched over Nancy's body, watching her alleged panic attack. "I'm fine; I just need to be here for a while," Nancy said, her voice emotionless and her face calm. Her breathing normalized, and she handed me a blue marker without turning on her side. "Go teach," she instructed, remaining on the floor.
In disbelief, I asked, "Where is the classroom?" Nancy assured me Garry would show me. With no time to think, I had to jump straight into teaching. Thankfully, a strong gut feeling had pushed me to prepare early—studying the course material and creating lessons two weeks in advance. That instinct made all the difference.
After my first lecture on Excel, several students praised me, and Diego, a twenty-year-old programming student, remarked, "Much better than the other teacher." I felt a sense of accomplishment and was ready for future challenges. My late-night practice sessions paid off, enhancing my teaching skills.
I remember teaching classes in the morning, helping out as a lab assistant in the afternoon, and also teaching night classes from six PM to ten PM. By the time I drove home, it was close to eleven at night. A quick bite to eat and I was ready to work until three o'clock in the morning to prepare for the class next day. I have practiced Excel formulas, functions, correcting syntax problems, and going through every practice material so I can better help my students. I've slept three to five hours a night for about a month preparing to make sure I can provide the best service. I also spent entire weekends, at least ten hours a day, preparing and practicing.
I've lost twenty pounds in a month and all my old suits were fitting again.
Hard work, dedication, perseverance, and the willingness to never give up eventually paid off.
In the year 2000, I have received the a prestigious achievement award and earned recognition as the top performing instructor at the Paramus campus.
I have received numerous awards since 1997 and also completed several diploma and certification courses.
Since 1997, I've trained over six thousand adults across the USA and Canada, contributing significantly to local economies. My students, from diverse backgrounds, have become successful professionals in various fields.
Join me on my adventures as I share experiences, trials, tribulations, and tips for successful teaching. Look forward to my "Tip for Teachers" blog series and discover why I'd say I'd be a pumpkin if asked the cliché interview question about being a vegetable.
This website is dedicated to my students in New Jersey, USA, and in Ontario, Canada.
This website is not a school, where you can sign up for a course. Instead, I'm providing free information and also training for businesses when they reach out to contact me.
I'm also using my website to showcase future concepts and post blogs.
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