Teaching Profession and Self Development

Introduction

Hi dear teachers and students, it's my pleasure to have you here. Last week, my boss, the School Administrator, dropped a WhatsApp message on the teachers' page that they'll be training for teachers the following week, specifically on Wednesday 3rd September 2025. When I saw that, I knew it was another moment for me to get myself undated and upgraded. I had already made up my mind I'd attend, although we're on holiday.

^{Representatives from my School}

Schools will be resuming on 15th September, a new term and a new school year. It is necessary that, as a teacher, you receive training to get you updated with what's prevalent in the world of teaching and also understand how to deal with today's child.

Seminar Theme

The theme of the seminar itself was mind-blowing, The Mind Behind the Chalk: A Mental Health Workshop for Secondary School Teachers. It was meant for secondary school teachers, but I tell you, the seminar was for more than just secondary school teachers, it should have been for all teachers, because with the situation of things around our world today, so many people are seriously going through a lot, which has resulted in mental and emotional stress.

In the seminar, the first instructor listed factors that lead to teachers' mental health, issues such as excess workload, exploitation, inadequate finance, unrealistic expectations, poor job satisfaction, job insecurity, lack of support system, family disharmony, etc, while not forgetting that it could also be genetically inherited.

The impact of a mental health condition was also discussed, which he said could result in frequent mistakes, unnecessary expressions of anger, poor communication, absentism from work, insubordination, truancy and further health conditions like involvement in substance abuse which could worsen mental health.

My Take-home

In order to improve your mental health as a teacher, the instructor also enumerated some of the activities that could be of great help. Activities such as physical exercise, feeding well, self-priority, according to him, doing the first things first, setting achievable goals, developing interest in the job, improved pay for teachers by the management if possible, avoiding unhealthy competition, taking good rest, meditation etc.

^{Picture of myself after the seminar}

It was mind-blowing as the instructor took a good time explaining each of the points and at the end of the session, teachers were given the time to ask questions and answers were provided. Physical exercise towards the lessons were also carried out by the attendees. It was a short period but very impactful.

In the end, one of the teachers gave a vote of thanks to the organisers of the event, Bloomsphere Foundation, for such a wonderful seminar to teachers free of charge without any charge. Great enough, all the attendees were given light refreshments and a certificate of participation. Wow! Amazing, right? I was so amazed that someone could be that thoughtful and generous to others while having their wellbeing and the children in mind.

According to the organiser of the event, Miss Treasure Afia, who was ably represented by her mother, Mrs Aniekan Afia, the initiative was out of a passion to enhance education in the state and that was the smallest contribution she could offer as an individual to see to the fact that the educational sector is well invested upon.

We all left the premises for the seminar satisfied, being grateful for the opportunity to be at the event.

Conclusion

Hello dear teachers, I hope you're prepared for the resumption and also have had one or two seminars/training to enhance yourself. As was said by the instructor in one of his explanations, as a teacher, you're what you teach. Don't forget that you're an instructor, educator, counsellor, disciplinarian, motivator, and more. Take your stand, equip yourself, don't be left behind.

Pictures From my WhatsApp