Hey everyone! I hope that y’all are doing well 🙂 I think that Autumn has started to sweep through Japan as the days slowly get colder each passing day. Typhoon Hagibis struck Japan late last Saturday and although there was damage done to Japan, I am happy to report that I am safe and sound! I was being a little risky last Friday by going to my internship, that was a 40 minute commute one-way, as the rain was getting heavier and heavier each passing hour. With a fear of what is to come, I’m glad I still went that day.
For my internship, it mainly consists of me being an intensive English tutor for two kids that are both in first grade. During their “homework support time”, children are allowed time to work on assignments for the day, and usually during this time, I am able to help other students with their work. That was when I met a girl, who was also in first grade, that had so much anxiety that she was in emotional distress. I was caught so off guard; how can a first grader be so upset that she is not finishing her homework at school? As tears stream down her little face, she still pushes herself to try to finish her assignment. During this time, many of her classmates had already finished and waited in line to get their answers checked by the teacher. I can see panic set into her eyes as she realizes that she was the only one who was not finished and she became nervous and frustrated that she wasn’t done. She looks at me for help and I realized that I had to step in. I had to reassure her that she still has plenty of time to get it done, and with that statement alone, she looks up at me with her watery eyes, “Really?”. I felt so bad that she was feeling this way at such a young age. I knew that I would have never wanted to do it alone, so I made sure I stayed with her the entire time and shift her focus back to the assignment. She would steal glances at her peers and would quickly get defeated and upset, but I was there to reassured her however many times she needed it. With only five minutes left in class, she was able to complete her work and just like that, all her tears were gone and no one could tell that she was crying 10 minutes prior. She was back to being kid again. I did not realize that anxieties and social pressures can already be picked up by children as young as six. As they grow older, they are not taught to cope with their anxieties and pressures which can resurface throughout one’s life. No one seemed to notice she was in distress except for me and I realized how important being an adult figure in a child’s life is so vital in helping them learn and grow.
I was shocked and saddened to know that kids at that age are already emotional vulnerable through their own expectations, but I learned first-hand that supporting those students and teaching them to cope and work with their nerves is just as important as any other subject taught in class. No one really showed me how to deal with my anxiety and there were times I was so crippled by my own thoughts. I kept it to myself and whenever I would share it, I couldn’t control my emotions. For me, I think it is deeply rooted in my childhood and why I felt so compelled to make sure that the little girl did not feel alone. It makes me wonder how society can help raise children to be more perceptive to their emotions and how it can change their life. I guess this is one of the reasons why I want to become a teacher. I want to be depended on, and always be there for others. I know that this is spark of passion that I have and want to continue to explore and develop. I hope I made it up by writing a little longer of a post, but that you again, as always, for reading my posts and my stories. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this week and share it with y’all, but until then, have a great week!
Michelle's Travels 