A TRIBUTE FOR SOMEONE I APPRECIATE

"Give to him who honor is due, such honor".
This portion of the bible comes to mind as I decide to participate in Hive Memorial Forest Contest of this week.

Pay tribute to someone in history- a colleague, a sport star or a politician who made an impact in your life and share it in the Hive Memorial Forest.

I have no individual politician who has affected me in a positive way despite all the government has done. Hahaha. But I do have, can I say a colleague? Nah. He is not now my colleague. He was my Boss. My last Boss before my present employment. I like to refer to him in this post as Mr Lawal. He deserves my accolades.

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He employed me into his School at a time I had zero experience in teaching. But by the time I left for my present employment, I had been trained and competent to the extent that among 14 applicants who were interviewed for the new job, I got the job. His influence in my education career has never been forgotten. He was a good mentor. He is still alive. I might be referring to him in past tense because I am no longer working for him.

FROM HIM I LEARNT TO ACCEPT NEW AND CHALLENGING ROLES

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God bless Mr Lawal. Firstly, he interviewed me for Mathematics, despite the fact that I studied Computer Science and applied for computer studies in his school. I failed the interview because my bane in School was Mathematics, let alone teaching it in an impromptu interview. But he saw some potentials in me(according to him) and employed me still. I was asked to take up Basic Science and before long, the Literature teacher went on maternity leave.

Mr Lawal refused to employ someone else in her place, rather, he asked me to cover for her. I am Science inclined and know nothing in Literature. But he offered to teach and guide me before I go to class. This he did and I became proficient. Yes, proficient enough to take home lesson for a novice in Literature and that girl passed excellently in WAEC.(West African Examination Council). All thanks to Mr Lawal.

Later, the computer teacher left. I thought Mr Lawal would employ someone else since I was already handling Literature and Basic Science. But he never did. Instead, he called me and reminded me that I can now put my Computer knowledge to good use. Although the Literature teacher later came back from maternity but I took Computer Studies again when that teacher left.

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Mr Lawal has no reason to believe that a graduate can not teach a subject in Secondary School. He on his own teaches all subjects, whether science or Arts. He does them well too. The subjects I can say he hasn't taught in my presence are just Christian Religious knowledge and French Language. He once told us that when he started his School and hasnt started employing teachers yet, he alone taught all subjects.

FROM HIM I LEARNT DISCIPLINE.

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Mr Lawal is a disciplinarian to the core. He makes rules, allows his staff to understand those rules and sign that they will obey. If any one flouts those rule, he doesn't spare. He has no reason to allow you come in by 7:31am without sanctions when you have agreed to sign in by 7:30am. Many staff didn't like his stringent rules and no mercy way of life and so they work for a year or two and resign. But I worked with him for 8years without any query. I understood his rules and obeyed them to the latter. The rules kept me on my toes.

FROM HIM I UNDERSTOOD RESPECT ALL THE MORE
My parents taught me to respect people no doubt. But Mr Lawal over-emphasized it. He speaks respectfully even to the least staff and encourages students to greet their teachers no matter the number of times they meet.

There, the students dare not walk pass a staff carrying a heavy bag. Greeting is not enough. They must help or at least attempt to help. The School has three storey buildings with the classes upstairs. If students are climbing to the classes and a teacher puts just a foot in the stairs, all the students will halt. They will all wait for the teacher to complete his or her journey before they begin theirs . hahaha. Even if the teacher is slow and unconsciously making a call in the stair way, no student moves until the teacher is done. They enjoy doing it too. I love the students for their discipline.

FROM HIM I LEARNT GOOD LEADERSHIP SKILL
Before I left his School, I was made the Head of Department (Sciences). I was monitoring and inspecting teachers as they teach in their classes. I approved their notes before they go to class and I ensured they used the right instructional materials and put them to good use in class, not just to display them on the table.

I guided them through their difficulties and respected their views. I was also a good confident especially when they express themselves regarding Mr Lawal's rules. Rather then report them, I use their concerns to make suggestions to the Proprietor for improvement.
I was also in charge of women. I was monitoring that they dress well to class and apply light make up. ( Now that task nearly got me into trouble, hahaha). Many of the ladies were married and some even if not married felt they are adults and can't be taught how to dress). But I was able to manage them, explaining calmly why they needed to make it simple, so as not to distract the students. And when they prove difficult , I also calmly reminded them of why the owner of a job has the right to specify how his workers should dress. At least if they don't find it pleasing, rather than make trouble, it is more honourable to leave. They just understood the point and adjusted.

I use this medium to remember Mr Lawal and his school. Although I left already with no regrets so far, ( I left for something better, hahaha) , but I thank God I met Mr Lawal and worked there. The values he instilled in me will never be forgotten. I was a faithful staff for 8years. I enjoyed working with him, he is a good administrator and a lover of his students. Although he is not perfect, but in my education career, he has played a wonderful role and I am still grateful to him till today even when he wasn't happy I left. Proprietor 's or business owners are never happy when their best staff leaves. But we have to move. Hahaha.
Thanks for stopping by guts. It's been a long time here.

Yours,
Adore.

Thank you @dreemport in collaboration with @berber and Hive Memorial Forest community. It's my pleasure to participate in this contest.

Sorry I couldn't get any image from that School because I left since 8years ago.