03/08/2025
๐๐๐๐ง๐จ๐ฅ๐ | A Teacher's Heart, A Student's Journey
I still remember the cold, hard wood of the armchair I sat in when I took the ๐ฆ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฝ๐๐ถ๐๐๐ฑ๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐๐ ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ ๐ง๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ (๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ง). The room was quiet, but loud with big dreams. I could hear the nervous tapping of pens against the desks, and everyone hitched their breaths when the proctor entered the room.
I had prepared for it. Days that turned to weeks, weeks that turned to months. I ransacked the internet, fought my way to download practice tests, answered the questions 'til it's dawn, and at that moment, I realized, it wasnโt just a test. It felt like standing at the edge of something bigger. And if youโre about to take the SATT, I know exactly how you feel.
You see, I didn't feel ready. That morning, I woke up feeling like a fraud, questioning everything I knew. As I opened the test booklet, emotions came running down. The weight of years of ambition, of childhood dreams, of late-night pep talks with my friends.
I told myself, "This is only the start, not the end." And now that Iโve walked through it, I can promise you itโs worth it.
Most of the questions were general knowledge and felt familiar. But then came the abstract reasoning section; I stared at the patterns, completely lost, unable to figure out the logic. The one moment that still makes me laugh is when I thought the proctor said "30 minutes left," when he had actually said "an hour and 30 minutes left."
I finished in an hour, handed in my paper, and went home, a mix of hope and dread filling my mind. I just prayed hard that I wouldn't fail.
The SATT is hard. Itโs meant to be. It doesnโt just ask what youโve memorized; it asks how well you understand the world youโre about to step into. But the true measure of your potential lies beyond the bubbling of answer sheets.
It lies in your passion to inspire, your dedication to nurture, and your desire to make a lasting difference in the lives of young people.
Youโre not just proving what you knowโyouโre proving why youโre here. Think about it: every great mind, every innovator, every compassionate leader started in a classroom, guided by a teacher.
And that teacher? That could be you.
So when test day comes, ground yourself.
Remember the feeling of the floor beneath your feet, the steady sound of your own breathing. This is a moment of calm youโve earned.
๐๐ฒ๐ณ๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐๐, ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ๐๐ฒ ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐ต๐ถ๐ป๐ด๐ ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐ฑ:
Getting a good night's sleep. Our brain needs to rest to perform its best.
Eat a healthy breakfast to fuel my focus.
I arrive early to avoid stress and have all my materials ready.
๐๐๐ฟ๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ง๐ฒ๐๐, ๐ ๐๐๐ฎ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐ป๐:
Keeping in mind the Smart Strategies for Exam Mastery: S.E.M.A.R.Y
๐ฆ โ Survey the Test: Skim through the entire test first to plan your time and identify easier questions.
๐ โ Eliminate Wrong Choices: In multiple-choice questions, cross out clearly incorrect options.
๐ โ Mark Key Questions: Mark tricky questions to revisit later instead of wasting time.
๐ โ Answer What You Know First: Boost confidence by answering easier questions first.
๐ฅ โ Review Your Answers: If time allows, double-check your work and ensure no items are left blank.
๐ฌ โ Yield to Clarity: Donโt overthink โ go with clear logic, not doubt or second-guessing.
If you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath. If your eyes get blurry from reading too many questions, blink. That is part of being nervous; feeling nervous is completely normalโit shows you care deeply about this path. But remember, you haven't come this far by chance.
Every hour you've spent studying, every concept you've mastered, every practice test you've taken, all of it has built a foundation of knowledge and confidence.
Weeks later, the results arrived, and I had passed. The relief was immense, and the victory was even sweeter because of the fear I had overcome. Now, two years later, I'm preparing to begin my internship.
That test wasn't just about my readiness to become a teacher; it was about proving to myself that I had the resilience to overcome my biggest fear.
Even if you are unsure of how you didโknow this: you showed up. You faced it with courage. And that moment is just the beginning. Because beyond that door, a classroom full of young minds is waiting, ready to be guided, inspired, and shaped by someone like you.
A teacher, that the world hopes for. [B]
via Semary Daez & Kate Dean
Cartoon by Elizah Ortega
