Honestly, my PPA experience is one thing I don't think I'll ever forget.When I got to my school, I was actually excited because I thought teaching would be easy. I was just telling myself, “At least I'll close by 2pm and go home.”I didn't know I was going to meet children that would make me question my entire NYSC journey.

There was this particular boy in my class. Very stubborn. The type that would be talking while you're teaching and, when you ask him what you're saying, he will just look at you like you are the one disturbing him.One day, I was teaching and he was disturbing the class badly. I warned him several times, but he didn't stop.So I told him to stand outside.The boy stood up and walked out.I didn't beat him. I didn't insult him. I didn't even touch him,because the staffs had already told me they don't really value education here(don't want to disclose the place)and some students and parents are very troublesome.so i just told him to stand outside until I finished teaching.After the class, I completely forgot about the boy and mind you it was almost closing time.I was in the staff room that same afternoon,tired, hungry thinking of what to prepare at home cause I was done for that day,when I heard somebody shouting from outside,

“Where is the teacher that sent my son outside?”

I didn't even know they were looking for me.

One of the teachers looked at me and said, “I think she's looking for you.”

I was like, “Me?”Before I could even stand up properly, the woman entered.

She started asking me why I sent her son outside.( she came in with her son who pointed directly at me)

I explained calmly that he was disturbing the class and I had warned him several times.

This woman said, “So because you are a corper, you think you can just punish my child? I told her, “Ma, I didn't punish him. I only asked him to stand outside because he wasn't paying attention.”She got even more angry.She said, “You people will come here for NYSC and start forming teacher.”

At that point, I was already annoyed because what exactly did she expect me to do? Let her son turn the classroom upside down?I tried to explain again, but she wasn't listening.Then she started getting closer to me while talking,i moved back.(cause this woman was obviously bigger than me and I'm not a fighter). She moved forward.I moved back again.That's when I realised this woman wasn't just angry.She actually wanted to fight me.

One teacher quickly stood up and held her( haa God Bless that teacher wherever she is).I was standing there confused because no where to run to cause the staff room was already crowded, I will be caught by her.

Then she said, “If you touch my child again, I will show you pepper

I said, “Ma, I won't touch him. There's no problem.”( in my mind i was like this confrontation is already pepprish I just want to go home) She said, “You better!”

Then she tried to move towards me again.

At this point, everybody started shouting, “Madam, calm down!”

Meanwhile, some of the students were outside watching everything.

And the worst part,

The boy whose mother came to fight me was standing there looking at me.He wasn't even scared,he was smiling.

That was the exact moment I knew there's no place like home.

Because imagine nearly getting beaten by someone's mother and the child is standing there enjoying the show just because I'm a corper and I'm not from their town.

After everything finally calmed down, the principal called me and basically told me,

“you didn't do anything wrong but Just be careful ' and I was like 'howcareful can I be again sir for a child I didn't flog' still i said, “Okay sir.”

From that day, I changed my entire teaching strategy.

Anytime that kid or any other kid disturbs my class would just look at them

No talking.

No warning.

Just serious eye contact.

Because I had already learnt my lesson.

NYSC said I was going to serve my fatherland.

They didn't tell me I would most likely get beaten up in my PPA. 😭