GOODBYE IS THE SADDEST WORD

GOODBYE IS THE SADDEST WORD

Adebesin Ibraheem

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

When my plane touched down on the soil of Ifako International Secondary School (IISS) on Monday, 15th of September, 2014, I was unsure of what fate held in store for me, but I was certain that I was going to do my best, as it had been my wont, to contribute to the growth of the students and the school. So, the journey started. I got warmly welcomed into the midst of a wonderful, dutiful team.


Then, I met an array of good, bad and ugly students. Some of them readily fell in love with my charismatic personality, while some felt ‘what an arrogant tutor he is’! Many of them openly gave tickling commendation that I was good, while some secretly sneered at me and my assertive character; some admired my eclectic methods of teaching, while some just couldn’t cope with my meticulousness. Once, one of them, named Christen (with the weird pseudonym, ‘misanthrope’) openly confessed she didn’t like me. I smiled and told her not to worry, that it was a fleeting feeling.


With my characteristically passionate but firm approach to pedagogy, I contributed in no small way to the building of the students for their various future careers, and I strove to help, especially the senior teens, in their transition to young adults. I was amiably thorough in my classroom delivery and very meticulous in my assessment. This doesn’t mean I was flawless! I often erred in the aspect of lesson and teaching notes, and, like Mrs. Bepo (my English teacher colleague) would commonly taunt me, I was always too serious. I very actively partook in many curricular and co-curricular activities. Throughout my not so long but very eventful journey at IISS, I was an intelligent instructor, a very tireless tutor, a meticulous evaluator, a dreaded disciplinarian, a trustworthy mentor, a life coach, a worthy model, a trusted confidant, a very cheerful giver, a charismatic leader, and a dedicated surrogate parent.


How do I talk about the many cherished memories of good, bad and ugly times I had at IISS? I shan’t forget the morning assembly devotions, with all the side attractions (the excellent expressions series, the impromptu speeches, the Mathematics tonic, the Yoruba presentations, and the French performances); the diverse and interesting activities of my Literary and Debating Club (L&DC); the ritual spelling drills that many of my students devotedly looked forward to; the colourful literary day events; the eye-opening career days, the biennial inter-house sports; the open days (the only time that some parents ever visit their wards in school); the sometimes fun-filled and sometimes boring in-house seminars that prompted some of us to become good facilitators; the out-of-school learning excursions and competitions; the ambassadorial duties often assigned to me; the departmental and the staff meetings, the wonderful SAT and TOEFL tutorials, with the many candidates we successfully tutored; the Saturdays’ teaching duties (to the boarders); the year tutor duties, the Year book committee duties; and the sundry ad hoc duties…; the wondrous students and the troublesome ones, the A-class students and the struggling ones… The memories are too many and they are unforgettable.


I sincerely appreciate the school for the ample opportunities I was given, to be a good instructor/tutor and to get better at my work, through the different (internal and external) trainings. I am genuinely thankful to all the IISS family of teachers and management members, for all the profound and memorable moments I shared with them, over the twenty seven months we worked together.


I strongly believe I have left an indelible mark on the sand of time, there in IISS, and for that, I particularly thank my Unit Head (Language), the beautiful and understanding Mrs. Caroline Olufunmilayo Aje-Akinsowon; then, the H.O.D, Mr. Samuel Okewole; my other English teaching colleagues, Mrs. Toyin Adelusi Bepo and the gentle-natured Miss Adewunmi Oluwaremilekun Modupeola, and the rest of my colleagues.


“Absence”, they say, “makes the heart grow fonder.” For this, I will miss you all very dearly. I will miss all the sights and sounds of the school; all the staff room noises and gossip, and all the intellectual discussions; And the dramatic scenes manufactured by Oluko Agba (Mr. Adetola Adeyemi); the endless tickling jokes served by the erudite Chemistry scholar (Mr. Salau Adewale Adeyem), the merry-making moments often created by the duo of Miss Funmi Grace Sokoya. and Mrs. Toyin Adelusi Bepo, the habitual comical behaviour of Mr. Ogunfowode Tobi; and the characteristic laughter produced frequently by our senior colleague, Mrs. Folarin Oluwatoyin… Indeed, GOODBYE IS THE SADDEST WORD


I thank you all for making my pedagogical journey at IISS very memorable. May GOD bless our endeavours. May we always get good tidings about one another. God’s goodness and mercy shall follow us all, all the days of our lives. Amen! I bowed out this day, Friday, 27th of January, 2017.