Today, exactly one year has passed since I defended my PhD thesis. Here’s a brief reflection on my first year of postdoctoral life.
Teaching through a screen
There is a lot to consider about online teaching for the 2020–21 academic year. One particular aspect was that virtual teaching highlighted various difficulties some students were experiencing, such as loneliness and anxiety about participating in the virtual classroom and exam settings. I explored many ways to make classroom activities more engaging for students. I had many positive and enjoyable experiences with students, as well as some struggles. Helping students who struggle to grasp a particular concept/idea through a step-by-step guide is definitely one of my most satisfying experiences. As much as I felt grateful for such invaluable time with them, I also felt the need to improve my methods for a deeper level of learning for my students.
Learning from a mentor
One of the happiest moments of the year came when I was finally able to meet my PhD supervisor face to face after a year and a half. Initially, we had planned to meet up outside and take a long walk together around a lake. But it rained that day, so we decided to go to a cafeteria and have a lovely chat over herbal tea. Conversations with her made me remember how much I liked the way she commended my work, replied to my emails, always listened quietly and carefully, and encouraged me. Now I wish to be like her every time I have a tutorial with my students. I was astonished when she told me that she had taken a diploma course to become a counsellor! Recently, she has been building her counselling practice. I was so inspired to put good effort into anything I am interested in doing.
New directions
In April, I received a job offer as a research associate in health research. This is the kind of research I have wanted to be involved in for a long time. Very excitedly, I took up the new role in June. My new part-time teaching role starts in September. As my teaching responsibilities have eased, I have restored my energy and been more motivated to invest in and develop new skills. For now, these are the optimum outcomes and will also continue to change.
