When the Struggle Becomes Worth It
By Mr Mohd Firnaz, Deputy Head of Exams at Knewton Global Schools Rawang

There was a time when I thought the greatest challenge of university would be passing examinations and completing assignments. I soon discovered that the real challenge was learning how to manage everything else at the same time. 

University life taught me many things that could never be found in a textbook. There were assignments to complete, deadlines that seemed to arrive far too quickly, presentations to prepare and responsibilities outside my studies that could not simply be ignored. Some days felt organised and productive. Others felt like there simply were not enough hours in the day. 

Time management became one of my greatest struggles. 

I learnt that being busy and being productive are not always the same thing. There were moments when I had to choose what needed my attention first, sacrifice personal time and continue working even when I was tired. Looking back, those difficult periods taught me discipline, patience and responsibility. At the time, however, they simply felt exhausting. 

Then came teaching. 

Standing in front of students for the first time brought an entirely different kind of challenge. Teaching is much more than explaining a chapter, preparing worksheets or helping students achieve good examination results. Every classroom is filled with different personalities, abilities, emotions and stories. 

Some students understand immediately. Others need the same idea explained three different ways. Some confidently put their hands up, while others quietly wait for someone to notice that they are struggling. 

And, of course, there are those unforgettable students who somehow manage to test every ounce of a teacher’s patience! 

Yet these experiences are precisely what make teaching meaningful. 

There is a special happiness in watching a student finally understand something they once found impossible. There is joy in seeing a quiet student become confident enough to speak. There is pride when students improve their results, but there is an even greater satisfaction in watching them become more responsible, independent and determined young people. 

Over time, students become more than names on an attendance list. We remember their jokes, their questions, their struggles, their achievements and sometimes even the small conversations they have probably forgotten themselves. 

Teaching has also taught me that educators do not simply teach students. Students teach us too. 

They teach us patience. They remind us to listen. They challenge us to improve. They show us that the same approach will not work for everyone. Most importantly, they remind us why we chose education in the first place. 

Looking back at the difficult university days, the late nights, the deadlines, the struggle to manage time and the uncertainty about where everything would eventually lead, I now understand that those experiences were preparing me for something. 

They were preparing me for this. 

Teaching is not always easy. There are tiring days, difficult lessons, endless planning, meetings, marking and moments when things simply do not go according to plan. But then a student says, “Sir, I understand now.” A former student remembers you. A class achieves something they once thought they could not. Or you simply see students enjoying learning together. 

Suddenly, the difficult days feel a little smaller. 

Perhaps that is one of the greatest lessons my journey from university to teaching has given me: not every struggle makes sense while we are going through it. 

Sometimes we only understand its value when we look back. 

The deadlines taught me discipline. 

The pressure taught me resilience. 

The lack of time taught me priorities. 

And my students taught me why it was all worth it. 

I once studied because I wanted to build a future for myself. 

Today, I teach because I have the privilege of helping young people build theirs.

 

Challenging Vocabulary

Discipline – the ability to control yourself and continue doing what needs to be done, even when it is difficult  

Productive – achieving useful results or completing important work  

Priorities – the tasks or responsibilities that are considered more important than others  

Sacrifice – giving up something valuable in order to achieve something more important  

Resilience – the ability to recover from difficulties and continue moving forward  

Uncertainty – a situation in which you are unsure about what will happen  

Meaningful – having an important purpose or value  

Independent – able to think, work or make decisions without relying heavily on others  

Determination – the strong desire to continue trying despite difficulties  

Privilege – a special opportunity or advantage that is valued and appreciated 

The struggles we face today may not make sense now, but with determination and resilience, they can lead us towards a brighter future. At ILTI, we support our students through every challenge, providing the guidance and encouragement they need to grow in confidence and achieve their goals.

Hard work and perseverance pave the way to success. Start your journey towards English proficiency and a brighter future with ILTI!

Call/WhatsApp: 010-395 3067 or email us at info@ilti.edu.my

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