Sitting in My Students’ Shoes… and It Was Not Easy

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 I had ideas bursting in my head, but when my pen hit the page, there was silence. This week, our lecturer gave us an impromptu writing exercise, and it truly humbled me. I chose a topic I liked, but when it was time to write, I just sat there staring at the paper. My thoughts were loud in my mind, yet they refused to come together. That moment made me think about my students and how often I grew frustrated when they wrote slowly or said they did not know what to write. Now I realize that they were not being lazy. They were simply struggling to make sense of the ideas in their heads, just like I was.

The experience helped me understand that writing is much more than putting words on paper. It takes patience, confidence, and a sense of flow that sometimes comes only after a few false starts. I have come to appreciate how important it is to give students time to think before expecting them to write. When I reflect on my past teaching, I see that I often valued the finished product more than the process. This week reminded me that the process is where real growth happens.

Moving forward, I want my classroom to be a space where students can explore, make mistakes, and find their voices without fear. Writing should feel like discovery, not pressure.

To my future writers, I understand you a little better now, and I am coming back to help you grow and shine.

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