My University's Choices.

I am in Social Sciences and it's my last year in college. Next week, I will have to choose where I want to go to continue my studies. I want to become a mathematics' teacher, so I have many choices. I don't want to leave the country, so I know that I am going to Montreal. Which university should I choose?

Choice 1 : UQAM

Choice 2 : Montreal University (UdM)

Choice 3 : McGill

My first OJT.

Now that I am in university, I am very busy. I have four classes and a part-time job that paid me the minimum wage. I don't have time for a boyfriend and I lunch with my family every Friday. Yesterday, my favorite teacher told me that he got me an invaluable internship. He explained that I could assist a mathematics' teacher in my neighborhood school. In addition, he gave me only 48 hours to make a choice. Should I learn the ropes of my future career or should a refuse because I don't have time management?

Choice 1 : Accept his offer

Choice 2 : Refuse his offer

My biggest error.

I feel more often than not out of place. I thought that going to an English university could help me improve my second language. However, I don't understand anything especially in my Mathematics class. I think I made a mistake and chose another university.

Choice 1 : Go back and make another choice

My internship.

I think I made the best choice. In only one week, I learned how to deal with a violent child who throws a chair against a wall, how to create homework to evaluate students and how works the website that teachers use to check plagiarism. Also, I had my first meeting and everyone was really kind to me. However, my internship finishes next week and I have to choose where I want to do my final year of university. I want to do something special and my university proposes to future teachers to go volunteering abroad. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : Morroco.

Choice 2 : Senegal.

Choice 3 : Congo.

My Last Year in University.

I don't think that it was a mistake to refuse an internship, but now I don't feel like I am ready to become a teacher. I still have so many things to learn and I think the best way to get ready is to experiment something new. I want to do my final internship in Africa because I had a teacher who has already had this invaluable experience. Indeed, she did not receive the minimum wage to teach because she was volunteering abroad. I think I could do the same because I always thought I could help people even those who don't think they are in dead-end situations. Also, I believe that is an in-depth opportunity, as I will have to live in another country, another culture and surrounded by people I don't know. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : Morroco.

Choice 2 : Senegal.

Choice 3 : Congo.

Morroco.

I've been in Morocco for two weeks already and I really feel like I'm contributing to the learning of my students. I have a class of 18 young people between 12 and 16 years old. The culture of this country is really different from mine and even if sometimes I have difficulty adapting, I love to discover their traditional meals as well as the songs around the fire. However, I have to apply in schools in Quebec in order to have a place to work when I graduate. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : ESM.

Choice 2 : Henri-Bourassa.

Choice 3 : Frenette.

Senegal.

I must admit that I love the landscapes of Senegal. I don't miss the winter of Quebec. I share my class of 51 students with another teacher who participates in a volunteer program. My favorite part of the day is when the students come home from lunch and sing a song they like. They are so cute. Also, I like the day of Friday which is a day devoted to human contact. The pupils do not have a school in the afternoon because everyone participates in activities to help the inhabitants of the village. For example, a month ago I helped women clean clothes and last week the kids showed me how to make beautiful braids. However, I have to apply in schools in Quebec in order to have a place to work when I graduate. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : Henri-Bourassa.

Choice 2 : ESM.

Choice 3 : Frenette.

Congo.

The Congo is a beautiful country. The people are cooperative and show a lot of generosity. When I first arrived in my classroom, the students had all prepared crafts and bracelets for me. What I particularly like are the suppers. The whole village gathers to prepare and taste the meal. At school, I have a female-only group. My students are all between 15 and 17 years old. There are a total of 18. Obviously, I don't just teach them math, but they love it when you do. During breaks, they often want to do multiplication and division competitions. I will be heartbroken next week when I have to leave them to return to Quebec. However, I have to apply in schools in Quebec in order to have a place to work when I graduate. Where should I go?

Choice 1 : ESM.

Choice 2 : Henri-Bourassa.

Choice 3 : Frenette.

Henri-Bourassa.

Henri Bourassa is a school located in Montreal North. She is therefore in a poor neighborhood and especially frequented by street gangs. Thus, when I finish my working days, I never stay at school to make corrections or to prepare for my classes the next day. I always go straight home. Also, I never leave anything in my cockpit. I heard that a teacher had his ski equipment stolen last year. However, this evening I had to stay after class because I had an important meeting with the administration and other teachers. When everyone got up to leave, I realized I had left my bag at my desk. So, I went to get him. When I returned, there was no one there. Everyone had already left. Now I cross the parking lot fairly quickly. When I get to my car, I hear whispers coming from behind the garbage compactors. I approach it and I see two boys who seem to be harassing a young girl. I don't know if they saw me. What should I do?

Choice 1 : Call the police

Choice 2 : Talk to them.

Choice 3 : Run Away.

ESM.

ESM is the acronym for École secondaire de MIrabel. It was the high school where I studied and had a good time. Now I'm working here and I feel like nothing has changed. Some teachers taught me when I was a student, but most are new staff. Classrooms and hallways are the same color as before, and the smell of chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria still fills the entire first floor. Besides teaching math, I have a science group. I coach basketball and teach self-defense during extra-curricular hours. The only thing that displeases me lately is the parents of the students. Many of my students are not doing the required work and homework. So, their results are low and their parents are unhappy. Obviously, they think their children's bad grades are all my fault. Tonight I have my first meeting of parents. I will be seated at a desk and all the parents wanting to see me will line up in front of me. I am extremely stressed. What should I do?

Choice 1 : Go to the meeting

Choice 2 : Stay home.

Choice 3 : Leave my job.

Frenette.

Frenette is a high school located in St-Jérome. I have been teaching there for the past two years. I really feel like I'm helping my students and I think I have a good reputation. I love my schedule which allows me to have time to play sports. Sometimes, I stay after school and go to train with the students who follow the program called Active Girls. Tonight, I'm heading to the women's locker room and hear two men chatting in low voices in the men's locker room. I'm a little too curious sometimes, so I walk over. In the doorway, I see Mr Thomas who is extracting money from Simon in exchange for a perfect result on his next exam. This is corruption! What should I do?

Choice 1 : Talk with Thomas.

Choice 2 : Talk with the director.

Choice 3 : Forget this story.

The police.

I decided to call the police, and he thinks I made the right choice because the girl's voice is starting to shake. When an officer answers me, I hear the recipient scream. I give the necessary information so that the help locates us. Despite the young woman's tears, I do what the policeman told me on the phone, I remain hidden and silent. It's horrible. I feel so helpless and I would like so much to spare her the suffering of which she is the victim. Finally, I hear the sirens of approaching vehicles. The two boys run off and I hasten to see the young lady. She is correct. The boys definitely had bad intentions, but the police arrived before they could do anything.

Write a choice here.

Run Away.

I think I shouldn't call the police for nothing. I would have the impression of disturbing them. Maybe, this is flirtation. The woman isn't screaming or trying to call for help, so I have to focus on my own. I managed to convince myself and I embark in my vehicle. I start and hit the road without ever looking behind me. I think.

Write a choice here.

Talk to them.

I think I have to act quickly and that if the young woman is being harassed I don't have time to wait for the police, I therefore approach the three individuals and I ask them if they are okay. The boys seem nervous and the girl doesn't answer. There is a long silence and I ask the trio if they can help me because I have a flat tire. The woman hastens to answer me that she can help me because she does the mechanics of her vehicle herself with her father. The two boys leave the place and the young lady crouches near my car. When she notices that my tires are all intact, she looks up at me and starts to cry thanking me for helping her save herself. I offer to take her home and buy her a coffee. She accepts.

Write a choice here.

The Meeting.

Tonight I'm sitting in the office I've been assigned to and in five minutes the parents can come in. I think I should confront them politely and make them understand that their children are not doing the homework necessary to be successful in their course. In addition, I brought the binder in which I checked all the homework not done and the absences from class. I think I can show parents that I deserve my place in teaching.

Write a choice here.

Leave my job.

I hang up the phone and realize I'm out of work. I really didn't want to go to this meeting of parents, but above all I didn't want to receive hateful words from parents and students anymore. I think I will go back to school and improve my math skills. Maybe, I could become an accountant or even an actuary.

Write a choice here.

Stay home.

Tonight, I call my boss and tell him that I cannot come to meet the parents of the students because I am sick and have nausea. Then, I make myself a good vegetable soup and I enjoy it in front of a movie or a television series. Maybe I'll cut myself a piece of apple pie from the freezer and take my dog for a walk. I will not go to bed too late because I know that I will probably have to explain myself more with the principal of the school tomorrow.

Write a choice here.

Talk with Thomas.

Today I thought all day about what I saw yesterday. I decided that I should talk to Thomas and confront him about what he's doing. The last bell has just rings, so I head to his classroom. I watch it but I don't know how to start. So, I tell him that I know he accepts students' money in exchange for an increase in their results. He looks at me puzzled and stammers that he doesn't understand what I'm talking about. I then told him in the most assertive tone possible that if he did not denounce himself I would. I even add that I will speak directly to the police without going through the school principal's office. The next day he lost his job.

Write a choice here.

Talk with the director.

I rush into the principal's office. Luckily, he's still here. I ask him if I can speak to him in private. When the secretary and another teacher leave the room, I tell her what I just saw. I add that I know that I am making serious accusations but that I cannot abstain. He gets up and goes to the locker room. There is only the student who is getting ready for his soccer practice. The director questions him and under the pressure the youngster starts to cry. He affirms what I just told the principal of the school. The next day, Thomas was escorted to the exit by the police.

Write a choice here.

Forget this story.

I tried to convince myself all day that I shouldn't act and denounce my co-worker. I think I risk my career if no one is able to prove what I saw. On the other hand, I do not think I am making the right choice because I do not feel well and I avoid Thomas. Sooner or later I will have to speak. So why not now?

Write a choice here.