I Am a Teacher

@Sssslm I know what you mean. We often want to hear an encouraging word or get some wise advice from someone more senior. However, I realise that that person may have his or her reasons for not saying anything at all. Here, a public speech is often given and orchestrated to suit a certain purpose. It is sad but true that the person may feel that it is another final job that he has to do. And the content of what he says may turn out to be less encouraging and more bitter than what he wants to convey. In our work culture, it is an expectation for one to project an image of positivity, no matter how one's inner soul has been battered and bruised over the years. So in this case, it might have been best to just graciously accept whatever gifts, give a golden handshake and leave the stage quietly.

@novembermoon Expectations again. There are expectations all the time on us while we are working. You are very right when you say that the moment the final encouraginh speech is expected, it becomes another performance, another final job to do. And I fully understand that some people may be eager to get away from that world of expectations.

@Cierzo it is like you say. The world of work is the world of ceaseless expectations. Not just to be competent in your area of expertise but to know how to navigate and fulfil all kinds of organisational protocols. What to say, what not to say, how to say it, and to who to say what...all these unwritten codes are tiresome to make sense of.

@novembermoon Sometimes I hear some colleague apologising for being late to their lessons, saying they forgot, or they were mistaken about the classroom they had to go to. That never happens to me. I should be glad it is like that, but sometimes I feel like an asshole for caring, and think I should be as relaxed and nonchalant as they are.

@Cierzo I can relate to that sooooo much. Why should we be so good always? Why do we kill ourselves many times inside when we make the smallest mistake? Why are we so hard on ourselves always? POR QUE? Bloody For what? I have shouted it so many times. Came to a point I said - to hell with it. If people can be irresponsible, I can too. But really? Who do I deceive? I conclude that it is the way we are made.

@novembermoon Those could be exactly my words. I have shouted that 'POR QUE?' inside so many times. And I have also concluded that the answer to that 'why?' is simply because I am like that.

@Cierzo @novembermoon I suddenly came up with an occasion that I can relate. In the company i worked in more than 3 years ago, when people quitted, including me, all kept silent until the very last afternoon we were there, and would not tell where we were going to work. Everyone would say taking some rest 1st before taking any new job. Because it was a company full of gossips and backstabbing, and people with network all around the field would smear you before you work at the new company.

I know it s different from retirement. Just sharing an interesting occasion where people would keep silent till the last moment they leave their job.

And if I am not happy at work i certainly won't say anything when I leave.

@Sssslm true. Different places bring out different responses from us. And as we grow and age in our professions, we also learn many lessons, one of which - silence speaks volumes sometimes.

@novembermoon yes, silence did show dissatisfaction and was a reflection of how that company was.