  My Gifted Ed HQ officer must have had difficulty sleeping after the observation on Thursday that she came to speak to me on Friday. I was rather frightened when she sat&nbsp;beside me&nbsp;and held my hand, telling me that it was the lesson that did not go well and not because I was a lousy teacher.
I mean, this is THE lady-from-HQ-to-be-frightened-of we're talking about! ;) &nbsp; Oh well... it seems that after all the laments (which I heard she apparently does to most&nbsp;teachers no matter how experienced they are), I've been told today that I'd be in the programme for some time. My vice-principal and HOD spoke up for me, expressing the injustice of expecting a mind-blowing, brilliant lesson from a fresh grad. At the same time, I don't think I'd ever meet&nbsp;the officer's&nbsp;expectations no matter how long I stay in the programme.
Whatever it is, I doubt I'd be staying any longer than end next year. By then, I hope to leave for my Masters or back to teaching in the mainstream programme (and then for my Masters) before the wedding bells ring and all that jazz. &nbsp; Mastering dealings with the media is another thing I have not been able to achieve. Today, I had to deal with a journalist who had very stereotypical definitions of success&nbsp;when he&nbsp;questioned why I chose teaching. I hate it when journalists have a set angle they would like to&nbsp;pursue and try to find ways in which I fit into the picture rather than attempting to portray me as a subject on my own. In doing so, they often quote me out of context and manipulate my words to fit their storyline. Tough. Thank God for my sister and her connections with the media that often protect me from being "at the mercy of these people" (quoting her).
Today, I have learnt to reject publicity when I am uncomfortable with it. &nbsp; NTU Corporate Affairs called to persuade and commented that I've been seen as "the next big thing". RUBBISH. Just leave me alone.&nbsp;I echo Mustaffa's sentiments that the closest to expectations of us being MPs is when we become Mama Pratas . :) 
