I treated the family to Pizza Hut today. Of course, we ordered it from home so that we could watch tv while eating. Heroes was on today and we didn’t want to give it a miss. Well, I didn’t want to Ugly Betty. I can’t remember when was the last time I actually watched a full episode of Heroes cause every Wednesday I’ll be home late due to tutoring session. Speaking of tutoring, recently, two of my students stopped taking tutoring sessions. So, now I’m left with only two students left.

The primary 6 tutee stopped having lessons just yesterday. I was on my way to her house yesterday after a make-up tutoring session with one of my tutees at Bedok when I was informed to give the primary 6 tutee’s mother a call, urgently. I was still at Bedok when I made that call to her. The mother later on informed me that her daughter, didn’t want anymore tuition lessons. What could I say? I could only say its okay and if that was what she wanted, then so be it. She didn’t give me any reason or whatsoever as to why she didn’t want anymore tuition lessons. I’ve tutored her for half a year now. So far, I can say that she has improved as compared to the first few times I started to tutor her. Academic and attitude wise. But, that doesn’t go without saying that she still has a few lazy bones in her that are a bit too difficult to shake off. I remember once when she didn’t do the homework I gave her and it was already after countless chances I gave her. In the end, I had to talk to her mother and tell the mother the truth. I gave her a piece of my mind, but subtly of course. I then knew that she previously had tutors before this but she still behaved the same. Her mother didn’t want to give up on her but it looked as if her efforts were futile cause her daughter still remained the same. After that whole incident, she did change and she began to take her work more seriously. But like I said, old habits are die hard. I can say that I treated her like a friend so that there won’t be any awkward moments between us. We do have laughs and talks together occasionally in-between the sessions. But, I guess, ultimately it is all up to her. Just like how her mother said, it’s her future and her studies. My tutee was the one who made the decision herself that she didn’t need anymore tuition lessons and I guess maybe that’s what she thinks is best for her. I can only hope that now with only less than half a year less to her PSLE, she’ll do okay.

The other tutee that stopped having lessons was the one whom I was teaching Malay. The secondary 3 boy. This one, frankly speaking, I do not like at all. Actually, I don’t even know whether he has already stopped or not. It goes like this. After the last tutoring session I had with him, which was a few days before his Mid-Year Malay paper, he said that the following week, he doesn’t want to have tuition cause he said that he still had other subjects to concentrate on. So I said okay, it was understandable and hence, we’ll meet the week after that. So the week after that, I went to his house. But, he was damn shocked to see me I tell you. He asked me why was I there since we had no tutoring session that day. I told hime about how he said that tuition would resume after his exams were over. He started mumbling about his father or something. I never did like him since he always mumbled whenever talking anyways. He said something about his father calling me and telling me that he wanted to have a ‘holiday’ from tutoring. Then he called out his father. His father came out and told me that his son wanted a ‘holiday’ since his Malay has improved since, as shown from his mid-year results. Also, he told me that his teacher told him that he was improving fast and now he’s getting C5 instead of failing. I am proud that he improved and I’m sure that slowly he can do well. But, his faher didn’t call me and I am positive about it cause I didn’t get any missed calls at all from him. I mean, that’s not professional. You could have called me and saved me the trouble from coming all the way down. And all these talking were done while I was standing outside the door. Pfft. Enough said. Anyways, his father told me that most probably the tutoring sessions were going to resume somewhere in mid-June. I said that if anything, I asked his father to call me. Up till now, no calls. And its not like I didn’t take the initiative. I did call a few times but I got no answer at all. If you want to stop, inform me and not just like this. Its rude. I took the initative but if they don’t want to, then its not up to me anymore. I take it that he doesn’t want any tuition anymore. Yeah…who am I eh? I’m just a tutor what….No one important. Tsk.

My monthly salary from tutoring is now half of what I use to earn because of these occurances. But, I’m trying to see this all in an optimistic way. School’s starting soon and so, maybe it is for the best. I’m still not sure how the workload is going to be like and whether I’ll be able to handle it well. Therefore, with lesser tutees it means lesser responsibilities outside school. Albeit that, I still enjoy tutoring though. Guess I’ll just see how.