Things I Learnt As A Fresh Grad Turned MOE Teacher

Reflections of a fresh grad turned MOE teacher

It’s been about a month since the class of 2025 tossed their graduation caps and wrapped up their university life. While most graduates are entering the working world, some are headed back to school – only this time, they’re on the other side of the classroom as a new MOE teacher in training.

With Teachers’ Day coming up on 5th September, I caught up with a friend, Casey*, who’s just started her teaching journey to find out what it’s really like, and how it’s given her a newfound appreciation for her own teachers.

Casey is currently teaching English and Literature at a secondary school. She’s part of MOE’s newest batch of teachers who are undergoing training before officially entering the National Institute of Education (NIE).

*Name has been changed to protect their anonymity.

Table of Contents

Reflections of a fresh grad turned MOE teacher

1. Why did you decide to become an MOE teacher?

moe teacher - reason for teaching Image for illustrative purposes only.

I never wanted to be a teacher. But back in secondary school, I had an English teacher who kept encouraging me to try teaching as a career. He was one of those teachers who did more than just teach his subject. His lessons always left me thinking about who I was and what life could be like beyond the classroom.

So when he suggested I give teaching a shot, it stuck. After graduating from junior college, I spotted an ad for a teaching internship programme. Applying to be an MOE teacher seemed like a good idea, and I’ve never looked back since.

2. What’s a surprising thing you’ve learnt about teaching ever since you started?

moe teacher - surprising thing learnt
Image for illustrative purposes only.

I always knew being an MOE teacher was a tough job, but I didn’t fully grasp how tough it was until I actually started teaching. Most people think that teaching is just about the lessons, but it’s so much more.

Being good at your subject as an MOE teacher is the bare minimum. Most days, you’re switching hats – sometimes you’re a counsellor, other times a motivational speaker, or an administrator, and occasionally even a stand-in parent.

What makes it even harder is how unpredictable things can get. No matter how well you plan a lesson, you can’t control everything that happens. Some days, it feels like chaos – not because of you, but because maybe one of your students is simply having a rough day.

3. Has your new role changed how you view your own teachers?

moe teacher - how new role has changed Image for illustrative purposes only.

I have a lot more empathy for my teachers, especially for the ones I once labelled as “bad teachers”. In hindsight, I can empathise with the teachers who always seemed to be overreacting to stuff – maybe they were just having a bad day like everyone else does.

Now that I’m in their shoes, I have little epiphanies in the classroom all the time. I used to be annoyed by naggy teachers, but now I catch myself doing the same thing – like constantly reminding my students not to vape. Even lessons that seemed like a waste of time, like form teacher time or civics classes, turn out to hold real value.

I genuinely care for my students and their well-being outside of school. Naturally, that concern translates into raising certain issues in class that may seem repetitive, but it’s really just me showing my love for them.

4. Is there one lesson from your teachers that you hope to carry into your own classroom?

moe teacher - lesson to bring into class Image for illustrative purposes only.

There’s this quote from my favourite university professor, “Happiness is a form of resistance”. It’s a motto I try to bring into my classrooms, especially on bad days. Even if everything around me is in flames, I try to be a rebel and choose happiness.

Some of my students come from really tough backgrounds, and while there’s not a lot they can do to change things, they can choose how to respond. I hope I can show them that it’s possible to choose happiness.

5. What are some challenges you’ve faced as a new MOE teacher?

moe teacher - challenges
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Like any job, teachers have their off days too. But because it’s such a front-facing role, whatever’s going on in my personal life has to be left at the door. I could be fighting my own fires at home, but I can’t show it when I’m in the classroom. That can get pretty tiring, especially since I’m rarely behind a desk where I get a breather.

Growing up in privileged schools, I lived in a bit of a bubble. Now, my students have a different profile, not that they’re any less intelligent, but they think and articulate themselves differently. It’s never about how they can match me – it has to be me matching them. So I’m learning from them just as much as they’re learning from me.

Teaching demands everything from you – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Sometimes, showing up for kids who seem like they don’t deserve it feels almost impossible. But you do it anyway because you want to do your best for them, even if it’s difficult.

6. Is there a classroom moment that gave you flashbacks to your own student days?

moe teacher - student flashbacks Image credit: Ministry of Education

Sometimes when my students shoot back with something they think sounds cool, I catch myself thinking, “Oh, nuts, that was totally me at their age.” But there are also moments when we’re just bantering, and I remember doing the same with my own teachers.

There was this one poetry class I did with my students, and it was just pure fun. You could feel it as a teacher too, when the discussion flows back and forth, and I can see them enjoying the lesson. Not to sound nerdy, but that class took me back to when I used to really love being in school and learning for the sake of it.

7. What’s something you wish more people knew about MOE teachers?

moe teacher - things people should know
Image credit: Ministry of Education

I think everyone needs to cut teachers some slack. People need to realise that we have a really tough job and we’re doing our best. The public is especially quick to criticise teachers, more so when it’s a discipline issue, and teachers get the blame first.

Sometimes you just have to let us do our jobs and hold back the commentary – unless you’re going to step into the classroom and do what we do.

8. Are there things you’d want to redo as a student now that you know what goes on behind the scenes?

moe teacher - redo student life Image for illustrative purposes only.

I would love to write more cards for my teachers, not just on Teachers’ Day. I think just putting more effort into showing appreciation for them throughout the year. Looking back, my words could also have been a lot kinder and forgiving towards my teachers.

Asking my teacher how they’re doing is also something I would want to do more of. They might not always give me an honest answer, but it’s just nice to see concern going both ways. Usually, it’s teachers checking up on students, so when the roles are reversed and students ask, it means a lot – even if they don’t get the full story.

9. What do you think about the phrase, “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”?

Those Who Can’t, Teach by The Necessary Stage.
Image credit: The Necessary Stage

I think it’s nonsense to think teaching is just about lessons. Teachers do way more than that – they juggle a million roles at once. So really, those who can’t teach just can’t. My advice is to try stepping into a classroom for a day, then come back and tell me again.

Also, if you want a proper taste of what teaching really looks like, check out Those Who Can’t, Teach by Haresh Sharma – a fantastic piece of SingLit that should give you better insight.

10. Any words of appreciation to your past teachers?

moe teacher - words to ex teacher Image credit: Ministry of Education

I’d say, “I’m sorry if I was a menace, and I’m currently repaying my dues tenfold.” Jokes aside, there are really so many things to be grateful for.

Maybe the biggest thing to thank them for is helping me to find and express myself as a young person. Schooling is honestly a chaotic time for students, especially when identity is such a big question mark to most. I really needed that guidance, and I’m glad I found teachers who gave me the room to make mistakes and made sure I was on the right track.

O Captain, My Captain: An applause for our teachers

It’s crazy to me that just a month ago, I was sitting with my friends in the classroom, complaining about assignments and deadlines. Today, they’re educators in their own right, assigning homework in their own classrooms. They’ve become the very thing they swore to destroy!

But we wouldn’t be who we are today without our amazing teachers who believed in us all those years ago, so a big thank you for being the real MVPs.