How to Handle Being Under Pressure.

When I think of a high-pressure situation that I have been through, I think of teaching. For me, this was baptism by fire. Not only was I teaching 45 to 60 students a day, but I was also in another country with a language barrier. It was difficult at first to create a space of understanding and quality education.

Some days I would find myself not as prepared as I thought, or was in need of changing plans depending on the situation at hand. Sometimes more than often I would have a hard time with students understanding me. Some of these issues were that I was speaking too fast, not speaking fluently enough, or had used incomprehensible words. There would be students who would misbehave and disrupt the learning environment. Unexpected or unpleasant situations would leave me overwhelmed.

Staying organized and having a plan should be a priority of any activity. Having an idea and knowing how it will be executed relieves the pressure of many potential set-backs. Adaptability is also essential to organizing. I would create an action plan that involved resources that I needed, estimated times for activities, expected outcomes, and plans for any possible contingencies. In-depth research on specified subjects and advice from other teachers went into my organization and planning processes as well.

Effective communication was useful between my students and me. I was able to understand their needs and develop an experience specific to them. I had learned the language and was able to express myself in it, making others comfortable in speaking with me. Having empathy for others creates stronger bonds also. With misbehaving children, I would talk to them about shared interest. Relating to them made them respect me and not misbehave in class.

As a teacher, I had learned a great deal of patience. Taking the time to wait and be calm in any situation kept my energy up. Remembering that some things take time, I knew that things would get better. Persistence was a part of my work. Knowing that if I kept trying and working, it would come together. Having a positive attitude toward my students and work made everything more enjoyable and worthwhile for us all. Taking on everything that comes my way with strength and grace is how I manage myself in high-pressure situations.