Now that my schooling has ended, I still vividly remember the day when I first became acquainted with English, the only language I felt would help me impart all my life experiences to the reader. As a middle school student, I had always wanted to master a language as fully as possible so that I would be able to write poems, stories, articles, and even novels. I frankly failed to do so in Arabic, my first language, and in French, my second language. However, I am still at a daze why I failed to write in these two languages, and succeeded in doing so with English.
I must admit that some of my ex-teachers were behind that not because they did not do their job properly, but because they did not show any interest in our creativity. I am certain that teachers know what I am talking about here.Just as I became a high school student, I made up my mind to learn English. At least, I had to seize the opportunity to do so as fully as possible since my first lesson was the English alphabet. Step by step I managed to learn it during the three years I spent at high school. I was so enthusiastic about this new language that I did not pay so much attention to other subjects even though I excelled in the latter too.
At the time, I had two goals hovering above my head. The first one was to become a teacher of this language so that I would financially secure my future in this country and to support my family. The second goal, the main one, was to become an author, poet and playwright, writing in this language. However, these two goals had remained uncertain until I went to university.
During my childhood, I went through some excruciating experiences, such as my poor visual acuity. Fortunately, I rarely though of it as a limitation that might one day impede my dream from coming true. But as I learned later, many celebrities preceded me. I also learnt that everyone of us must have some complex. It is something normal in our everyday life. I then set to overcome all the stumbling blocks and this one was amongst them. Mohamed Choukri, a well-known author, has been my real inspiration in overcoming most of them; here, I have come to know one of the reasons why I am learning this language.
Language is power. One day, I decided to read For Bread Alone by this author after hearing a lot about it from my friends, and I frankly could not resist putting the novel away until the end. With time and experience, I grew more zealous about, and adventurous with, this language.
It was in 2006, right after getting my Baccalaureate degree, when I enrolled at Choaib Eddoukali university in El Jadida. Since English was the only language I was interested in, I instantly opted for the branch of English studies and its literature and had to spend two years in order to earn my first university degree, DEUG. I successfully managed to do so, and I was entitled to sit for the entrance exam to the CPR, a teacher training center. Here, I was realizing my first goal, that of becoming a teacher. Of course, I was happy about this achievement even if I had aspired to become a university one before. But my family’ financial status did not permit me to do so.
The time I spent at university flew fast. I then left my university with my eyes shedding tears of longing to come back one day. I had wanted to lead a complete collegiate life with as many experiences as possible. But every time I contemplated my needs and those of my own family, I thought that I had to dash headlong into any position I was offered. The position of teacher was the only one I succeeded to attain. Happily, it was the one I had looked forward to for six years before landing it.
In the late 2008, I was called on to join CPR to receive some training. During the latter, I went through both good and bad experiences. But luckily, the good ones outweighed the bad ones. I was trained to teach junior high school students and to some extent I enjoyed it. It was due to some good trainers at the center. As regards my writing career, I had aleardy published some articles in the late Casablancaanlayst newspaper before becoming a teacher. Here came my principal dream to become an author and a poet; but I think that this dream has not yet come true.
Right after my graduation at the center, I was immediately appointed to Zagora, a far-away area. I myself chose Souss Massa Draa region, but I expected to get Tiznit, Agadir, or Inzegan, the cities or towns that are the closest to university where I would one day be able to pursue my studies. Meanwhile, I did not know that Zagora area was also part of Souss. Thus, I was stunned to learn that I was at last given Zagora where I would teach.
Not knowing what to do, I went there, and no sooner had I spent the first three months in it than I discovered that Zagora was an unprecedented source of inspiration for me. It was when I one day sat alone, meditating about the dream that has not yet come true that I was certain about it. This dream is either to become a university teacher, or to become an eminent author and poet in English. Time alone will tell whether the dream will come true or not. “ To Continue the Trek” is the poem I wrote about this dream and which was published in Souss Pens magazine. It ran thus:
To Continue the Trek
A haughty man I might have been
When no one previously dared to stand.
Shortly leading them by the hand,
I unawares missed the has-been
And here unexpectedly appointed by the sand.
Alas, my hopes are dashed, some might say,
For I never knew it was decreed in my fate.
But this is the deserved price one might pay;
Then I would become what I am at any rate.
This is what loyal friends of mine hate.
I shall always tell you this with great remorse
As in my room there is some force.
It is through which I still survive;
My story is but a specimen of other lives.
The trek is still a great dream
Down the Draa stream
There I for long stand holding that book.
Of which no one yet knows it is mine by hook or by crook;
In it I told but the plain truth.
I a mere passer-by;
My pupils I bade goodbye,
And the trek at last did continue.
I must admit that some of my ex-teachers were behind that not because they did not do their job properly, but because they did not show any interest in our creativity. I am certain that teachers know what I am talking about here.Just as I became a high school student, I made up my mind to learn English. At least, I had to seize the opportunity to do so as fully as possible since my first lesson was the English alphabet. Step by step I managed to learn it during the three years I spent at high school. I was so enthusiastic about this new language that I did not pay so much attention to other subjects even though I excelled in the latter too.
At the time, I had two goals hovering above my head. The first one was to become a teacher of this language so that I would financially secure my future in this country and to support my family. The second goal, the main one, was to become an author, poet and playwright, writing in this language. However, these two goals had remained uncertain until I went to university.
During my childhood, I went through some excruciating experiences, such as my poor visual acuity. Fortunately, I rarely though of it as a limitation that might one day impede my dream from coming true. But as I learned later, many celebrities preceded me. I also learnt that everyone of us must have some complex. It is something normal in our everyday life. I then set to overcome all the stumbling blocks and this one was amongst them. Mohamed Choukri, a well-known author, has been my real inspiration in overcoming most of them; here, I have come to know one of the reasons why I am learning this language.
Language is power. One day, I decided to read For Bread Alone by this author after hearing a lot about it from my friends, and I frankly could not resist putting the novel away until the end. With time and experience, I grew more zealous about, and adventurous with, this language.
It was in 2006, right after getting my Baccalaureate degree, when I enrolled at Choaib Eddoukali university in El Jadida. Since English was the only language I was interested in, I instantly opted for the branch of English studies and its literature and had to spend two years in order to earn my first university degree, DEUG. I successfully managed to do so, and I was entitled to sit for the entrance exam to the CPR, a teacher training center. Here, I was realizing my first goal, that of becoming a teacher. Of course, I was happy about this achievement even if I had aspired to become a university one before. But my family’ financial status did not permit me to do so.
The time I spent at university flew fast. I then left my university with my eyes shedding tears of longing to come back one day. I had wanted to lead a complete collegiate life with as many experiences as possible. But every time I contemplated my needs and those of my own family, I thought that I had to dash headlong into any position I was offered. The position of teacher was the only one I succeeded to attain. Happily, it was the one I had looked forward to for six years before landing it.
In the late 2008, I was called on to join CPR to receive some training. During the latter, I went through both good and bad experiences. But luckily, the good ones outweighed the bad ones. I was trained to teach junior high school students and to some extent I enjoyed it. It was due to some good trainers at the center. As regards my writing career, I had aleardy published some articles in the late Casablancaanlayst newspaper before becoming a teacher. Here came my principal dream to become an author and a poet; but I think that this dream has not yet come true.
Right after my graduation at the center, I was immediately appointed to Zagora, a far-away area. I myself chose Souss Massa Draa region, but I expected to get Tiznit, Agadir, or Inzegan, the cities or towns that are the closest to university where I would one day be able to pursue my studies. Meanwhile, I did not know that Zagora area was also part of Souss. Thus, I was stunned to learn that I was at last given Zagora where I would teach.
Not knowing what to do, I went there, and no sooner had I spent the first three months in it than I discovered that Zagora was an unprecedented source of inspiration for me. It was when I one day sat alone, meditating about the dream that has not yet come true that I was certain about it. This dream is either to become a university teacher, or to become an eminent author and poet in English. Time alone will tell whether the dream will come true or not. “ To Continue the Trek” is the poem I wrote about this dream and which was published in Souss Pens magazine. It ran thus:
To Continue the Trek
A haughty man I might have been
When no one previously dared to stand.
Shortly leading them by the hand,
I unawares missed the has-been
And here unexpectedly appointed by the sand.
Alas, my hopes are dashed, some might say,
For I never knew it was decreed in my fate.
But this is the deserved price one might pay;
Then I would become what I am at any rate.
This is what loyal friends of mine hate.
I shall always tell you this with great remorse
As in my room there is some force.
It is through which I still survive;
My story is but a specimen of other lives.
The trek is still a great dream
Down the Draa stream
There I for long stand holding that book.
Of which no one yet knows it is mine by hook or by crook;
In it I told but the plain truth.
I a mere passer-by;
My pupils I bade goodbye,
And the trek at last did continue.
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