A True Story of How I, Who Hated Kindergarten, Ended Up Aiming to Become a Kindergarten Teacher (3 Parts Total)

[Part 1] The Me Who Was Afraid of Kindergarten and the Day I Transferred

A story from my childhood
I really, truly hated kindergarten.
To be honest...
I didn't like the teachers either.
(It's been long enough now, right? Please forgive me.)

Thinking back on it now, I'm sure that teacher didn't like me very much either.
In a loud voice,
"Why didn't you say so sooner!"
"You're the only one who can't do it!"
"How many times do I have to tell you!"
"Stop talking!"
"Why can't you do it like everyone else!"
Along with words like those, I was sometimes sent out into the hallway.

When I think of kindergarten,
"A place where you get scolded," "A boring place"
Those are the only memories that remain.

So, when it was decided that I would leave the school due to our family moving, I felt a mix of relief and anxiety, wondering,
"Do I have to go to a different kindergarten again...?"

The move was finished, and I really didn't want to go to kindergarten again...
My wish didn't come true, and...

I ended up going to a new kindergarten.
Lots of children I didn't know, teachers I didn't know, and rooms I didn't know.
My chest tightened with nervousness.

Then one day...
Perhaps because of the nerves, or because I couldn't bring myself to say anything, I had an accident and wet myself, which was embarrassing even though I was already in the senior class.

My mind went blank.

"I'm definitely going to get scolded."

My past experiences were so deeply ingrained in my body that
I froze, unable to do anything.

But that teacher...

Without raising her voice, she quietly took me to a place where no one else was so that no one would notice,
and gently helped me change my clothes.

Perhaps she sensed my feelings of
"I messed up," "I'm embarrassed,"
"I don't want my mom to know"
as I couldn't stop crying...

"It's totally fine."
"I'll keep it a secret from your mom!"

She said that with a smile.

The light tone of that teacher had the power to make me think,
maybe this isn't such a big deal after all?

A warmth spread deep in my chest.

This teacher is different from the ones I've had before...

I still clearly remember that shock and relief.

From that day on, my view of kindergarten started to change little by little.

↓ Part 2 is here