Course Code: 146 104 Name: Simon Mauma Efange

Course Title: Psychology for Teacher ID: 193512062

Course Instructor: Dr. Arlen Forro A.
Assignment: Write a one paragraph reflection of YOUR life, based on the iceberg theory.

The Iceberg Principle that suggests that we cannot see or detect most of a situation's data. It can also

be looked at as the deeper meaning of a story should not be evident on the surface, but should shine

through implicitly. I can draw personal experiences from this adage. Today, I drive a very nice car, I

am married with a kid. I live in a very nice house and I smile all the time. SO many people look at me

and say “he’s made it.” They randomly ask for help both financially and morally. I always do my

best to help. But what most of them don’t know is how I got here.

I came to this country 12 years ago when being BLACK was looked upon as a taboo. People will see

you and cover their noses. No one wants to sit next to you on a bus or any public transport. You stand

on a cue to get a motorbike taxi and when it’s your turn, they skip you. To top it all, getting a job was

nearly to impossible. No employer in the city center will want to employ you. I finally got a job at a

technical college about 30km from the city center. Because of my skin color they opted to pay me

7000 THB. I worked from Monday to Sunday from 8am to 9pm every day. At times, after my last

class at 9pm, the shuttle has stopped working and I have to walk for 10km to the next village to catch

a ride home.

Fast forward, I had to pay my way through my M.Ed. program by signing a contract to teach 300

hours of Business English to workers at a Tour Company, while working full time with

administrative duties. Worked from Mondays to Fridays, drove to Bangkok on Friday evenings for 4

hours, studied on Saturdays and Sundays from 8am to 7pm and drive back to where I work. Now I

decline offers that are below 60000THB per month as I know my worth and how much I had invested

to be where I am. Most people don’t know that and only judge me from what they see I am now.

Never judge a book from it’s cover. Hence the iceberg principle. My story is just a tip of the iceberg.