“One good teacher in
a lifetime may sometimes change a delinquent into a solid citizen.” -Philip
Wylie
October 5th is considered as World
Teachers Day as declared by the United Nations Education, Scientific and
Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1994. As I was scrolling my feed, I saw a lot
of greetings for teachers. It’s good to know how students pay gratitude to the
people who provided them formal education. I think we are all teachers, we
educate in any way. However, teaching as a profession is something that is for
me a very noble and distinct career. If you are a teacher reading this, you
have my great appreciation. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of
your students.
I still get teary-eyed whenever I
recall how my younger brother, who is a teacher would tell me how hard it was
to go to school where he was a teacher for three years. From our place, he
needed to travel by his motorcycle going to Lekda, a far-flung area in Agusan
del Norte. He’d cross a river and drove to a muddy uphill road. He’d stay in a
cottage with his co-teachers and would only come home every other week. Never
in my imagination he would end up as a teacher because he really wanted to be a
Seafarer.
One time, while I was lying on my
bed scrolling my iPad I received a call from my brother. He said he’d come
over. When he arrived, he handed me a letter that was from the NPA (New People’s
Army). I told him what it was for and he said, he was taken as a hostage among
other individuals on his way to school. I didn’t believe him at first because
my brother was known to be a comical speaker. I was even laughing when he told
me that he almost pees his pants after they were told to run without looking
back or else they’d die. But when I realized the gravity of that experience, I
could not help but admire him even more for being such a brave soul. He continued
to teach in that NPA-infested area and provided good education to the Higaonon
tribe until he was relocated to Rizal. In fact, my brother has one scholar
right now. She’s in college taking up Bachelor of Science in Education.
Another story which my brother
related was about his former student whom he almost ‘drop’ for always being
late, and would end up sleeping in his class. He thought he was just a tardy
student. One night, my brother saw him selling ‘balut’ and other street food
outside the school. He was an orphan juggling work, taking care of his siblings,
and going to school by day. I think that humbling experience made my brother a
teacher with a heart. At first, teaching for him was more of a job description
he must fulfill. Eventually, it became his passion and calling.
Teachers are great educators that
are less compensated. Sometimes students would think they’re better than their
teachers. Guilty. I thought I was better than some of my teachers, way back elementary
and high school. But whether you think you’re better, you must give your outmost
respect and appreciation to them.
Happy Teacher’s Day to all
teachers especially to my brother. 😊
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