Happiness……. According to Mr. Webster, happiness is the quality of being happy; contentment; joy; pleasure.

            In my twenty years of teaching in public school, I’ve seen many forms of happiness as far as teaching is concerned.

            As a teachers, we are happy when our pupils respond to our discussion. We feel gay when we see that our lesson for the day is absorbed by our learners. We are grateful when a head teacher or principal is lenient in observing classes. Many times, we are happy receiving our mid-year and year-end bonus, clothing allowance and chalk allowance. This is what happiness for us.

We are happy but we are not contented. When we receive our salary, instead of smile, sadness cover our faces….. Why? Due to countless loans, the net salary for the month is not enough to cover all the dues and bills we have to pay, We may think that if our salaries were that big to sustain all the needs of our families….Then we can say that we are happy and contented. When will that happen?…. How many decades from now?………

            According to Myers D.G. (2000), The pursuit of happiness discovering the pathway to fulfillment, well being and enduring personal joy. People who believe themselves to be relatively competent report being happier, they do not just “feel good about themselves” but feel good about themselves for having just succeeded.

By: Vilma S. Sumaguio | Teacher III | Diwa Elementary School | Diwa, Pilar, Bataan