When you are a teacher, you have a thousand stories to share. It is simply because each day that you teach, you see a lot of inspiring stories which begin to unfold the moment you play your role as aneducator. That what makes it difficult for a teacher to choose a particular story to impart to anybody who will be interested on it. So let me just impart to you the random thoughts that come into my mind as I type this.
I began teaching in 2006 in a private school. After that, I decided to practice my teaching ability in my alma mater. It has been eight years since then, but every time I wake up in the morning during school days, I feel like each day is always my first – my first day to teach. The excitement is tremendous. I am excited not just to share what I believe is significant for my students to learn, but more on looking forward to learn from a bunch of young, wonderful souls entrusted to me. In the classroom, I am not the teacher alone. I exchange role with my students whenever I try to encourage them to communicate in my class.
As a language teacher, I see my students’ need to be heard. Some may aim to encourage them to talk in their class, but for me they must be taught how to communicate, for talking is a different thing. Just like what a poem says about communicating: “Talking is a one way street; Communicating is a crossing.” You have to take risk when you communicate with these young souls so you could see the loveliness in them. I may sound idealistic here. And how I wish I could be able to know your reactions, see your facial expressions, and hear your perspective on this matter that I feel, is something some teachers have been taking for granted.
It is indeed true that the best teachers sprout from dealing with the challenging learners. Learners who may at times burn you out socially, physically, psychologically, and yes, even mentally. I am not referring to those bright students who are of course do not need much effort on your part to motivate them to do good in your class. I am talking about our learners who are deprived of a chance to prove themselves to let us see that they can also do good, or should I say, that they can do even better.
Their behaviors may at times push us into our limits to the point that we cannot even control our emotional outburst against them. We say harsh words that we unconsciously strike to their souls longing to be understood.
I remember a student of mine who was trying to distract our class with his annoying manners. I had been told that he was one of the most remembered students in his early years in the school since he was labeled as the teachers’ headache. He often cut his classes then. One time that he tried to practice his scheme on me as I was discussing then, I just stopped for a moment for him, moved near his seat, looked him into the eyes and said, “Ely, is there any problem? We can talk about it after class. But for the meantime, kindly behave yourself because your classmates want to continue our discussion.” He just said there’s no problem. I was expecting that he would try to do another worse thing to make me mad. But to my surprise, he kept quiet, copied our lecture on the board end even answered our seatwork. From him, I learned the importance of being patient. It was also from him that I learned how important it is to pause for a while to lend someone your ears. How true it is that better opportunities knock very softly. Opportunity to learn and understand about people leading to a healthier understanding of yourself and life itself.
There was a time he was absent in my class. I saw him in the morning the next day. I asked him why he was absent and told him to attend our class in the afternoon. He just gave me a smile, explained that he had problem at home, and said that he would appear in our class in the afternoon. I didn’t expect that he would show himself in my class that afternoon, but true enough to his words, he was there. From then on, therewas no bully-misbehaved-annoying-like-aura of him in my class. Then graduation came. He graduated, but was not given a chance to come on stage to get his diploma and experience the thrill and joy of graduation day because few days before the said event, he almost hit his adviser in front of the parents because the latter humiliated him that was said to cause his outburst.
Our paths had crossed again one time, he was driving a tricycle as I walked home from school together with my two students. He called me “Ma’am!” with a smile on his face, and with a gesture of respect in his eyes. I felt proud because that look of him reminds me that I have done something good as a teacher. Then, other stories follow. My other former students will greet me with the same warmth whenever they see me. One of them even sent me a message in facebook telling me that he is having a hard time being trained as a policeman, adding that once he becomes one, he will go back to school to pay me a visit. I feel a bit ashamed because I had not given him much attention before. All I could remember is that I sat next to him and his classmates while they are copying the lecture I wrote on the board and just tried to chat with them about how their day went. And the rest of the part of that story is something I could hardly recall. From him I learned that simple words of encouragement has great power to strengthen the weakening fighting spirit of young wandering souls.
I couldn’t forget too when one of my students slept in my class. I don’t think I have to feel mad at him right at that moment because there is a part of that story not yet told. Again, I took a pause, got near him, and in a low voice asked, “Is there any problem? I wonder why you sleep though I understand that our class schedule will really make you fall asleep. Do you find my subject boring or is it me that you find boring? Because to be honest with you that is the message I get from your sleeping here and that is how you make me feel.” He composed himself then said, “Di po Ma’am. Pasensyanapo Ma’am. Nagtatricyclepokasiakosagabi Ma’am parapo may pambaonpoako. Sorry potalaga.” And from the sound of his voice and the sheepish look on his face, I could tell that the young lad was really sorry and true enough to his words. The day after that, he sat at the back of our class and just like what I expected, his eyes again are drooping down showing that he would fall into a sleep. But an unexpected twist happened. He tried to manage his sleepiness and somnolence. He went in front and found his seat where he could listen well. What was funny was whenever his eyes began to droop down, he would use his fingers to keep them open. To my sympathy because I knew that he couldn’t understand the lesson since he’s lack of sleep, I even told him that it’s just fine with me if he would take his nap. I anticipated that he would do such because I already gave him my permission. Instead, he did try his best not to fall asleep and even told me that he would listen to the discussion because he knew that I wanted them to learn.
As a trainer, the awarding program in each tilt that we’ve joined is one of the most heartbreaking point, yet the most fulfilling too. Not just because of the glory brought by the winning, but more of the triumph brought by the sight of your learners doing their best because you’ve inspired them. The journey with them as you help them discover their potential, as you help them learn how far they can soar is what makes us teachers feel our purpose as their educators. When they lose in the competition, they would come to me, give me hug, and would suddenly sob on my shoulders as they softly say sorry for not winning. That is a moment I don’t know if I would laugh at because I’ve been telling them that seeing them determined to give their best shot is already a success for me. And bringing home the bacon is just an additional prize. Yes, that sound dramatic but I already make it sound less than it should, for telling you their messages would make this a bit longer.
I handled bright learners too. Some of them graduated in college with flying colors and even passed their board exams. They are now professionals. It feels good when they include you to their lists of people they want to thank and from whom they think they owe their success. But some of them who didn’t even finish their college for some reasons we all know, I think that there is less reason to frown when you see some of them working as a vendor in the market. The way you see them work signifies how they were honed by time. They became individuals who now understand the meaning of responsibility and hard work. Individuals who are now oriented to take responsibility in helping their families to live. Individuals who just don’t merely give you a nod when you happen to see them again on the street (which now some professionals of their batch do). Instead, they will warmly smile at you with glow on their faces as if they’ve seen someone they’ve been longing to see. Individuals whom you never stop reminding to continue dreaming, living, learning, and loving. Individuals who would one day stand where I am now and play this role which give my life a better purpose. Individuals who I am so certain, would someday continue the story of the cycle of transforming lives.
I may not be the best teacher. I may not meet the standards set to be called such. And such accolade is not of too much value to me because I have already receive my award long time ago. Not just an award but with “S” at the end, mind you. They are my students who continue to reach me out reminding me my worth as I renew my passion for teaching each day that I have given a chance to play that role. They are my living medals and I don’t brag here for mentioning such because I am so certain that yours are too many like stars in the evening sky. And for that, I am looking forward to hear your stories too.
By: Janice Calibara Ibañez | Teacher I | Limay NHS | Limay, Bataan
