A teacher’s life is great.  But how do many teachers live it?  Many are busy complaining of so many things to do, so many changes to be implemented.  But as teachers, we must not regret all of these that we meet along the way to our journey.  The hardships that we encounter are just part and parcel of our travel that will lead to success.  These difficulties will serve as simply values that will develop and enhance our personalities.

            We must not forget that as a teacher, we should always perceive ourselves as someone who can effect change and learning, since we are considered experts on what we teaches, as a product of our four- year period of rigorous academic training, plus our hands-on teaching experiences.

            Various hindrances may be met along the way to teaching; the students’ misbehaviour, the changes that need to be implemented every now and then, bulky reports and requirements to be submitted, trainings and workshops to be attended to, the community linkages, the dialogues and consultations with parents, assessment and monitoring of students’ progress to mention a few.

            However, we must remember, there is no short- cuts to success; if we stay positive we can withstand failures, obstacles and anything tough that will come along the way.  As Thomas Carlyle , a well-known author puts it,” the tendency to persevere and persist in spite of hindrances, discouragements and impossibilities—distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”

            As a teacher, sometimes you cannot help but to experience to have negative attitudes and patterns that interfere with any area of your life—your relationships with co-workers, your enjoyment of things, your accomplishments, your decisions, stop and listen for a while, to the words of Gini Graham Scott, author of the best seller book “ The Empowered Mind”, it goes:  “One way to eliminate negative thinking is the application of atrigger or a cue.  Each time you feel a negative emotion—such as anger, fear, disagreement or boredom—the trigger makes you aware of the feelings.  By detaching such feeling, you can detach yourself from it, remind yourself ; “ I am in control of my feelings”, then act to make a change for the better.  Scott further recommends another way to be productive; although in a sense you are persevering—this is the ability to be creative—the ability to come up with new ideas and apply them with an open, receptive way and this can be done through constant practice.  Just as you can get better at journalistic or creative writing, speaking or anything by doing or practicing it, you can become more creative and productive by taking the time to work on and come up with innovative ideas..  As a teacher, the idea of Alfred Perlma, a famous writer , is very applicable to you, “If you have done something the same wayfor a year, look at it critically; if you have done it for two years, modify it; if you have done it for five years, throw it away and start over again.”

            We cannot get away with more than two or more choices in life—either to quit and accept defeat or face the challenge and be a winner.  Someday, when we are in the state of retiring age, but still in the service, many will say that you reached the peak of success through the power of Perseverance and Creativity. By all means, you are really a Winner. after your numerous accomplishments like the equally successful graduates that once were under your guidance and tutelage.

            As the Book of Galatians 6:9 puts it ”And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap it if we do not lose heart.”

            References:

            Scott, G.G. The Empowered Mind, Prentice Hall, Career and Personal Development, Englewood Cliff, NJ, USA.