All of us have had inspirational teachers who have contributed to who we are today.

                A child will never forget the time when he is so down then someone holds his hand and touches his shoulder showing he is not alone and that there is still someone who cares for him. A simple smile from the teacher expressing that everything will be fine makes great impact to that one soul who expects so much from everything.

                Without saying a word, a teacher could transform despair into hope even death into life. Many generations that have been produced are all go through a teacher.

                I have once read what Ivan Welton Fitzwater has stated that answers my question on what makes a teacherlike me to be great and quite motivated me to be the best that I can be.

                “I am a teacher! What I do and say are being absorbed by young minds who will echo these images across the ages. My lessons will be immortal, affecting people yet unborn, people I will never see or know. The future of the world is in my classroom today, a future with the potential for good or bad. The pliable minds of tomorrow’s leaders will be molded either artistically or grotesquely by what I do.

                Several future presidents are learning from me today; so are the great writers of the next decades, and so are all the so-called ordinary people who will make the decisions in a democracy. I must never forget these same young people could be thieves or murderers of the future.

                Only a teacher? Thank God I have a calling to the greatest profession of all! I must be vigilant everyday lest I lose one fragile opportunity to improve tomorrow.”

By: Mrs. Ma. Marilyn S. Balenzoga | Teacher I | Samal National High School – Main | Samal, Bataan