A teacher’s life lesson: Never give up
The children of my school organised an impromptu Teacher’s Day function for me. They just wanted to put up a show and I didn’t have the heart to say no. I was fighting the mother of all colds and a throat that was croaking away like the village pond frog.
The children surprised me with the meaningful short play in which they highlighted how timely intervention and discipline by parents helped them steer clear of the biggest vice of all, drugs. We have all become so nonchalant and complacent in our outlook towards drugs and its tentacles that till it doesn’t touch home we are not both- ered. There was a lot of shaking off the rug, dusting it but it’s been put back in places, the tall claims of three months and the eradication by the present government have all settled down comfortably just like my lazy dog, Sultan.
The children, all dressed up in their best, danced to a popular Punjabi song and came up with handmade cards, and a paper rose. One of them bought me a simple blue bracelet, a pair of hair clips and an old fashioned birthday greeting card mounted on a cardboard. A brother-sister duo presented me with a set of pens and another gave me a small vaporizer set. These are precious, and make me go all fuzzy and warm in the heart; these kids come from extremely poor backgrounds. I know they have no money to spare and must have saved up to make the day special. The cards with simple rhymes extolling the teacher were touching.
The icing on the cake was literally a chocolate cake from the best bakery and this meant they had all planned this party.
Every child has a potential to do more, we just need to give him/her the right environment. I have no formal training in teaching. I just guide children to push their limits. They strive to do their best. They respect all, irrespective of gender and religion.
I feel each one of us can be a teacher; we can all teach, impart and spread what we know to make Punjab better. Why do we have a defeatist attitude and say nothing can be done? When we accept defeat how do we expect to rise from the ashes? Be like Fawkes the phoenix; this is thanks to the Harry Potter series written by an indomita- ble woman, JK Rowling, who never gave up, faced adversity, bankruptcy and ruin and still came to be the strongest woman ever.
How come we have forgotten our chutzpah and only revel in a bygone era? Why not make history for coming generations? Start small but do start. The love and affection and the results all come back manifold.
As a favourite quote goes, “It is our choices, Harry that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
So make a choice, spread education, be the crux of a developed society and see the inner glow and satisfaction!
EACH ONE OF US CAN BE A TEACHER; WE CAN ALL IMP ART AND SPREAD WHAT WE KNOW. WHEN WE ACCEPT DEFEAT HOW DO WE EXPECT TO RISE? WHY NOT MAKE HISTORY FOR THE COMING GENERATIONS?