LIKE DIAMONDS

MEFIL C. LAURENTE

People often think that there are kids who are simply born to excel in class, but I strongly disagree that these are the only ones who would. One of the oldest debates is whether heredity or environment affects the human psychological development, such as his habits and intelligence. I personally think that this argument is pointless because both factors co-exist in every aspect of growth – they make us who we are. When we are born, we are blank slates: beings with no ideas, no preferences. Our nature, the things we owe our genetics for, show as soon as most people notice: “his papa’s will”, “his mama’s firmness”, “his tita’s intelligence”, and so on. Some of us do not realize that it does not stop there because our environment affects us as we grow and develop our own identity.

As a teacher, I believe that we are a product of our setting: that although our DNA tells us who we are, our surroundings have a say on what we can, and who we will be. For many years now, I have seen children who are all messed up and misunderstood by others, even by themselves. It is quite saddening that I’ve seen the kind that goes to school only for their allowance, but lack actual interest in learning. But then, I also see students who strive to be the best they can be by listening attentively. Sometimes teachers just have to realize that every kid in class is a diamond in the rough: if polished, they will shine brightly and inspire the world. Our job is to support and challenge them as they move from a grade to another. We all have children in all who do not see the way to help them realize their full potential – we need to know that we are part of the process of planning, cleaving, bruiting, and polishing these rough until they become diamonds.

Sometimes, it is the society itself that discourages students to grow. Kids who are either dispirited or with a history of not achieving, or with a real disinterest in all things academic need a little more push than those who we raise with pride because they’ve “inherited” our nice traits. We need to change how we approach this theory that some kids are just born better than others. Because even if our DNA comes from the geniuses of the world, none of it will matter in the future if we do not nurture it. In reality, as teachers we need to liberalize not just our students but the society and tell them that before diamonds are precious, they too are mere stones.

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The author is Teacher III at Salapungan Elementary School