MISCELLANY OF THOUGHTS

ROXANNE KYNA PARAS-OCAYA

TO STAY AND TEACH

Teaching is a noble and self-giving profession. That is an understatement. Unlike the other professions, it offers little material benefits. But of course, for those who are committed and devoted to the teaching profession, the rewards, most are immaterial, are priceless and satisfying.

It’s really very tempting to go abroad and work when one hears the high salary offered there and the possibility of life-changing opportunity especially in economic status. Yes, it’s true that a year salary worked here may be just a month or two there. It takes contentment in things when one decides to stay here and serve our countrymen, and our Filipino youth. I guess, the sense of patriotism also plays a vital role for the inner motivation of one to continue serving. It’s the driving force where one continues to believe that there is hope to change the country.

READ, LEAD, SUCCEED

It remains still a challenge for English and reading teachers alike to imbue to their students the love for reading. How to open their hearts and discover the limitless power of reading in gaining knowledge is still an ideal ambition for these teachers. For many students on the other hand, they apparently treat reading as a boring activity especially if one is to consider that we are living in this highly-technological world where cool gadgets and powerful devices are slowly replacing the slow-paced of getting information. Just click and drag, then presto, students can get the information they want to know. That fast! Perhaps, no wonder why many of our students nowadays are losing patience easily if they don’t get what they desire right away.

Hope is not at all lost. Many students still found reading as worthwhile activity. For these students, reading is such activity they are fond of doing. It’s rewarding to know they have found more than the benefits, but the true meaning of reading. Teaching how to read and instilling the love for reading to the students remains indeed a tough challenge for concerned teachers. One can really feel that our students now are different compare to the students decades ago. They love interactive, and they are active. So, given this situation, let us not be discouraged but encouraged and be motivated that the hope of our motherland is still in the hands of these students waiting for their turn to lead. But they need teachers to teach them how to read passionately before they lead. After all, reading makes and turns one to be a smart leader.

BIG DREAMS

To dream big means to choose excellence over mediocrity. That in everything we do, no matter what kind of cultural background we came from, we must show love and compassion for our work that eventually leads to excellence. This may be rooted from our individual ideals and principles and taking stand for them just like our national heroes did and showed.

— oOo—

The author is Teacher III at Angeles City Science High School