WHO ARE YOU GETTING UP FOR?
FARRAH C. MANANSALA
It was still dark and crickets were loudly singing. The moonlight was the only source of light. It was 4:30 in the morning. There was a battle on my mind between to wake up, or to snooze a little more. Then I remembered, “I am a teacher”. It was a constant straggle for a teacher to go out of bed when everyone was still exploring the dreamland. The cold water from the faucet will surely chill your whole body, yet, a hot coffee will do the fight for you before taking a bath. My class starts at 6;00 AM for we are implementing shifting sessions due to lack of classrooms. I need to travel 30 minutes before my scheduled time so that I will not be late. This scenario led me to buy my own motorcycle to always be on time. I am a girl, yet I need to be a jack of all trades because my profession requires me to be. I have been a teacher for 2 years now and somehow, I have adopted and adjusted from the hectic schedules of my dream job. I constantly ask this question to myself along the way to school, “who are you getting up for?”, then the answer will be given to me once I entered my classroom… my students. It is never easy to be a teacher because you need to handle many students with different personalities and learning needs yet, they have one thing in common. They are all dreamers. This is the greatest motivation you can think of to continue this profession. To help them grow as a person and be that person for others a well. You can serve as their ladder in achieving their life’s aspirations and guide them all throughout the process. The words of a teacher are powerful and can be resonated in the whole existence of the student. Seeing them learning and enjoying at the same time are such a reward for a teacher. The loud educational noise from the classrooms is so beautiful to hear. The laughers and giddy they made when passing by the corridors are so priceless. Greeting you “Good morning, Ma’am”, is something that lifts up your mood. The respect you get is undeniable. W e have many problems that we need to face be it personal or professional. However, the heart of a teacher is so pure to her students. There is no sickness that can hinder a teacher who wants to impart knowledge and growth to her students. The dedication of a teacher is remarkable and incomparable. No matter how hard to wake up that early, we, teachers will proceed and make a change for the lives of our students who are waiting for us. We are the wind beneath their wings for them to sour the highest and achieve their dreams.