WHY NOT THE TEACHING PROFESSION?

SHARON S. PASCUAL

One usual day after classes as I browsed my face book account, a post from one of my high school classmate has caught my attention. It was a feel-good post which speaks of a fulfilled goal, career at its peak and all the prestige this brings to her life. A picture perfect of a successful life, comfortable and sufficient. This took me into a deeper thought as I think of the life I had at the moment.

Twenty-seven years back, on our last year in high school, we were almost fifty young dreamers in the class. Our adviser then asked us, “Ten years from now, how do you see yourselves? Where are you working? What life do you have?” All of us were very optimistic, imagining ourselves at the peak of our chosen careers, working on prestigious company, earning good, living the picture-perfect life in our visions. And then life continues, time flies. Everyone made his own life on different fields. Majority are in businesses and corporate world, some are on engineering-related works, very few were into the teaching profession.

Back to the present, Where am I now? How’s the dream I had years back? Is this the life I envisioned way back? Well this is not really the life I imagine living before.

Into the teaching profession, this was not my first career choice. But as time passes, for some reasons and factors, I believe this is the profession I have been called for. A better choice, fulfilling and noble.

In teaching I learn to be more patient as I deal with different individuals I am working to. Literally a big world, who in the community would never know a teacher? I work with young minds, their parents, their families and the whole community. Everyone looks at you. All if not nearly all respect you. You are given the chance to teach them especially the basic skills that need to be learn at school. You are a mother to all of the school children. They would believe all you will taught them that is why there should be no mistake in teaching. Your teaching has permanent effect or benefit to them. You influence not only their thinking and idealism but greatly their attitude.

Teaching is underrated, indeed! Nowadays, we usually hear most people saying “Mag teacher ka na lang.” To think there would be no other professions without teachers. Highly-regarded professionals like doctors, lawyers, engineers, etc. were once students who were prepared, inspired, taught and trained by their teachers. W ithout teachers there would be no other professions.

Not everyone will appreciate us teachers. But this will not hinder us to mould the young minds, to do our mission to impart knowledge, skills and abilities. And as we passionately do our duties as teachers, the fulfillment we feel as we see our students learn, grow, improve and transform into better individuals, this alone will suffice the success one is longing for in every career he chooses. So, why not the teaching profession if this choice of profession will help produce functional, responsible and better individuals. Why not the teaching profession, so long that we play an indispensable role in building not just better nation but a better world as well.

-oOoThe author is Teacher III at Sto Tomas ES, Sto Tomas District