Modern day superhero
GONE are the days when superheroes are just known for wearing capes and possessing super powers; today’s superheroes do more than just saving lives, but they also change the lives of people. Modern-day superheroes can come in the form of a parent, a friend or even a teacher.
Some people come and go in our lives and they often leave footprints in our hearts. My Literature teacher back in high school is one of those people- his name is Sir Jamie Nicole Malig.
He’s a teacher inside the classroom, but he’s more than that outside. He’s my friend and my confidante. It’s been a long time since I haven’t seen him but his footprints will remain as remembrances in my life.
When I was still a high school student, I used to be very active and enthusiastic in both my studies and extracurricular activities. When Sir Malig was introduced to us during our third year in high school, my first impression of him was that he was a very strict and arrogant teacher. But all that changed when I got to know him better.
Indeed, he was strict but behind that strictness was a cool and friendly attitude. He was someone I can easily confide to and he also helped me improve my communication skills. He shared some tips on how to become a better writer. Perhaps one of my most significant encounters with him was when I was a fourth year student.
I remember during an oral recitation in his class, I was given a question that I wasn’t able to answer. I didn’t know what came over me; maybe I pressured myself too much in coming up with a superfluous answer and that’s why I wasn’t able to answer at all. I was so disappointed with myself that I cried so hard once I got to my seat. To my surprise, Sir Malig approached me to offer comfort.
What he said during that day was something I will never forget: “I’m not disappointed at you but why are you even disappointed at yourself? Mistakes happen, you know, but that’s how we grow as a person because we learn from those mistakes.”
Other than that, he also said to me that he’d always admired me for being such a diligent student but I shouldn’t pressure myself to become perfect all the time. Because of what he said, it made me think - why do I pressure myself to be perfect?
Maybe it’s because most of my classmates look up to me as someone who is good at English and Literature and maybe that’s the reason why I cried- that they might be disappointed on me because I wasn’t able to answer that one question.
I’m not really all that. What they didn’t know is that I sometimes suffer from writer’s block. There were times that I was not confident at what I was writing about and whenever I spoke in front of people, I tend to stutter.
Looking back at that day, I realized how much of a perfectionist I was back then. I tried so hard to impress my teachers and classmates that I sometimes get flustered over a small mistake and worry about what other people would think of me.
Up to this day, I still carry his words of wisdom. My perfectionist side still exists though but, at least, I don’t beat myself too much like I used to before whenever I commit mistakes.
Sir Malig inspired me to be passionate in everything that I do, be it writing or public speaking. Wherever he is, I’m sure he’s some place safe, leaving footprints in people’s hearts. They will remember him as much as I remember him.
I’ve encountered a superhero that doesn’t do deathdefying acts but someone who reaches out to other people’s hearts with his words. Sir Malig, and so do many teachers in this world, are all modern-day superheroes.