FIRST-TIME CLASSROOM ADVISER, FIRST-TIME PARENT

JOHN PATRICK D. SERRANO

Young teachers who are doctorate degree holders at their mid-20s exist. While they surely have passed through a lot of struggles in the graduate school trying to absorb extremely complex concepts and passing seemingly infinite assessments, genuine lessons in the profession would never come unless these young teachers become classroom advisers.

Graduate studies are worth remembering for a lifetime. Behind hardships in the academic duties, there are surely intelligent professors and supportive companions along the way. Graduate studies are mainly intended to drastically improve the professional capabilities of the teachers. In the graduate school, there are lessons and friends. But in the classroom as adviser to the young students, there is love.

Being a classroom adviser is a magic in the profession. To love the advisees and to be loved by them in return is a lesson in the profession that no graduate study could ever feed any teacher adviser. As a teacher, lesson plans, instructional materials, delivery of the lessons, and assessments obviously matter. But as a classroom adviser, who matter the most are the advisees. More than any required paper works and actual administration of the teaching-learning process on a daily basis, the students are always at the center of the picture.

In the Philippine Laws, teachers act in school in loco parentis to the students. The teachers, by law, are the parents of the students in school in place of the biological parents or guardians. And classroom advisers always hit 5 stars when it comes to being parents to their students, particularly their advisees. When a student is unruly, the adviser corrects constructively. When a student does not have anything to eat in school nor have any penny for fare going home after class, the adviser is always the first to intervene. The rejoices and failures of any student advisee are the same rejoices and failures of the adviser.

Being a first-time classroom adviser is a roller-coaster of events in the profession. As an adviser, there are a lot of school forms which need to be accomplished before the school year ends. Advisers front before parents during assemblies to discuss concerns. Mornings are sometimes toxic when the classroom is dirty because the student cleaners for the day did not do anything. When there are complaints against the advisee, there is the adviser. It is really difficult to be a classroom adviser.

But the hardships of being an adviser are never at par to its sweetie side. During school programs like the celebration of the nutrition month in June, the teachers’day in October, the year-end parties in December, the season of hearts in February, and the Socialization Nights in March, being an adviser is definitely much more touching than being a non-adviser teacher. Students in schools are young girls and boys. When they love, it is surely genuine.

However, love from students is something that is not acquired immediately. It is earned. This love could only be earned when they first feel the parental presence of their adviser. The good and gentle adviser must always be ready to offer open hands so that when students have problems, they may approach the adviser in school in loco parentis.

As a first-time classroom adviser, much is learned from the students. There are young teachers who are overly ideal as they begin practicing the profession. But when these teachers become advisers, they change for the better because their lives and hearts are touched by their lovely student advisees. Being a classroom adviser is the sweetest side of the teaching profession.

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The author is Senior High School faculty of Mathematics and Research at Corazon C. Aquino High School, Tarlac