What It means to be a Teacher

The author is Teacher II at San Matias Elementary School Marigrace L. Mercado

Many times in my life, I am surprised when somebody greets me and asks me how am I? I only smile but at the back of my mind, I struggle hard to recall who the person in front of me is. To fill up my confusions he speaks and says, Madam, I was your student sometime in the year like this. All I could say is, oh really. I can’t almost remember him but there he is totally aware that I was once his teacher and looking back at him, I fell proud and say to myself, this is what it means to be a teacher. One time, I lost my parking ticket in SM. I didn’t know what to do for I’m not sure if I could get of the mall without being interrogated. I have thought of so many reasons to give so that I may not be held at the custody of the parking security guards. After a long time of thinking I ended up nothing to reason out. Blindly, I drove and set myself ready for the consequences of my carelessness. As I stopped at the security guards and told them I lost my ticket, I was surprised to hear the words, okay you may go now madam. I’m sure that this car is yours and then he added, I was once your student and I have seen your several times riding on this car. Thanks for the values you taught me and now I am the chief of the group of security guards. See, that is what is means to be a teacher. Oftentimes, I am loaded with bags as I do marketing after hearing mass. All of a sudden, a hand takes my hand and the owner of the hand tells me, “Mam let me help you carry your bags. I’ll take you at the terminal.” This is what it means to be a teacher. Being gifted in return by what you have done, is what really makes a teacher genuinely happy. But being a teacher does not always mean happy rewards. Sometimes you can see your once upon a time students being involved in some illegal operations, some turned out drunkards and the likes. Then I asked myself, what have I done that led this fellow in this kind of life? Where did I lack in my teaching and how did I treat him when he was under my care? This is what it means to be a teacher.