10 valuable life lessons from Tr. Nimfa, my mom
“My mom is like my best friend, I tell her everything— well, almost.”
That’s me telling my friends about my relationship with Mama. They would usually be amazed until I reveal she’s a teacher. “But isn’t that awkward?” they would ask.
Cue: discussion on teacher stereotypes — strict, stern, stringent, scary at times. Remember when you would be in mortal fear of teachers calling your name for class recitation and having no single idea on what to say?
Years later, you’d laugh at the thought because you know better already. It was never your teacher’s fault and that you should have been more responsible.
Yes, it was awkward having your mom breathe the same air as you in the same school (she was present during my junior and senior prom nights!). It presented both perks and disadvantages for my grade/ high schooler self.
But Tr. Nimfa — who studied to be a college professor but found her calling in teaching and guiding pupils, students, and fellow teachers in a Catholic school in Laguna — was not your typical terror teacher. She was (still is) one of the coolest teachers.
That’s not to say her presence did not paralyze students with fear. From time to time, she would impose her authority, all for the ultimate good of the student. But she would always charm her way through the student’s heart.
I would know, because there were countless instances when I didn’t agree with what she said but eventually conceded to her. After all, mothers — especially mothers who are teachers — know best.
I’ve learned many things from my superwoman of a mom and here are some of them:
1. Understand the value of education. Who can better emphasize the importance of studying and getting a degree than my teacher mom? She instilled in me the hunger for knowledge and inspired me
to finish school. Just seeing her sacrifices and struggles as a parent who would do anything and everything to send her kids to a good school was enough for me to take my studies seriously and finish strong.
2. Be competitive but remain fair. Whether we like it or not, life is a series of competitions. Early on in life, my mom taught me to fight fair and square. I was vying for honors and my mom never used her position to help me secure a place in the cream of the crop. By doing this, she showed me that I could accomplish things with sheer determination and hard work. And that I didn’t need to step on people to get ahead.
3. Be street-smart, not just book-smart. She encouraged me to be both. Life is going to throw us curveballs every now and then. And most of the time, how you navigate your way through difficult situations is not something you can find in textbooks or learn in the four corners of the classroom. While she wanted me to have my head buried in a book, my mom would also encourage me to explore the bigger world out there for more learning experiences.
4. Learn to be independent. Although it was hard for my mom to let me go — I am the only girl in a brood of five — she gave me wings so I could soar high. From allowing me to live in a campus dormitory in UP Los Baños to tearfully kissing me goodbye when I moved to Singapore, Mama was always confident I could take care of myself — even though she knows I still have to master frying without running away from the stove.
5. Be punctual. There’s a reason why punctuality is strictly implemented in schools. How many times were you given a warning for missing the flag ceremony?
Being on time shows you have high respect for your time and other people’s time. Even if she pulled an allnighter, my mom would still manage to arrive on time for an appointment.
6. Have a genuine concern for others. Teachers are able to bring out the best in their students because they sincerely believe in them. As second parents, they take time to get to know them and treat them like their own children.
Whenever I meet people, I am constantly reminded of Mama’s caring ways. Even if it means driving for hours, my dad and mom would attend wakes to offer their condolences to the family and pay their last respects to the deceased. “The death of a loved one is one of the lowest points in a family’s life,” she would always say. “We should show them compassion and let them know we care.”
7. Humility will take you far in life. Proverbs 16:18 says it best: “First pride, then the crash — the bigger the ego, the harder the fall.” No matter how much I’ve achieved in life, I am constantly reminded to keep my feet firmly planted on the ground and to always remember my roots.
8. Show grace under pressure. It’s a pressurecooker world. Be it in school or in a corporate offi ce, we often come face-to-face with stressful situations. Dealing with different types of students can be very taxing and exhausting, but teachers
always rise to the occasion. Mama showed me by example how to keep moving forward and not stress over something you cannot control.
9. Love what you do. My mom has been a teacher my whole life. I would see her bone-tired most of the time but she would always keep going. Her passion for teaching fuels her to get out of bed every day and perform her duties. I might not have chosen the same profession but her love for her craft has definitely rubbed off on me.
10. Have a high respect for teachers. Teaching is not a high- paying job. But it is undoubtedly the noblest profession. Teachers equip future generations with the necessary knowledge and skills, and motivate and inspire them to achieve their full potential, so that they can become excellent doctors, engineers, lawyers, even writers, someday.
Her heart is as open as the sky. She has so much love to give, which is why it doesn’t surprise me that she is loved and adored, even by children who aren’t her own.