I never really understood what it is to be a teacher. Until I become one.
Educational philosophers have long been emphasizing the teachers as key factor in teaching-learning process. As the school provides the time and opportunity for the students to learn, it is the presence of the teacher that would actually make learning to happen and be completed. Thus, whatever role, attitude, behaviour, or perception that a teacher embodies within herself will matter a lot to a student as this would directly or indirectly influence the student’s role, attitude, behaviour and perception in life.
As I was bound for performing the many great roles of a teacher, I am encountering several other obligations that I should carry out as a teacher. Teachers should possess professional and personal characteristic particularly the values of honestly, integrity, determination and dedication to service and hard work which are expected to her.
“Honestly is the best policy” so as the cliché goes, I believe it is a must for a teacher to be honest and definitely it would bring out integrity on her part. In my case, my students rely much on things I’m telling them that is why I am very particular in imposing discipline to them. I knew I have to be consistent on rules that I set from the very start to so that they would learn to trust and believe me in all my undertaking. I also help them to be honest and eventually it would start into a good relationship. When a teacher is honest, she would be regarded with integrity and nobody could make it from her.
Achieving objectives is always a part of teacher’s life. But this is not simple. You should have strong determination to pursue your goals. I knew that my fortitude in teaching will take me into the right path for without determination, how could I begin my step on this lifelong journey of educating? I feel this enthusiasm to start my class everyday and it makes me happy seeing my students feeling the same..looking up to me as a teacher whom they would like to be someday. Actually, the attitudes, behaviour and views of a child reflect that of a teacher. I knew that when I am self-determined, I would also have this strong motivation to be an effective teacher that students need.
Determination, on the other hand is just the warm-up or introduction to our endeavour. To completely accomplish one great job of being a teacher is to be dedicated to service and hard work. Teaching and learning is a never-ending process. We as teachers should give our whole-hearted commitment in performing our roles and responsibilities and at the same time provide opportunities to our students to see how we care about them, prioritize their learning, and guide them toward success. They say that a teacher should only give her six teaching hours to the students and that’s enough. But for me? I would be very willing to spend another hours with my students knowing they still need my service like conducting remedial or review classes before going home or utilizing extra hours creating modules as innovations which are inclined with making the students learn more.
Are these things just simple? One might say yes. But it’s really hard to be a teacher because it actually means hard work. It actually means patience and perseverance. It actually calls for a tiresome journey. Never the less, the more exhausted a teacher could be, the more she could feel the work her being. Furthermore, the prize at the end of the day is also something significant. What matters most is we do not fail. Our great accomplishment is our students.
With this, the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow will not be a tale anymore. Just continue coloring up the rainbow of learning by being an honest, determined, hard working and dedicated teacher. Soon the shining pot of success will be right before our eyes.
See you there!
By: Mary Ann S. Valdez | Teacher I | Nagbalayong High School | Morong, Bataan
