When God made teachers, He intricately designed them with FORTITUDE- the kind that will open gateways of opportunity so they will find their place in the field.
“Ms. Buena is a potential teacher in the field. She is talented and has great enthusiasm to learn.” (2001)
These words pierced my heart in the most beautiful way conceivable. I was young, full of dreams, and hopeful that I would find a place in the field of teaching. But, to be fully certified as a teacher, I needed to face the harsh reality of disappointments, committing mistakes, and at times inimical people who were not willing to share the limelight.
I lost count of the times I got sick because of that appalling gut- wrenching feeling in my stomach whenever I think of facing intelligent students under the scrutiny of my cooperating teachers. It was not a very pleasant feeling to recall because I had all the apprehensions of an inexperienced teacher.
Apparently, that was not what my cooperating teachers saw. The words written on the comment box for my evaluation form brought tears to my eyes. I remembered the sleepless nights, the countless sickness, the pain of humiliation whenever I would commit a mistake, and the horrible feeling of realizing I might not make it.
The positive comments did not conclude my stint as a practice teacher. The high evaluation also encouraged me and put a strong resolve in me that I have what it takes to be a teacher. Yes, I did make it. The words created me a teacher with fortitude.
Reflection: To survive the sea of challenges may not be that easy. The roads would always be long and arduous. But, God planted the seed of fortitude in every teacher’s heart so when they are called, they will have the resilience to face the multitude of barriers and heed God’s plan.
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” -Romans 8:28-
(When God Made Teachers is a series of articles taken from my book. It encapsulates my experiences as a teacher and my journey of learning while teaching.)
When God made teachers, He intricately designed them with the virtue of INTEGRITY- the kind that will leave a mark of infinitude.
Note of Thanks March 24, 2013
Teacher NiƱa, I promised myself that I would send you a note…note of thanks but not of goodbye!
Thank you for sharing your talents and goodness of heart. Thank you for the honors you have brought to the school. My many dreams were realized with your expertise. Thank you for all the extras- late sleep tired mind and hands countless lay-outs, etc.
All sacrifices for the love of work, passionately done!
God bless you wherever you’ll be. If you need a home, a family, come home to us. With love, we’ll always welcome you.
God bless you. If you’re happy, I’m likewise.
Love, Teacher C
Reflection: The old adage says, behind every man’s success is a woman. I say, behind every teacher’s success is a person of wisdom and integrity who trusted you without questions. Thus, I am grateful for the opportunity of meeting somebody who believed that there is nothing that I can’t do. That belief sprouted into something great and inspired me to live and leave with integrity.
“The just man walketh in his integrity: his children are blessed after him.” -Proverbs 20:7-
(When God Made Teachers is a series of articles adapted from my book. It encapsulates my experiences as a teacher and my journey of learning while teaching.)
I’ve always been afraid of change. I find comfort in stability and when I need to face change, I feel scared that things will not work out according to my plans.
Looking back, I remember holding on to something for so long just because I was anxious to face the reality of life. I don’t think it’ll ever get easy.
However, there is also this realization that change is the only thing constant in this world. We live relentlessly trying to improve ourselves and it won’t happen without change. Everything that I have achieved in life, it is because I bravely faced the challenge of uprooting myself from what was comfortable over what’s more promising in the future.
The beauty of life lies in the constant change that happens around us. As I leave another chapter of my life behind, I am thankful for the memories and the people which became instrumental in changing me to be a better person. The future is unknown and my plans may not work, but just like in the past, I’m holding on to my greatest anchor, God’s perfect plan for us.
I am not the type who would engage in sports activity. The only game I play is chess. When I was asked to be a member of the volleyball team for the President's Cup, a competition of the different campuses of Bina Bangsa School, I was very stern in saying no. But, the sports coordinator told me that it's not something serious and he assured me that almost everyone who was part of the team didn't really play. So, I said yes.
What a big surprise! Ms. Jenny's a pro and she's amazing. Then, there's Ms. Marissa who doesn't play joke either. And of course, Ms. Emily's power play. So, I didn't need to do much. One practice which made my arm so swollen and a little effort to be part of the team earned me this great reward. A medal and a gift certificate for being over-all champion!
