I experienced waking up in the middle of the
night because while I dreamed about a class activity that wasn’t in my
preparation for the next day, I realized my lesson could be not enough. And so
I add up on my lessons at 2 AM.
I experienced going home so late from school,
not because of some late-night school programs, but because of a student who
wanted to sit me down and ask for a listening ear, because her parents fought
and broke platters again; or because his severe anxiety attacks again; because
she feels her family and everyone around her doesn’t really care whatever
happens to her; because he is being taken over by depression and contemplates
on cutting himself again; because his girlfriend thinks he’s too busy for her;
because her boyfriend cheated on her for some new student.
I experienced getting a knock in the faculty
room to ask if Miss Bekah was there, and when I went out to see the student,
she asks, “Miss, busy ka po?” And I
remembered swallowing my inner cries for my impending paperwork deadlines and
instead told her, “No, what’s the matter, dear?” Those moments took a toll on
my sleep, but I never regretted it.
I have tossed and turned at countless nights. I
have learned to always push aside my own concerns, my personal struggles, for a
student who may need to have a listening ear. A comforting heart. A consoling
soul. A kindred spirit. And I never regretted it.
There are decisions in my life I would always
find reasons to regret making. But choosing to teach is not one of them. And I
hope and pray that every teacher out there would not regret their decisions,
too. That they, too, would find joy in what they do.
Happy Teachers Month!
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