Simple joys of teaching...

He is indeed changing... and it’s for the better. Soon after talking to Patrick, he copied the notes in Language that day and for the very first time, he finished his work in the classroom. The other teachers, who actually didn’t know what happened earlier that day, also reported to me, as his adviser, the sudden change in Patrick. They were actually surprised and also very happy, as I recounted to them what transpired and what caused him to change. I am so happy with what’s happening but, I am not also disregarding the possibility of Patrick going back to his old ways after a day or two. There were also doubts from other teachers that the change is just for a short period of time and I was forewarned not to really set high hopes because I might be disheartened if that happens. I am very much aware that one cannot just change in one snap of a finger, or in just a blink of an eye. Nevertheless, I am thinking positively and I’m also praying that Patrick is really sincere in his desire to change.

Patrick is not the only student in my class who needs close supervision. In fact, as one of my co-workers jokingly remarked... I am so lucky to have in my class a lot of problem students. :) All the same, I am still thankful and happy because I know that these are just challenges God has prepared for me, which actually mold me to be stronger and better. As I see it, these are just spices in my life, and I am ready to play against them. :)

I will continue to follow-up on Patrick, but as for now, I have other students who also need my “motherly” supervision and love. :)

Proud and Blessed..

It brought me into bliss... to seventh heaven. It was such a wonderful feeling. I was right, I would gain so much fulfillment in this new-found career.

When I saw Patrick crying, I was moved. I nearly hugged him. He used to be the brave but ill-behaved student of mine. He disobeys a lot of school rules and brings a lot of headaches to his teachers. But this time, I saw the other side of Patrick...his better side. It was the first time ever I saw him cry. Most of his classmates were all blabbing on how Patrick misbehaves in school. Patrick is like this... he’s like that... he did this and that, etc...etc. He was deeply hurt because of that. I know somehow how it feels to be blamed by everyone and to be looked at as someone who only brings mischief. I talked to him, this time in a different tone, in a different character. It was like a mother talking to a son, heart to heart. He could now look into my eyes as I explain to him, to the best of my ability, why everything is happening. That moment, he was not the Patrick who would make face and who would reason out when being corrected. He listened to every word I said and I felt that he realized his mistakes. He promised to change and do better this time.

Later on, during the mass, he did listen to the sermon of the priest, which was unusual for him. He said he could really relate to what the priest has just said. The priest talked about how we could associate ourselves to a pencil and that there are actually five lessons which we can learn from it. To put it simply, below are the lessons he mentioned:

1. A pencil leaves a mark. Just like human beings, whatever we do, good or bad, it will leave a mark.
2. The pencil has an eraser for you to rub out something which has already been written, just like us, we can still erase the unpleasant things we had done in the past.
3. A pencil, without the lead, will not serve its purpose, so what’s more important is what’s inside.
4. A pencil needs to be sharpened from time to time. In life, we will also experience being sharpened once in a while.
5. To function well, we people, just like pencils, must allow those who have a hold over us to be in command of us and control us.

Patrick is indeed one of the many pencils the priest was talking about. And I hope, as his teacher and his second mother in school, he would allow me, not actually to manipulate or control him, but to influence him to be the best person he could be.

As I went back to the faculty room, there was a smile on my face and an overwhelming feeling in my heart. Words cannot really explain the fulfillment I have been experiencing at work. I feel so proud, able and blessed to be given the chance to work with wonderful people just like my students. Yes, they give me headaches and loads of work, but, a cliché it may sound, it doesn’t seem work anymore because I like what I’m doing.