My first-time
experience as an adviser to a graduating class was indeed full of bitter-sweet
memories.
Bitter because you
cannot deny the fact that there were those students who failed short of my
expectations- that is instead of getting serious with their studies, they
engaged themselves in rubbish things thus affecting their supposedly brighter
future.
Sweet because these
students trusted me that much that they never have any second thought in
sharing their life to me. They seek refuge and advice from me and I consider
that sweet because not all teachers were given that opportunity. Sweet because
through these students, I was able to value things that is more important than
earning a living- that is giving premium time to my kids and guiding them until
their age of independence.
Those ten months of
teaching and sometimes being a parent to them was not an easy task. I often
caught myself unguarded every time I heard sad stories experienced by them with
their families. I have a student who was forced to work because the parents
could not afford to send her to school anymore and since she needs to attend to
her work most of her time than to her studies-it truly affects her grades.
There were also those students who thought getting in love is the best and most
exciting part of their lives and get impregnated to my great dismay. There was
also this student who was not able to march during the graduation because of
financial constraint.
As a teacher, that
was a whole lot of a burden because when I was at their age, I also experienced
some of their problems. I can actually relate to most of them but the only
difference is that I have this definite goal in my life to finish my studies
and I am equally blessed because I have a mother who is willing to sacrifice a
lot just to meet this goal. Sadly, some of my students need to survive on their
own-without a parent to help them. That is why I cannot expect superb school
performance because their minds are too preoccupied as to what to do next in
order to survive.
Nevertheless, I am
still thankful to God for the strength and wisdom that He gave upon me in
becoming not only a teacher, but also a friend, a mother and a sister to my
students.