Reflection on The Teacher and His Profession

I used to think that a teacher is merely someone who imparts knowledge to us in school.

I never realize that being a teacher can be a daunting profession considering the very diverse

role it has in our society, that extends outside the four corners of a classroom. They carry the

weight of responsibiity on their shoulders as the backbone of our educational system.

Together with the parents, they nurture and educate the future generation. Much is expected

from the teachers in terms of their role as the mentor of our children, their loyalty and

commitment to the teaching institution; as well as their moral responsibility to the state and

their communities. Clearly the teachers of today do not have the time to be idle. Like the

students that they teach, teachers must have a thirst for continuous education because that is

how they upgrade their skills and competencies. Teachers also has this lifetime commitment

of upholding the decency of the profession by living their lives in the most dignified way

possible, guided by the Code of Ethics for Professional Teachers. As an aspiring teacher,

I realize that a teacher's role is very complex; and that intelligence is just as important as

being flexible. Being flexible in a sense that a teacher has to juggle a lot of responsibilities,

and at the same time be able to adapt to different personalities and situations whether in

school or in their community. I can say that I now have a deeper understanding and

appreciation of what it means to be called a 'teacher'; that it is indeed an honor and priviledge

imbued with a significant social responsibility. It is admirable that most of the teachers I've met

in my life have this air of positivity and confidence given the complexities of their profession

that they have to be on top of. At this stage in my life, having worked for so many years in the

corporate arena, I find myself seeking for more meaning with the work that I am doing.

Althought I am proud with the work that I have done, I find myself thinking that some aspect
of it might have been both selfish and superficial. I guess it comes with age when we tend to

seek for a deeper purpose with the things we do in life. Sometimes we tend to be so absorbed

with the daily stress of our work and maybe, even blinded by our 'fat' paychecks, that we

forget about our social responsibilities as a citizen of this country. This is why teachers are

very lucky in a sense that they are able to practice their profession and at the same time be of

service to others. Because really, the true essence of teaching, as I see it now, is being of

service to your fellowmen and to your country. This deeper understanding of teaching fuels

my enthusiasm to being a teacher someday. I have been fortunate to be provided by good

education by my parents, and also very thankful that I'm able to practice my specialization in

companies that have further honed my skills; now, I am even more driven to be able share my

knowledge and hopefully help shape the future generation of this country. Also, being sociable

took on a different meaning for me. That being being 'sociable' is being involved in your

community, with getting along harmoniously with people from all walks of life. That to be

involved like teachers do, rather than be indifferent, can have a positive impact to the

community as a whole. I know as I embark on this new journey as an aspiring educator,

I would very much like to be able to develop further through practice and exploration. There is

still so much to learn, but I know the rewards will be worth all the hardwork; especially

when I am already able to help nurture educated, responsible and morally upright youth of

this country.