TEACHING IS NOT JUST A PROFESSION.

IT IS A CHOICE, A MISSION, A VOCATION AND A

WORK OF HEART.

October 5, 2017, Thursday, a memorable and remarkable celebration for our beloved
teachers is commemorated in honor of the modern-day heroes that play a huge part as our
second parents in molding us to be the people that we are meant to become in the near
future. They don’t just mold us for the sake of their jobs, for the sake of consistency or for
some equilibrium that needs to be fueled everyday for the sake of this and that. No, my
friend. Teaching isn’t just a job wherein you’ve got to pick up the equipments that you need,
hold it firmly and use it for the monthly salary that you’ll get. And you’ll repeat the same
routine everyday, getting used to it and handling things flawlessly as time progresses. That’s
another no. Teaching is a work of heart, a noble profession and most importantly, a choice
and a mission. It is never just a mere job wherein you simply pick up the equipments you’ll use
because you’ll be the one that will make it. You’ll use every ounce of energy you have to
prepare for a discussion, to prepare for an examination or some upcoming projects. You’ll
make it ceaselessly until a you’ve grown weary, though you need to do it ceaselessly, and
you’ll put not just your intelligence and skills, but you’ll put your heart into it as well. It’s never
perfect nor flowing flawlessly everyday. Facing different people with different personalities
and stereotypes, each with their own uniqueness, inside a closed room, is not a joke. Having
problems inside their respective classrooms, having to face challenges everyday in which,
sometimes, you’ll encounter some that you haven’t encountered before, is not a joke.
Teaching is never a joke and the majestic people that are doing the teaching is never a joke
as well. Thus, let’s take them seriously while having fun with them at the same time. It is never
just a deed just so you can get your monthly salary nor is it something that is merely done just
because you don’t have a choice but to pursue this career. It is something more, really.
Something that shouldn’t be taken lightly because it’s their hearts that are working brightly.

Pupils and students all worked together to make this day unforgettable and although
they keep the celebration simple, from the looks of it, every efforts poured are rewarded by
the joyous faces of the teachers. That afternoon, the bell rings which signifies the end of
some classes time for some students. Schedules of both students and teachers are almost
always hectic (or is it always?), but despite the busy schedules, the student body makes it
possible for everything to be enjoyable and to offer our teachers the best they can, like the
way our teachers gave their best all the time for us. Regardless of the schoolworks and many
more activities, we offer this day to our teachers. And as we huddled together in SMEI’s
covered court and waited for their arrival, most of us just can’t help but feel excited as the
students that are assigned to perform and showcase their talents sat back in anticipation.
That’s why, as the teachers walked in one by one, we can’t just hold back the screams that
are erupting from our insides as we cheered for our advisers, our subject teachers and the
school personnels in general. The program progresses with the students making the
atmosphere livelier than usual, some chosen students leading their fellow students and even
hosting the event, giving speeches and showcasing their gifts through production numbers,
putting large smiles that, to our contentment, reached our modern-day heroes’ eyes. Some
of them can’t help but let their eyes brim with tears of a silent but sincere gratitude and
immense joy. And to everyone’s satisfaction, the event became more pumped up and fun
because of the Mr. & Ms. Faculty wherein our teachers themselves showcased their beauty
and talents which is followed by a set games that are prepared for them. They’re happy and
we’re happy that we’re the reason because they’re happy. That, for us, is enough. Most of
all, worth it.

As the world celebrates World Teachers’ Day on the 5th of October, and we celebrate
ours in St. Mary’s Educational Institute’s humble abode, we came to a realization that these
people, these kind souls, that are standing in front of us everyday inside a room inside our
second home that we thought are just blabbering nonsense, especially when we’re not in
the mood to listen, that we thought are too moody and sometimes, too exaggerated when
it comes to problems, that we thought are too strict and harsh and cruel to us are actually
the heroes that we need in order to help us grow day by day. They didn’t just teach to help
us build our grades, but they teach to help us build our character. They didn’t just teach for
the sake of money, they teach even when they’re broke because the artifices the students
held are enough and they treated it as a reward after a long tiring day. And they’re
teaching in front of us, not with the title of some person with a profession to upheld. Teaching
is not just a profession. It is something more. Something more like a choice, a mission, a
vocation and a work of heart. Something more like a calling. And indeed it is.