Reflection Essay

By: Maria Christa Dimabayao

There are four roles in the holistic development of a child for a teacher: providing a safe, positive, and
challenging environment; modeling perseverance and good character; offering strategies and
opportunities for self-reflection; and allowing for personal expression. And while studying about this, I
remember a specific quote I once read while scrolling through social media: “Teaching kids to count is
fine, but teaching them what counts is best.” -Bob Talbert.

The essence of teaching for me is not to simply pass on the contents of the subject that I teach to the child,
but rather to pass on my wisdom too. To help our students realize what matters in life, not just in school.
To be an educator is an honor that we, as teachers, will forever be grateful for. So, I believe that we
should not waste any opportunity to teach and pass on our knowledge and help them learn things that are
not only in the books but also in society and real life. By this, I do not mean spoon-feeding them every
single bit of information that we know to our students, but instead, to challenge them in a positive way
and guide them in making the right decision.

I personally relish the idea of the H.E.A.R.T. method. This method not only deals with a student’s
problem but also makes them heard, listened to, and understood. This teaches us to put ourselves in their
shoes and understand what they’re feeling. This makes us see what they’re feeling in perspective and not
base our judgment on what we first hear. In addition, the H.E.A.R.T. method gives us the opportunity to
build a healthy relationship with our students, which, no doubt, I believe, could help with their education
and our teaching.

To be a teacher truly is hard, but I believe that in teaching, we help our students take a step closer to their
futures. And as an educator, it brings me no greater joy than to see them succeed in life, not just in their
studies but in their social responsibilities too. To see a respective and respectable citizen in them, to see a
gentleman and a gracious woman, and to see them as a happy and fulfilled adult, inspires me to wake up
every day and teach them with every positive energy I have in me.