Redamancy: Honoring Our Future-Framing Educators

Hannah Joice Nicole S. Malacad

If there’s one profession that I hold in the highest regard, beyond what the word “inspiration” can ever capture, it’s teaching. Often described as the profession that births all others, teaching shapes the world’s progress by nurturing its greatest asset—people.

As a child, I often felt uneasy leaving my house because unfamiliar people seemed intimidating. But my first teacher, my Lola Sabel, taught me to face life with the bravery of a soldier, knowing that I would inevitably venture out to pursue my dreams. She instilled in me the belief that education is the foundation upon which a dreamer like me could build an empire. So with a heart thumping like a drum and a chorus of nervous thoughts, I embarked on my journey to school as a wide-eyed kindergartener. Yet, as I stepped into the learning institution, I marveled at how it could manage the diverse backgrounds and stories of different students. How could it make each child trust strangers, form friendships, and eventually work together on school activities? The answer did not take long to come – I realized that it lies in the passion teachers have for guiding students and helping them grow.

Consider the immense challenge pre-school teachers face in those initial weeks of every start of the school year—it’s daunting. Yet, they handle it with such grace that children transition smoothly into grade school. A special shout out to teachers like Ma’am Dalisay Baretto, who never gave up on kids like me, who struggled to open up to the world and start learning to care for others who are strangers to us in the beginning. Thank you for introducing us to letters, numbers, shapes, colors, and even signals, making them make sense as we developed our creativity, social skills, and good manners.

Elementary school teachers also play a crucial role in shaping our early learning experiences. They connect us with society and the world through reading, writing, studying, and basic arithmetic. These foundational years teach us confidence, self-esteem, respect, communication, and teamwork. Remember your first ever class presentation, the excitement of a school contest, or the concept of student government? Teachers like my favorite, Ma’am Marilou Cipriano, guided us to discover our interests and abilities, helping us touch the gate of self-identity.

Looking back now, I feel immense gratitude for my elementary teachers. Despite their own challenges, they never let their struggles dim our aspirations. How did they manage to inspire us, nurture our talents, and motivate us to grow and dream big, despite knowing that life is not always about rainbows and sunshine? It’s truly amazing, isn’t it?

Then there is high school, often regarded as the most memorable period in our educational journey, filled with countless memories of our instructors, advisers, and trainers. Junior high school, in particular, is a time when we encounter educators who transcend their roles as subject teachers to become life coaches, friends, and even family-like figures to us. These educators do more than just teach intricate subjects like History, Science, Math, and Economics; they also steer us through the stormy seas of adolescence.

During these years, we face a whirlwind of confusion, exploration, curiosity, and the struggle to balance self-identity with fitting in. Fortunately, our teachers were there to enlighten us. They take on the responsibility of teaching us accountability for ourselves, our interactions with others, and our impact on society, no matter how small.

I vividly remember the times I felt discouraged and contemplated giving up on school. However, my teachers kept me motivated and encouraged me to persevere for the sake of my dreams and my family’s future. Teachers like Ma’am Lilibeth Antoya, who reminded me of Erin Gruwell from Freedom Writers, allowed us to express ourselves through writing about our daily lives, providing a much-needed break from challenging math lessons. Ma’am Cristina Jornales taught us that proper self-presentation is not just about looking good but also about self-awareness, acceptance, and self-respect. Mr. John Mark Pontrivida made his lectures engaging with fun activities, catering to our short attention spans. Mrs. Erlinda Recto nurtured our passion for the arts and music, while Sir Darwin Soro intertwined life lessons with his MAPEH lectures, offering wisdom beyond the classroom. Ma’am Lorna Cruzate cared for her students like a mother, always looking out for our welfare. I can only name a few, but every single one of my junior high school teachers, like all the other teachers who have shown immense love to their students, is worth remembering.

As we moved forward to senior high school and college, our teachers took on an even more serious role in guiding us toward our future careers. They assisted us with college and employment applications, providing encouragement during those times when the long years of studying had depleted our appetite for dreams and drained our energy. They supported us through the fear of the unknown, the stress of exams, research submissions, culminating activities, and more. These teachers are true difference-makers. They were our steadfast support during the times when we feared most what life would be like after our years as students. A special thank you to Teacher Jen, Teacher Ronald, and all my other teachers for helping me and my batchmates finally finish high school with a greater outlook on life.

Each level of school introduces us to different teachers, but they all share one common trait: an unwavering commitment to learning and extending that knowledge to their students, no matter how sleepless or stressed they may be. They might stay up late preparing lessons for children who are not even their biological children, yet they arrive at school each day with an incredible enthusiasm for their development, believing in every student’s potential to achieve a bright future.

In our country, teachers might not be the highest-paid professionals, but they are the architects of our futures, building solid foundations of knowledge and character. Their careers are rich with fulfillment that goes beyond financial rewards. They are the heroes whose contributions to our individual journeys are both profound and indelible, leaving a lasting legacy in our hearts and minds.

So, in this National Teacher’s Month, let’s celebrate them. Remember to extend a simple thank you to those who chose a career that is challenging yet extensively life-changing. Not everyone we meet has the patience to walk beside us as we strive for our dreams while juggling life’s trials. Not everyone wishes for us to overcome fears, tribulations, and failures. Not everyone is happy to see us succeed and spread our unique wings to reach greater horizons. But our teachers are, and they always will be.