Saturday, April 30, 2011

Teacher-The eternal Influence

The education for man begins from his home as child, and then continues in school as kid, and then later in life as a man. Learning would never stop till we stop living. However, of these stages, I feel strongly that school is a place where we learn to grow up as a human being, eventually a good man from an innocent kid. And in school, Teachers are the ones who become more than the parents who take care of us as a kid and the person who grooms us not just with facts and wisdom but with humanly ethics to become a better person later in life. 
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There’s this story, and believe it or not, it is considered as one of the most inspiring stories of teacher’s role in any student’s life. It was originally written in Home Life Magazine by Elizabeth Silance Ballard in 1976. When Mrs. Thompson took the fifth grade class, Teddy was the dirtiest, slothful and a bad mannered student. She was asked to review the past records of each child. She would put Teddy’s as the last one until she is done with others. She however got shocked when she read about Teddy’s pass records. “Teddy is a very decent student, and the brightest amongst other” the teacher at first grade remarked on Teddy. “Teddy is an excellent student, well liked by his classmates, but he is troubled because his mother has a terminal illness and life at home is a struggle,” that was what his second grade teacher wrote. His third grade teacher wrote, "His mother's death had been hard on him. He tries to do his best, but his father doesn't show much interest and his home life will soon affect him if some steps aren't taken." Teddy's fourth grade teacher wrote, "Teddy is withdrawn and doesn't show much interest in school. He doesn't have many friends and he sometimes sleeps in class."
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Mrs. Thompson now saw the whole picture of the boy who she despised as someone who need more love, care and not just the education. On Christmas, everyone gifted her best gifts while everyone laughed when Mrs. Thompson found the bracelet with some stones missing and a half filled perfume bottle inside the clumsily wrapped gift from Teddy. Much to the stifling of other kids, she wore the bracelet, sprayed the perfume on herself and said smilingly to Teddy “It is beautiful, thank you dear.” Teddy waited after the class, and said to Mrs. Thompson, “You smell like my mother used to.”
Teddy became one of the brightest students in class and a year later, she received a note from Teddy which read, she was still his best teacher he ever met. So many years went by, and every time Teddy completed a school, high school, and college, she received a letter each in which he wrote that she was still the best teacher he ever met.
One day, she received another letter in which he wrote that he is soon going to get married and his father died years ago. He wrote if she could sit during the weeding on a place reserved for groom’s parents. And of course, Mrs. Thompson did, and she attended the wedding wearing the bracelet which he gifted her. Nor did she forget to put the same kind of perfume.
They hugged each other. Dr. Teddy then whispered in her ear, “Thank you so much for believing in me and making me feel important.”
Well, there could be so many stories where our Teachers must have had some effectual influences in our lives. Personally there are many in my own life and for their great sacrifices and efforts, most of us forget to thank them or feel grateful. Let alone be such courtesies, there are also many of us who would only remember thrashings we were under from our teachers which otherwise could have been only for the good of ourselves.
Today on this special occasion, I would like take this privilege of paying my utmost respect and gratitude to all the teachers who in some or the other way, helped me becoming what I have become today. Your deeds and influences are unmatchable and I know that this simple piece wouldn’t be suffice enough, let alone be this, even if the mountains could become pages, trees could become pens, and oceans-an ink, it won’t be suffice enough to be repaying your deeds. And of course other Teachers for teaching so many like me out there.
Teachers are the one of the greatest sources of inspiration in any student’s life.
Henry Adams quoted, “A teacher affects eternity:
he can never tell where his influence stops.”
Happy Teachers Day.

4 comments:

  1. its da most beauitiful story i ever read...
    wel teacher so have impotantc in our life...dey r one person bsid our parents who knw our ablitiy to makes us believ on our self.......
    but ppl garde teachin as most borin task..n many realy dislike joinin teacher esply in bhutan inless they r left with other opitions.....
    gues evry humna being can b good teacher just dat they sould understd that sharing ur knowledge make us more wise...n happines u gain by make som2 life better dan b4 gves, bring smile over his/her std face gives u gr8est happniess in da world...dat nt even a thick bank balace or inported cars......can give u.....so hey do left me join u to wish alL da teacher a HAPPY TEACHER'S DAY......

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  2. i have read this story somewhere from the chicken soup sogyel...:) and it always gives me a great feeling afterwards...

    i thank God that you have a positive experience with your teachers...and that sense of gratitude is truly amazing :)...

    i think we are all teachers to each other too... we teach and we also learn from our experiences... and we could be a guide and companion to others... be that light sogyel :)...thanks for sharing :)

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  3. @Bunu...yeah lets wish our teachers a very happy teachers day...
    @Mellisa.....totally agree with you.,....we are all teachers to eachother..:)

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  4. You couldnt be more right!!!

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