My Mentors

My mentors of my Basic education...

The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." -Dan Rather-

When the child reach at the age 6 or 7 then his/her entire life are devoted to attend school and that when a child realizes that his/her teacher became the guardian when she step off the house.

My mom was a teacher and just had her retirement this year after 41 years of teaching. The occasion prepared by her fellow colleagues was also a time for me to meet my previous mentors. My mentors who taught me of my basic education and spend most of my childhood memories with them. Like my mom, I am always aware that my teachers might not remember me because as years passed by there were changes from what I am when I used to be in my elementary years. I happened to notice that with my mom because there were times that she was approached by her previous pupils but can no longer recognize because of the major changes.

Meeting them at the retirement party was a chance that I should not miss to take a souvenir. So, I approached and asked them that I would like to take a photo with them and gladly they were so kind to agree with the favor I asked.

Here are my teachers when I was in my elementary years. The time when I was still figuring out how life could be easier when it gets difficult since solving my Math subject was really hard for me at that time and writing a one paragraph is a bit difficult that even one word can't pop out of my mind. That lady in blue beside me was my teacher when I first started my formal education in Grade 1, Ms. Ellen Ligtas and she always use "star" to keep us motivated. The lady beside me wearing red is my Grade 4 teacher, Ms. Amelia Arduo and she would always remind us to write in cursive. Next to her is Ms. Lulu Grace Caulin who happens to be my teacher in Grade 3 and Grade 6. I was motivated to learn guitar because she plays guitar and I will never forget how I got addicted with the "word search puzzle."

It became a joke when we saw each other of how big I am. Indeed, I am big enough compare to my size before and big enough that I was like with their size (hahaha...).  These three mentors of mine were still single when I was elementary and we were their children before and they gave their effort to raise us well and become good individuals in the absence of chalk and blackboards. And now we saw each other again but no longer as a child wearing those white and green uniform but a lady wearing the same dress as they wear.

A great realization sink in after I took picture with them. I realized that those little imagination of how grown up will be is really now a reality for me. As each year we were promoted to higher grade we left memories with our mentors and they were also thinking and hoping that our future will become better and comfortable. I remember that I wrote a blog about "What was my 10 years ago?"  when I was about to experience working in a school institution. I remember that I featured Ms. Ellen and Ms Lulu and their family.

I'm just really glad to see them again. Like what I wrote in my blog in there, I'm surprised how life gives meaning to my 10 years. Life is like counting 1 to 10. Celebrating life with complexity is like celebrating your own graduation.

Gone were the days when the most difficult times are limited to solving my assignments and passing the periodical examination and our teachers would just explain it again so we can understand it. Now, the problems are way over too handle sometimes and no formula to solve it.

I believe that I met people for a reason and season. My mentors were people that I met for a reason.

Glad to see you once again!