“A teacher is a compass that activates the magnets of curiosity, knowledge and wisdom in the pupils.”
| Nadezhda P. |
To recap what was shared in the last two articles, Has ‘Education’ Lost its Passion? and Passion for Learning Begins With 'Family' it seems clear that there is always a personal drive for excellence where passion is involved. We can see this truth in our educational goals, pursuit of knowledge and our striving for a better life and society. How far are we as a nation willing to go to build a society that is passionate about learning?
For most of us, even after years of being out of school, we still have fond memories of a few teachers because of the impact they had on us. These are the ones who continue to pull a cord of gratitude in our hearts even after all these years. What was so special about what they did? And why did they have such an impact on our lives? It was because of their passion for learning and the transference of that knowledge for the betterment of the students under them that pushed them to go beyond the requirements of the job. I call them ‘exceptional educators’ because they left their mark in our lives by educating our souls.
Here are a few ways on how they played a crucial role in developing our passion for learning.
They care for us - Without a doubt being a teacher is challenging when you have to deal with students from various walks of life. There is a lot of additional baggage that comes into the classroom each day and it is only those ‘exceptional educators’ who are able to see an opportunity through the challenge. They recognise that simple gestures go a long way and have lasting impact. For instance, a simple smile in the morning, a listening ear where advice is needed and the fact that they always give us the benefit of the doubt unless proven otherwise. Their pursuit of positive change in individual students coupled with the fun and engaging lessons they bring to the classroom show us that their care goes merely beyond completing a lesson plan.
They believe in us - Sometimes trying to motivate a student that refuses to pick themselves up can be challenging. I am somewhat certain that at times these ‘exceptional educators’ may find themselves at the point of giving up, never the less they pick themselves up and show us by example how we can rise above our circumstance and strive for a brighter future. They believe we can be better individuals and as a mentor they continue to push us towards that future. Many of us can say with certainty that we owe some part of our success today to at least that one teacher who went the extra mile for us.
They show us our true value - Its not always easy to see the potential in each pair of eyes looking back at you while you are standing up front and looking at the students in a classroom. However, to borrow a line from 'Aladdin' these students are "…diamonds in the rough…", they have special gems inside of them waiting to be brought out into the light. In their own unique way, through the ups and downs, these ‘exceptional educators’ constantly show us that each of us are unique, intelligent and a gifted in our own way.
A tiny spark of passion, lit on the pages of education can be a very powerful thing. These 'exceptional educators' have the power to inspire and guide us to be better individuals. To all teachers out there, thank you for your contribution towards society. It is indeed a priceless gift to be an educator.
Our team at Missing Link Consultancy is ready to support you through this journey of self-understanding and to help you access the information you need in order to make the decisions you need to make. To get in touch with us, drop us an e-mail at info@missinglinkconsultancy.com or check out our services to find out more.
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