I am a Teacher and Feel Proud

Each year we celebrate Teachers' day by glorifying this noble profession with the expressions of gratitude, I simply wonder why this admiration dies down for the rest of the year. Anyway, it is my honor to write some glorifying content about our profession on this day, 5th Sept. It is the birth anniversary of a great teacher, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan who was a staunch believer of education, scholar, the president of India, and above all a teacher.

In present time, Teaching is getting more and more complex and challenging with many twists and turns. Though teaching is not easy but still there are plenty of reasons to love the teaching profession. Is it fair to call teaching a profession? In the dictionary, the word 'profession' means 'a paid occupation' and 'duty' means ‘a moral responsibility’. So it’s better to call teaching 'a duty' rather than profession. Let’s consider that this noble profession is a duty and we all must be happy to have chosen this amazing duty ….. that too with tremendous expectation from all stake holders. Aristotle rightly said, "Those who educate the children are more to be honored than they who produce them; for these only gave them life, those the art of living well." So teaching provides an art of living. It is a noble service to the world to create a better world.

Is it true? Are we really so important? As a teacher I have comprehended certain reflections to these questions based on my personal experience and the interaction with my colleagues. The points would certainly help in realizing the importance of you being a teacher and the role you are playing in the lives of others.

So it is time to feel happy ….

…..because you are given opportunities to reach a child that no one else has been able to reach. You are instantly a role model for him/her.

.....because your students often hang on your every word. In their eyes, you can do no wrong. Knowing this, gives you lot of contentment and yes, some worries too. You have a tremendous influence on them.

.....because you help students set and reach their goals. Knowing this that a student likes a particular subject because of the teacher …means ‘you’…is an amazing feeling.

.....because you can see growth and improvement in your students as a result of the time and energy you have spent on them. Knowing it is a direct result of your hard work is satisfying.

.....because you see your students excel in other activities and a sense of pride is developed when you can help recognize, encourage, and cultivate a new talent in your students.

.....because at the end of a rough day (if you hv) a student comes up and gives you hug, asks you why are you sad today. A hug of those tender hands can instantly improve your day.

.....because even the parents look at up to you with so much trust for all types of worries they have about their children. It is a beautiful thing when parents and you work together to benefit the students.

.....because former students come to you to say thank you for making a difference in their lives. It is extremely gratifying when your old students share their success stories and give you credit for impacting their lives.

.....because you grow, develop, and change as you gain more experience. Good teachers are never satisfied with the status quo, and improve throughout their life.

.....because no two days are the same for you. Each day brings a different challenge and a different outcome. Even after teaching for twenty years, the next day will present something you haven’t seen before.

We mustn't forget how lucky we are to do this job even though it is difficult. What makes me feel proud as a teacher is the feeling of accomplishment every time my students share knowledge, ideas, plans. Moreover I am proud to be a part of a job that doesn’t feel like a job. Where everyday, no matter how I am feeling, how I am dressed up, how I am behaving, I have students that are happy to see me and love that I am there. Realizing so much importance of our duty, we should feel proud all days, not only on the Teachers’ day.

Now let’s go back to the recent history, Dr. Kalam in his autobiography ‘The Wings of Fire’ paid tribute to his teachers. He expressed thanks to his teachers at the primary level who inspired him to study further and be a scientist especially his science teacher Sh Shivasubramaniyam Iyer. That is the role of a teacher in the life of a student. Teaching, therefore, is considered as a means for which God uses teachers as an instrument to craft others’ lives. So feel proud to be a source of inspiration for so many heads. Let us promise to keep the passion alive to sparkle the lives of our students. Good luck to all and myself!