05/10/2024
You're a breath of fresh air in this planet, constantly evolvingโthose of you who possess the magical capacity to save us from going insane! And then, somehow, you manage to transform this disorganized space full of fresh thinking, challenging ideas, and disengaged brains into something worthwhile. You enter the classroom each day bearing a seemingly never-ending supply of patience, an overwhelming number of lesson plans, and cup after cup of coffeeโor two. You instruct, motivating and testing your pupils while occasionally even making it through the day without misplacing a marker!
There are many ways that the experience goes much beyond the textbooks, from getting ready for a lecture in the morning to assessing papers at midnightโand, of course, wondering with some classmates how we may have all missed the meaning of the lesson. Those are the moments when you can find the good in people that others miss, when you can make someone smile on their darkest day, and when you can explain something five times over to ensure that we understand it.
We've gathered here today to honor not only your body of work but also your generosity, compassion, and hard work in molding our lives.
Happy Teacher's Day!
Words by Lemuel L. Barola