TEACHING IS ALWAYS UPHILL.
Teaching is always an uphill journey. There are no flat plateaus or sloping winding descents. Always climbing, teachers push on through storms and debris focused on the mission of changing lives. On the best days, the teaching journey is an uplifting, joyous struggle. I must admit that I stood at the edge of the uphill journey and asked how many more of these ascents do I have in me. At that moment, the clouds cleared. A beam of light called a facebook message brightened the horizon and gave me a glimpse of the amazing summit that awaits me as I guide my students up the ascent.
A message from a man in his late thirties that I once knew as a 10-year-old in 1989 named Lan. In June of 1989, I was overwhelmed. I was about to greet 28-third grade students. I felt burdened by their high needs and how to grow them at least an academic year. I was feeling stressed.
Lan was a kid with lots of hair, and the activity level of a tiger cub. Lan was one of 28 students that filled my days as I took one step forward each day. As a first year teacher in the year 1989, I began to learn about a boy named Lan in Sekolah Kebangsaan Kertih Rasau 1 Ketengah Jaya, Terengganu.
I learned that Lan loved his mom and missed his dad. I learned that his young single mom would sacrifice for her son’s needs. She would turn to me for guidance, and I was just a young teacher at that time and have no experience. I would learn that his innate inquisitive nature would transform him into a enthused learner. Lan was one of my 28-third grade students that I was helping ascend the hill of success.
Two days ago, I read a simple facebook message that made the burdens seem less heavy and the journey ahead less daunting. The facebook message said:
Lan: My Name is Roslan Hussein . Teacher can you still remember me I was your student in 1989. I just want to thank you for inspiring my passion for Bahasa Malaysia. Teacher I can still remember you taught me with full of patient and always attended to my needs. I can still remember I can't pronounce the words properly but you patiently taught me how to read and write. I can still remember you taught me only for a year. And when I came to know that you are going for a transfer to Chukai, Kemaman, I felt very sad. And at that time I was so down and teacher can you remember that I persuade you not to go on transfer. But thank God I saw your facebook messenger and I can still recognise you teacher. I used to call you as cikgu Lee.
I stood still. I could not move, but I could feel my burdens lighten. Lan, a child of a single parent, is a married dad of two. Lan, a child of the working class, is a middle class professional. Lan, the high energy kid, is an engineer with a Ph.D. I can see clearly the summit of the uphill journey.
Somewhere in all of our classrooms is a boy or a girl like Lan. A child, we will inspire, a child, we will nurture, and a life that we will change. A child, we will guide up the hill that awaits for us to climb.
Set down your burdens for a moment and stare out at the horizon. Someday, a child in your classroom today will send back a message through time. The child, now an adult, will simply say thank you because you nurtured them to the summit of success. You inspired a child. You mattered!
I don’t know about you. But I know the path ahead is rocky and uphill. I know it will rain, and I will be walking into the wind. Thank God by HIS gracious hands, I am able to face the wind and rain and walk the uphill path that we call teaching just based on a simple hope that I will make a difference in the life of a child. Hope never disappoints. Will you face the wind and climb the hill based on the hope that the journey is worth it? I have enough of this experienced for 29 years. As a teacher we can't recognise our students. But our students can recognise us.
Below is the photograph of my student.
Let's not give up in whatever we do. Seek God guidance and wisdom. Thank God in whatever circumstances we are facing and don't run away from problems. Continue to pursue till you see the results.