Congratulations Batch 2022!

 

These were the only two photos I got to capture as I caught these former students at the tail end of their graduation march.  I was also on my way to a scheduled meeting.  

The previous night, two male students from the batch sent me the following messages (you may need to ask a friend who understands Bicol to translate for you):

GRADUATING STUDENT 1:  

"Hello sir good evening po. Okay po naintindihan po namin.

Salamat sir, ma graduate na ako saaga po!! kami gabus Sir Aboy, nag laug akong CCM takot talaga ako mag taram sa ampang ki dakol na tawo. Supog akong grabe sir. Pero puon Kang nag turo kana samo, nag kaigwa akong hope na kaya ko. Second year college sir. Reporting ta po sa Greek Mythology ako po su reporter that time. Sinabi mo su Sala ko and su mga bagay na dapat iimprove. Dae ko aram kong big deal sir su nangyari sa buhay ko pero sir mag puon kaito dae na ako masupog mag taram sa ampang ki dakol na tawo. I trained myself sir to be the best that I can be po. Sir Aboy nakapira na akong host ki events (small events palang sir hihi) pero maski papano nagkikita na po ako duman and naitatao ko Kay mama para maski pano may natatabang ako saiya. Sir Aboy salamat kay Lord na midbidan taka po. One of the best encounters sa buhay ko po!! Congratulations sir "

GRADUATING STUDENT 2:

"Salamaton po Sir sa gabos gabos

Kung will po talaga ni Lord maging teacher ako, muya ko sir maging arog ako saimo. Grabe po ako naukudan saimo sir. Habang buhay ko po dadarahon sir."

  

Our greatest hope and joy is to see them succeed in life as they try to be good and responsible citizens at the same time -- for the real measure of learning is when there is change in one's behavior.  No change in behavior means they merely earned degrees.  Our goal is not to simply challenge them to earn Latin honors or diplomas but to help them see their own potentials and use this not only for themselves but for God and country as well.

To those of you who will become future teachers, take note that every subject you teach (regardless whether it's in Maths, Sciences, Languages, Humanties, or the Social Sciences) is an opportunity to build a sense of hope and responsibility in each student.  My standard for daily teaching was from the Puritan preacher Richard Baxter who said (paraphrased) "Preach like you are a dying man preaching to dying men..."  

So in your case, teach (everyday) as if it is your last day of teaching so that every time you enter the classroom, you make sure that you are at your utmost best, giving to your students more than what you are getting paid for. And hope that in turn, your students too will become the best that they can be, not only for themselves but for others also.

Again, congratulations sa inyong lahat!  

Now go and let God and the world grade you with rubrics that weigh more than medals and worded citations.