Pick-up lines

I HAVE to agree with a friend that those students who remember us the most are those who belong to the average group. Being independent learners, those who are good would not be able to feel our importance as they reach their higher education. Though some would still find chance to visit us in our faculty rooms, most would not bother. On the other hand, those to whom we have extended our utmost patience, those who received preaching from us, those whose parents we have called, and those who have to do some coping activities after classes to deserve a decent grade, are most of the time the ones who keep us in their hearts. I also believe that they are the ones whose lives we have touched in one way or another.

I can still remember a student last year. He belongs to the basketball team of the school. He caught my interest in particular because on the first weeks of classes he said, “Ma’am sabihin mu lang kung medyo nababagsak na ako ha para alam ko gagawin ko.” I did not mind knowing that he was just seeking some attention. But he continued, “Di ba ma’am ang gusto ng mga teachers na studyante e ung may initiative? Kaya nga po sinasabi ko na ngayon na sabihin nu agad pag kailangan kong magcope.”

Then he laughs. I thought he was joking but I saw the sincerity painted on his face.

My daily meeting with the class became very enjoyable because of his jokes plus the little things they, together with his friend-a basketball player too, do. They blurt pick-up lines to save the class from almost boredom on days that lectures are inevitable. Imagine turning the classroom into a basketball court once I asked the class to perform a role play on the principle from Greek Mythology which is Man is nothing without God. His group said that they want to portray teamwork coupled with faith.

Another incident which I would cherish was when I asked the class to write a friendly letter. When I checked his letter, it was addressed to my student in another class. He asked me her name and I volunteered to be the one to give the letter since her class is just right after his class.

He was very touched with the gesture. However he said that they can never be together since the girl has a boyfriend. I told him to tell her his feelings because according to him, the girl is starting to fall for him but I was dumbfounded when he said yet another striking line, “Si ma’am talaga, syempre ayaw ko pong gawin yan. What if ako ung guy, at mangyari po sa akin yun e di ang sakit.

I still had more encounters of his matter-of-fact statements. And the best one I believe was the day of their graduation. This is just one of the instances when we can renew our love to this noble calling. I did not join the program since I have to rush with the final draft of their yearbook. It was almost six o’clock when we, teachers were seated at the library for our annual graduation dinner. The graduation program had just ended when I saw this dear student of mine with his good friend approaching me, they hugged me and said, “Ma’am salamat po ha, sa lahat lahat, mamimiss ka namin.”

Just last week on the first day of classes, he sent a message at six in the morning. “Paano ba yan ma’am college na ako. Wag mo akong masyado mamimiss ha. Wag ka din masyado magalit sa klase. Isipin mu nalang nakayanan mu kami, e wala na atang mas kukulit pa sa amin. Wag ka mag-alala ma’am dadalawin ka namin.”

Too sad, these students will not stay with us for a long time. Though some do not come back for a visit, others still find a chance. But in the end, they, too, we have to accept that they will have to find their places in this world. The only way for them to remember us is for us to make their stay worth reminiscing. (Jayrerose Guevara)