Libre: Blind curve



EXACTLY a year ago, I was invited to speak about the teaching profession for a career guidance celebration. The idea of doing the task made me doubt myself. At that point, did I have anything worth sharing about? I asked myself. In my six years in the department of education, what kept me doing what I am doing?

Then I began to realize how uninspired I was in this profession. I began to realize how my day to day job has become an auto-pilot task unnecessary of inspiration and interest.

I have been doing this job in a robotic way -- doing but unfeeling.

In this department where morality and ethics are highly valued, minding what you say is appreciated than saying what is on your mind. This made me wonder. How should I guide those young minds? Should I be realistic or should I be idealistic?

I realized that students do not just need inspiration; they need conviction to choose this career path. I asked some of my superiors on how we can make students have the conviction to become a teacher. I never got a direct answer. After all, conviction is an internal driving force of being enduring. Conviction draws out perseverance even if inspiration dies out.

I revisited the things about teaching as a profession, a vocation, a mission, a science, and an art. Happily, a part of me was awakened by those tidbits of inspiration. I kept in my mind the essence of the task requested from me: to guide -- to enlighten the path of the road that is less travelled. To make them understand the very reason why this road is not always preferred by many.

I felt the need to tell them the good things -- even the best things -- that are in this path. But, I also felt the urge to tell them the things that are waiting for them in the blind curve. After all, everyone should be prepared for the trouble they have to go through.

I did the task with the inspiration to guide the students without the touch of partiality nor the grip of bitterness. I gave emphasis on the advantages of the teaching career. A few of those are:

1. In teaching, you don't have to be very far from home.

2. Teachers are always in demand.

3. Teachers have benefits/bonuses.

Despite the obvious situations that teachers are facing, it seems to me that many are oblivious about the downsides of teaching making them think that teaching is just a piece of cake, and teachers are paid more than enough. I often hear people say, "Mateacher ka na lang." Teaching as a career should never be taken lightly because the first step in choosing this career is to see if the shadowy drawback of this profession is something that you can work and live with. Here are a few:

1. Teaching requires a very high level of commitment. You are compelled to do things requested even if those are not mandated.

2. Teachers are usually sandwiched in working conditions.

3. Teachers need to maintain high standards.

There is no easy job. There are jobs that you will learn to love or hate. Nevertheless, before you make up your mind consider the conditions. If you have many options, think wisely. If you don't have a choice, perhaps you need to reconsider some opportunities and take it seriously. Choosing a career may require more than just inspiration, conviction, and passion. It also requires adjustments and practicality.

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