"The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care."
the above lines were written on an email that a college friend sent. it’s interesting because the mail comes with a series of questions. although, the questions were such that you are primed to agree to the above quote. anyway, here goes the questions in the mail that were in fact easier to answer compared to those questions about people who accomplished so much; the likes of nobel prize awardees, etc. that we don’t remember at all.
1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with
allow me to humor myself by answering 3 of the above questions. consider it my way of acknowledging the people who belongs to the significant list.
1.
mrs. esperanza abellana+
– she’s my 2nd grade teacher. she was the one who gave me my very first ever book [well sort of]. the book was "puss in boots". i didn’t grow up with fairy tales; i learned about snow white; sleeping beauty much later in life… anyway, up until now, i still have the copy of that book. it’s important to me because she was the first one to tell me that i’m a good student;
miss victoria cruz
– my 4th grade teacher. "too much humility is pride." she threw these words at me, when i ranked myself 10th in the class. she told me that you need to acknowledge what you are, and claim your right place especially if you know where your right place is. ha, i was 2nd in the class, that’s why she was so angry at me for downplaying my capabilities.
mrs. leticia lavadia
– my 6th grade teacher. though i was no pet student of hers, she somehow made me feel that there’s truth to my own claim that i have a brain. that despite my coming from a poor family; i have it in me to create a good life for myself. i appreciated her for trusting in me, to even have her kid tutored by me.
mrs. erlinda gallo
– my general science and family living teacher in high school. for teaching me and all others about being practical in life; for injecting humor in her lectures on sensitive subjects as sexuality; marriage and just about anything about life– real life.
mrs. illuminada mercado
– my trigonometry and calculus teacher in high school. for the lesson about not giving up and pursuing your dreams. i still remember vividly her college experience back in UST. you might be a silent student; a probinsiyana or from whichever social class; only your intelligence can get you to where you set your heart and dreams on. the best math teacher ever! up until now, her voice echoes in my head for still not learning the lesson about appreciating and respecting time.
miss cathy rodel
– my music teacher in high school. for being so gentle. i know i suck at music; but she never did make me feel it. ha, 3rd and 4th year music classes were torture to me then, however, she was so ever encouraging.
miss ligaya rabago <mdm. bisaya>
– for teaching us that mediocrity has no place on earth. performance level, please!
miss edna lee
– my 2nd year psych teacher. my 2nd favorite teacher of all time. for making me see that it’s all right to have my presence felt by other human beings.
miss flora generalao <ms. G!>
– my 3rd-4th year psych teacher. the guru of all gurus. the greatest teacher ever. someone who embodies what a real deal teacher should be. the dedication she puts forth up until now to the teaching profession. a very intelligent human being; though it’s so unfortunate that she chose not to propagate her genes.
2. it’s too complicated to expound
jen
miss debi
3.
ivy - be practical
ini - never compare yourself
joan - love life with passion
juliet - inject humor into your life
yam - the world is messy; deal with it
line - it’s all right to be single
chin - having a husband can be a good thing
team philippines - leadership can be your chocolate and your poison
everyone past and present - respect the individual; honor commitment; mistakes happen so be gentle with yourself; you can’t be responsible for the action of others;
ms. g - knowledge is meant to be shared
lincoln - whatever you are be a good one
