Teacher's Pet

Being a teacher, I admit, I play favorites [in a very discreet way at least]. I’m sorry but can’t help it. I guess it’s human nature to take sides. I like students who are smart and responsible. And I like the feeling of being adored back.

One hot summer of 2004, after a gruesome day of yet another boring in-service seminars that public school teachers were required to attend, I took the jeepney going home. The jeepney was packed with commuters up to the roof. Sitting across me was this familiar face who was all dressed up, looking sophisticated and successful. I tried to recall who she was but I can’t come up with a name. I know she felt my stare and she just looked away with a long face. I felt a bit sad about the reaction that she gave me so I just looked on the opposite direction, thinking I must have offended her. As she paid her fare I heard her voice and it was then I realized I know that young lady. She was a former student… one of my favorites… the best in the class… the one who was always nice to me and always ready to give me a hand.

As we approached the town boundary line, I handed the jeepney driver my fare. But he sent it back to me.

I was surprised by his reaction  and I asked, “why?”

The driver said… “You don’t need to pay your fare… for you – it’s free.”

I was then confused,  so I inquired again.

But he just said, “Hello, Ma’am”, looking at me from his rear view mirror, “don’t you remember me?” he continued.

I tried to recall his face but nothing would register.

Then he said… “I was one of your students.”

 I was a bit embarassed not to remember him so I gave him a big smile trying to hide my embarassment and said thank you.

“You failed me in your subject that’s why, I can’t forget you.” he said next trying to make a conversation with all those passangers listening.

Then, addressing all the passangers in his jeepney… he said.. “She is my favorite teacher in the world.”

All eyes were looking at me except… that of the familiar young lady sitting across me.

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Playing favorites has it’s rewards and of course, it’s fall-backs. But sometimes you will find yourself unprepared for it’s outcome.

In my 11 years of teaching, I watched how some of my students developed their skills and matured into responsible citizens while the others opted to remain stagnant. I watched some of them outdone themselves while the others totally given up on themselves. I witnessed how some of them pursue their dreams and got it while the others let go of the same. I watched some of them marry their childhood sweethearts or their new found love while the others are still in search of their one-true-love. It was unbelievable how some of these kids outgrown their former teacher both in experience and otherwise.

It’s true, we are just teachers but our impact on our students varied. Our responsibilities may be limited in academics but we will surely leave a lasting mark on their values as a human being. And more importantly, we are not sure who among them will truly live the lessons that we taught.