THE FATHER IN ME

The world is always merry with various celebrations to be rejoiced by the nation around the globe. Teacher’s Day, Children’s Day, National Day and Labour Day are amongst the annual events no one would miss. Now, June is around and it’s time to count days to Father’s Day which might not be as talked-about as Mother’s Day. Still, I believe that all children should appreciate their fathers for their sacrifice, pain and hardship the former might have no idea about.  

I am a teacher and currently enjoying my single life. For many, it sounds like I have less worries and responsibilities as there are no children waking me up in the middle of the night or asking for money to fulfil their wants and needs. They can be right, and wrong too. Since I started teaching in 2009, I realize that I am responsible for their dreams, wishes and hopes. I need to ensure they are not left behind by educating them to be somebody their parents will be proud of. Every time they performed badly in their tests or misbehaved, I asked myself, “Where did I go wrong?” and I started to change my teaching strategies and methods.

I have been a hostel keeper for four years starting from 2010 and that actually helps me to know how it feels like to be a parent. I dealt with numerous kinds of parents about their sons and daughters and that even made me understand more about raising a child. When I first became a caretaker at hostel, I felt bad and everything was wrong. To make it more challenging, I was not even a hostel occupant when I was a teenager. Everything was new and I needed to start from scratch. Slowly, my confidence gained and I managed to adapt with the help of two other female wardens who continuously gave me encouragement and advice.

A year passed and I was transferred to another school out of the blue. I was devastated when I heard about the news but I knew that God prepared a better plan for me. I just couldn’t believe that I had to leave my children behind. Yeah, the meaningful one year had made me regard them as my sons and daughters instead of my students. The situation had forced me to make myself comfortable with a new environment again but there was hardly space for positive thoughts in my mind anymore. Thanks to my two friends I recently made as they were the ones who kept on supporting me when I was stuck and speechless with what was happening. Everything happened too fast and I was just too breathless to catch everything up.

I was introduced to the students at the new hostel and here came another beginning in my life. The students were too many to notice and my heart was too weak to accept. But there was always the light at the end of tunnel. I began to feel good handling the students day and night as I enjoyed the activities I created for the benefits of everyone. The students had indirectly taught me about life and how to make it more worth it. So how could I regret when I was blessed with lessons to learn and moments to remember?

I do not deny that the bad days were there but I realize that those days helped make my story of life more memorable and unforgettable. All those tears, migraines, angers and frustrations made me appreciate laughter and smiles even more. Now, I am teaching at my third school and I just knew that it would be only hard in the beginning but God will send me good people to help me cope with it. Now I keep on mentioning my ex students, I begin to miss them more and more.

One thing about taking my students as my children is that it makes us closer to each other. After all, what else could possibly be more beautiful for a gentleman if not a fatherly feeling?