What Teaching means to me?

Teaching is considered as a noble profession, where a teacher needs to be dedicated throughout her life. So, the teachers are the most important factor that influences the citizens of tomorrow. The future generations’ life depends on the teacher who guides them to reach their desired destinations. Any teacher can teach the text but only the dedicated teachers leave their foot prints for their students to follow. Therefore, teaching means in a various ways for different teachers and to me, teaching means ‘a mission with vision’.

I am a teacher by choice and not by chance, because teaching was my aspiration since grade six. I used to aspire to be like my great teachers who shaped me into what I am today. When I reached grade twelve, teaching was still my ambition. So, I feel that I am born to become a teacher, the noblest profession. This is my sixth year in teaching and I continue to aspire to be like my teachers who left their foot prints for me.

Despite of all those blames faced by teachers, teaching means a mission with vision to me. My mission as a teacher is, ‘To teach children with love and sympathy in a child friendly environment’ with the vision, ‘To produce the civilized citizens of future.’ As a teacher learning never comes to an end instead we keep on learning as we teach the children. Our knowledge enhances because we learn more than we teach. They are the source of our inspiration and serves as an encyclopedia. For instance, if we want to know more about a topic, we can print the topic on the board and ask them to discuss. They would be more than the Google search. Then, we can use the idea to teach them.

Teachers are the nation builder. We are the engineer making the engines in our students work. We are like the candle in the dark brightening their life by unfolding them. Keeping our mission and vision in mind, we always guide young minds in the right direction. So, the future leaders of our country master the arts of living with GNH and speak the language of love. Apart from teaching the texts, the teachers teach the wholesome development. Sometimes we become a saint giving a religious discourse, other time a good friend suggesting some right solutions and another time a mother sharing her unconditional love and care for them. These are all taught by our great teachers who shaped us and now it is our responsibility to shape the future generation. It is like folktales getting passed from generation to generations. I salute to Mr. Lok Bdr. Thapa and Mr. Guru Wangdi my grade six to ten English and Geography teacher respectively for their golden touch (Tangmachu). It is because of their inspirations that inspired me to follow their foot prints and the reason why I call myself a teacher by choice.

Hence, teaching is my passion as I fulfilled my dreams. Though dreams are rare to come true, it happened to me owing to my teachers and I wish to spell the same spell on my students. So that, my mission and vision of teaching blooms in the days ahead. Thank you all the teachers who left your foot prints for me.

A Reason to Remember

A Reason to Remember

Genre: Short story                                                                     (21/11/2012)

The prayer flags were fluttering in the cool morning breeze. It’s winter in the southern foothills of Bhutan. The lonely but lovely Yangzom was taken aback, when the prayer flags whispered into her ears. It brought back the beautiful memories of the past; explained the present situation, and reminded her of what the future has stored for her. She smiled to herself, after it left whispering and kissing her chubby cheeks.

Suddenly, Yangzom found her looking young and fragile. She was studying in one of the remote schools in Trashigang, the eastern part of Bhutan. One day, on her way to school, Samphel said, “Hi! Beautiful.” “Hello! Are you in need of something from me?”She asked. This was their first encounter. From that moment, they became good friends but both of them were unaware of their names. They didn’t dare to ask each other but Yangzom named him as ‘Beautiful Eyes’ as Samphel’s eyes were big, elegant and sexy too. He became her dream boy at the first sight. Samphel knew nothing about her feelings.

However, on a beautiful day, Yangzom received a chit from Samphel saying he liked her. It was as if he read her mind. She was amazed at this. Thus, they became closer but the time flew away faster. The leaves fell off the trees and Samphel too bid farewell to Yangzom. After that, she never heard from him. The letters she sent vanished unanswered. Yangzom thought, “What happened to my beautiful eyes? Where did he vanish? How could he forget me? Didn’t he like me?”  Hundred and one questions kept crossing her mind. Her schooling days were punctuated with his thoughts.

Despite of being lost in the thoughts of her lost lover, she did well in her studies and later became a dedicated health worker. She came across many beautiful eyes; fell in love with them; exchanged their feelings and enjoyed their company but Samphel was the most unforgettable page in her life history.

Almost two decades after, Yangzom met Samphel on her way to Phuntsholing. They were dumb, didn’t know from where to commence. “Long times no see, how have you been?” Yangzom broke the silence. Samphel said, “I’m good as always, how about you?” Then they exchanged their stories and said goodbye once again. This time they exchanged their contact numbers too which kept them in touch. They were good friends once more.

Yangzom and Samphel remained as good friends for three more decades. After that, a wave of change came in their lives. Both of them were in their 60s but they felt young like in their teens. Once again, they fell head over heel in love with each other and later got married leaving their family behind. Thus, Yangzom’s love at the first sight turned out to be the last too. They lived three more decades happily together until they bid farewell to the world.