Hello! And a grand welcome to another edition of Monday Truclusions. Recently I read a quote, “A teacher is one who doesn’t make money but makes a difference.” Then I recalled a very special story I had read about a couple of years ago. I want to narrate it to you.
The First Step Of The Journey
One day, a new teacher was appointed to a fifth-grade class, her name was Mrs. Thomson. When she entered the class, she greeted them all saying, “I will love all of you equally.”
In a couple of weeks, when she slowly learned more about the students in her class, she grew to particularly dislike one student. His name was Teddy. He remained aloof from his classmates, never played, his uniform was always in a mess, and he never focused in the class.
Months later when Mrs. Thomson was writing the report cards for all her students, she chose to read through the remarks left by her predecessors. She left Teddy’s report card for last, and when she picked up his first-grade report card, she was stunned.
“Teddy is a remarkable student and is a joy to be around.” She then picked up his second-grade report card, which read, “Teddy is an excellent student, but his mother’s sickness makes him sad most of the time.” Mrs. Thomson went on to read his third-grade report card, which said, “Teddy is a very bright student, but his mother’s death troubles him constantly. If something is not done soon, things could become worse for him.”
The fourth-grade report card read, “Teddy hardly pays attention in class, he seems lost in his own world. His father’s attitude towards him has added to his misery.”
Mrs. Thomson then realised what Teddy had gone through, and was ashamed of herself. That day, she stopped teaching arithmetic and began teaching children! She paid a lot of attention to Teddy, and soon his mind came alive once more. The more time she spent with him, the faster he responded. Soon he was the smartest kid in the class and was every teacher’s favourite.
The Fruits Of Her Labour
A year later, Mrs. Thomson found a note under her door from Teddy that said that she was the best teacher he had in his life. Five years later, she got another letter from Teddy, which informed her that he had passed high school and had gotten into college, and that she still remained his best and favourite teacher.
A couple of years rolled by and Mrs. Thomson received another letter from Teddy in which he wrote that though it had been difficult at times, he had stuck it out and was soon graduating from college with the highest honours. He also mentioned that she still was the best teacher he had ever had in his life.
Four years down the line, yet another letter came to Mrs. Thomson. Once again from Teddy, this time it carried the news that he had decided to study further. As always, he told Mrs. Thomson that she was his favourite teacher. The only difference was the way he signed his name – Theodore F. Stollard, M.D.
The story doesn’t end there. A few years later, another letter came in the post. This time it was a marriage invite with a request. He wrote, “Mrs. Thompson, I am getting married, and I want you to sit in the spot reserved for the groom’s mother.”
Overwhelmed, Mrs. Thomson agreed. They hugged, and Teddy thanked his mother figure for believing in him and for showing him that he could make a difference.
Mrs. Thompson told him that he had got it wrong – she was the thankful one as he showed her that she could make a difference. She had learned to teach only after she met him.
Meeting My Own ‘Mrs. Thomson’
I narrated this story to all of you because I wanted everyone to realise that it doesn’t matter how good we are at what we do, if pride gets in our way. The best examples of the selfless people, who use their knowledge to make a difference in various lives, are our teachers. Let me introduce you to one such teacher.
She was my first ever teacher at the Spastics Society of Karnataka. Her name is Priya Rao, and is fondly called Priya Aunty by many at SSK.
Recently, when I met her at SSK, I asked her one question and it was her answer that inspired me to write today’s Truclusions. I asked, “According to me, the teacher-student relationship is very special and peculiar at the same time. Both learn from each other. What is the best lesson you have learned from your students?”
She replied, “I think this relationship is sacred. The best lesson that I have learned is that I should have no personal biases when I work with children. A child can immediately sense if I am honest or not, and that children test my belief systems and my inner core as a person. That I have to give more than 100% of myself when working with a child. I have to believe that I am only one in a team who can make a change for the child.”
This story is food for thought. After all, have we chosen to make a difference in someone’s life like Mrs. Thomson did?
Here are a few words that are dedicated to all the selfless teachers in the world who dedicate their lives to their students.
You showed me sun’s brightness and the moon’s delight,
And taught me how to give my dreams a flight.
In the lowest of times,
In me, you rang happy wind chimes.
In a smile, you showered a magical spell,
Never to let us live in a closed shell.
To find rays of hope even in haze,
And find a way when lost in a maze.
To make stars in our eyes twinkle,
And joy around us you sprinkle.
With us your memory forever shall stay,
More than to God, to you we pray.
Liked reading this? Then you might also like to read Monday Truclusions – Welcoming 2017 With Hope & Humility
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