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Anna Liza Alfafara has developed the building blocks of her career through her English teacher.

Looking back, I acknowledge how some people have made a remarkable impact on the person that I am today. Special people that I met from my childhood days to the ones I mingled with during an event in my adult years. I still can remember them with a smile, knowing they have touched my life in their own simple way, even without them knowing it!

I’ve been writing since grade school all through high school, but I can say with conviction that my English 101 college professor, Mrs. De Vera made a huge impact to me till this very day. Not one teacher (ever, in my years of learning the English language) has taught me the way she did.

She painstakingly explained and gave all the examples she can give from the basics to the advanced form of the verbs, sentence construction, etc. After which, there would be endless exercises, seat quizzes and assignments of the lessons taken. She would also ask her students to write sentences in various verb forms over and over again, till we mastered them, and this went on for a semester. And I guess, that was the magic there.

I wouldn’t have known the usage of present, past and future perfect tenses, if not for her. This may sound funny and trivial to some, but I consider my learning from her as the primary building block of my career as an online writer and blogger.

I appreciate her even more now, 20 years after, in this age of Facebook and social media, where people freely air their thoughts and ideas wherever possible. Every time I see people committing grammatical errors in their statuses and updates, I secretly wish they had their own Mrs. De Vera in their lives to save them from further embarrassment.

To Mrs. De Vera, you just don’t know how much I appreciate the things you taught me. May your tribe increase!

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If Lovely Boiser could turn back time, she would pursue teaching for a number of meaningful reasons.

If by any chance I am asked to turn back time and choose the best profession I would pursue (well, aside from being a full time mom now, a wife and a homemaker), one of the top choices would be teaching.  How many preschool pupils do we hear say, “When I grow up, I want to be a teacher?” I guess 7 out of 10 will possibly end up in this profession.

I remember growing up having three aunt-teachers from third to sixth grade: Teacher Jane, Teacher Fate and Teacher Emy. Back in grade school, I wanted to become like one. I recall how highly I looked up to them. They treated me like an ordinary student just like the others and not as a niece. And it was fair. I highly respect and understand them.

Traditionally, teachers are natural born info-dispensers. I admire their endless and long stretch of patience in child care. I cannot imagine what it is like when kids are left in their supervision for eight hours a day, five times a week at school. How hard that must be! It’s really a good test of patience for them. I appreciate how strategic they are in preparing their lessons each night, in making complicated lessons simple for the students. Two thumbs up for their endless enthusiasm, energy and lifelong commitment to teaching and imparting values to kids.

All throughout my life, I have been taught by a number of teachers. For me, there is no good or bad teacher. There is always a Great Teacher, though.  He teaches not only with the mind but also from the heart.  He smiles at his students and inculcates values in a Christian way of living. He also encourages them to create dreams and achieve goals. He unconditionally motivates the pupils to nurture their interests, talents and capabilities. He is someone the children can easily share their joy and sentiments with.

What do teachers do?

They inspire you, they entertain you, and you end up learning a ton even when you don’t know it. ~ Nicholas Sparks

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Lean Alfafara, a 14-year-old student, talks about how his teacher has encouraged him to come out of his shell.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who was very interested in writing. He wasn’t that good at first but with practice, he got a whole lot better. But alas, our hero, despite his writing prowess, was too shy to enter a single writing contest!

During 6th grade, his teacher hosted an on-the-spot-writing contest. The theme was “My Teacher, My Hero”. The top three writers would receive a prize, most likely a book. The boy said to himself “This is my chance to shine. I can do this!” He loved writing but reading was another story. He read during his free time which he enjoyed very much. This also expanded his vocabulary which gave him an edge in writing.

The time for writing came and everyone was busy. He took a deep breath and focused his thoughts on the theme. After finally deciding on a topic, he just wrote and wrote and wrote.

“Okay class, time’s up. Please pass your papers.”

In the nick of time, he wrote the last word and passed it to his teacher. After that, the entire class talked about what they wrote. Our hero hoped to win. To be finally noticed.

Days passed and it was time for the results. The teacher announced the winners from 3rd to 1st. The boy was really nervous. He always wanted to be the champion!

“Third place goes to…” The class clapped their hands. It wasn’t his name.

“For second place…” The class clapped their hands again but alas it wasn’t his name.

“First place goes to…” The moment of truth finally came. It all depended down on this very moment. He closed his eyes and gulped. He was ready for the result.

“Mr. Lean Raphael Alfafara” To his surprise, his name was called.

“Would you kindly read your article to us?” The teacher said.

He humbly walked to the front of the glass. Faced his teacher and gently grabbed the sheet of paper which held his winning article. Then he read it to the whole class. After reading, he went back to his seat and wept his sweat.

From that day onward, he participated in various writing contests. Although he couldn’t help in losing some but he gained experience and became better.

It was with the help of God, his friends, his family and his 6th Grade teacher: Mrs. Leonar. She was the one who encouraged him to write. She made him go out of his shell and share his talent with the world.

Without you, I wouldn’t be here. And for that, I thank you.

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