Moving Towards A More Challenging Future

Moving Towards A More Challenging Future


How very nice that I am given this rare privilege to deliver an inspirational message. Abundant thanks to Mr. Webster who defines “inspiration” as creative impulse to influence and stimulate others. He gives me inkling on where and how to begin my talk.

This afternoon, I will talk of something that everybody knows already. I will talk of something, which everybody at sometime, has been practicing but tends to forget because of the passion of the moment and the circumstances of time, place and other events in one’s life. I am going to talk to three major audiences present in this occasion. The first group is composed of teachers; second, the crowd of students and the third group, the parents and relatives.

Now, let us start with audience number one- the UNHS teachers. How often is it said that teachers are purveyor of truth and molders of society? Teaching is truly the noblest of all professions! I would like to quote William Arthurward who once said that “mediocre teacher tells, the good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires”. Here in UNHS, the teachers exemplify their work, demonstrate enormous enthusiasm in teaching the young minds. Here in UNHS, we have dedicated and committed teachers who strive hard to educate and lead the students to become responsible citizens in the community. The teachers have multifarious roles, which include the following: teacher of a variety of subjects; budgeter of time; data gatherer; organizer and encoder of some reports; accountant for commercial venture the school is engaged in; fund raiser for all reasons from repair of wall to the replacement of old classroom decoration; one man/woman tourist bureau; recreation leader; moralist and teacher of traditional values; a disciplinarian; he/she captives students to innovations which are introduced to the education system; an d he/she is a skilled psychologist ready to respond to every bureaucratic whim and caprice.

Then you might ask the questions: What makes a good teacher? What are his/her professional qualities? Well, the following are among the long list. He must: posses desirable qualities that could ensure his/her successful career; be naturally interested in teaching; have a good personality; have a natural love, understanding and consideration for students whom he/she will mingle with; have patience and self-abnegation despite the fact that teaching is replete with more thorns than roses, and is full of trials and tribulation, unlike other professions; he/she must be resourceful and creative; he /she must have a flare of art; have initiative and leadership for these are indispensable qualities since rural people look upon teachers as leaders and people of authority; have a good PR (public relation); be submissive to good suggestions and constructive criticisms; and realize that teaching is not merely a profession-it is a mission.

You see! Being a teacher is not that easy. But look at the UNHS teachers, look at their faces; despite of so many responsibilities, aren’t they happy and contented? They deserve to be appreciated and acknowledged! You should be grateful! Indeed, there is dignity and joy to be educators and molders of people and society.

Now, let us talk about audience number two. The clienteles of teachers, the so-called students. So dear students please lend me your ears and open up your senses that you may capture my message.

Someone has said that the obvious sign of learning is change. Many changes take place when you move on to your teen years. For one, your body begins to show changes. As your body undergoes changes, so does your mind. You learn to question things. You discover many new feelings that tend to confuse you. Oftentimes, these changes may bring you both joy and pain. While they make you aware that life is worth living, they also show that they can also be cruel.

Dealing with these changes is a part of growing up. This is the crucial moment that you need to be educated and get informed the most. The role of educating now comes into play. Education, I would stress here, is very important, so important that it should not be neglected because it is an instrument for the improvement of your life. That explains why students are sent to school.

Dear students, in school, learning does not need to be boring. Oftentimes, it is a lot fun! English subject is not boring, Filipino subject is not boring, Science and Math are not boring subjects as well as Araling Panlipunan, TLE, MAPEH and Values Education subjects! These academic subjects are designed to make you competent individuals. What you learned from these subjects, you could apply them in your own lives.

You have just witnessed the happy faces of the honor students who proudly march here in front to receive their awards. You could be like them! And why not! If you want to follow their footsteps and want to be listed among the achievers in the third grading period until the end of this school year, well, you need to do the following: (1) Love your subject areas and study them religiously; (2) Do your homework, assignment and other school obligations; (3) Comply your school projects/ requirements promptly; (4) Approach the subject teachers if there are some points you find difficult to understand. They are willing to explain them for you; (5) Read good books to broaden your horizon. Most bright students are avid readers of books; (6) Show a tremendous sense of responsibility in your studies. Take time to view your lessons for he day before going to sleep; (7) And of course the most important, ask wisdom from God. He is willing to give it to you. Follow my advice. Try it. It’s amazing. You may not realize it, but it works!

Finally, let us proceed to the third group, the audience number three, the parents and relatives of the students. According to Elsie L. Buck that a successful parenthood is built on three great principles: Love, Discipline and Security. And she is right.

We oftentimes hear that home is where the love is! This is what I learned that students will be delightful performers and achievers in school and keep doing well in their studies if they are living in a more favorable environment conducive to their cerebral growth and soaring. The students need your generous and supportive hearts. They need your constant reinforcement may it be financial or moral. Sometimes, they need to be understood because after school they need to replenish their energy used up already while doing school works.

In the solitude of your home, you are in the best position to mold, shape and develop them into the kind of persons you want them to be in the future. Inscribe in them everyday and every hour your instructions, your spirit and your good examples.

Teachers are sometimes complaining about the student’s character. The best opportunity to build character is within families where the students are constantly tested and most vulnerable to lapses. The character building begins at home. I strongly believe that the kind and nature of students today reflect the kind of discipline they have had from their parents.

I will end up my talk with congratulations to the three major audiences: to the teachers for keeping up with their teaching; to the students who are doing well in their studies including those who are coping up; and to the parents who are always with their sons and daughters in hard times and in good times. Together, let us move forward to a more challenging future.