A Good Year

It has been a good school year.

After some ten months of working and being with your high school students, you cannot help but look back to the good days.

Nothing has been more remarkable than the days lived with eager, wonderful students who made you realize much about many things. These are some of the many things you will not leave behind— these and other stories you will not ever trade for any other value in the world.

The Section 1 students whom you “advised” [you were their adviser for some two quarters, substantially] are a good, growing lot. Led by their president Anita, the class have already been lauded by their subject teachers who just find them easy, light and manageable.

For one, Siena’s bubbly attitude complements her classmates’ love for humor. If at all, Siena has enjoyed the mango float given by the class for a job well done during the cleanup day—after tirelessly cleaning the classroom for almost a day, she and her classmates Koy and Perlita, to name a few, did not deserve anything less than that sumptuously delicious treat which they themselves prepared. Talk of being and acting out of [a strong sense of] independence—or more aptly, responsibility.

Along with the other boys, Roch, Daniel and Mico have all been a good part of the freshman team who have exuded the bright aura every Monday morning. This figured well especially in the flag ceremony leadership which was lauded by the school director herself. You know the best is yet to come for them.

You appreciated your junior student Shem when he consulted you through a text message on a particular term in his research paper. You were enjoying the Dinagyang night when he texted you, asking for the right word to use in his report. You were flattered that this junior student from Pototan, Iloilo counted you in as his dictionary. Fair and kind, he must have been flattered when you told him in front of his classmates that he has been disciplined in your class.

Meanwhile, you have always considered Shem’s classmate Clint amiable and warm company fairly enough to properly set the mood of the third-year class. Along with the rest of the boys, his light and smiling face has not failed to set the best mood for the rest of his classmates. Perhaps one of the tallest boys in the batch, his optimistic countenance cannot simply go unnoticed, especially in his senior year.

Ever since you got to work with the school paper’s editors, you have always known Val to have the critical eye. The boy’s meticulousness was confirmed to you by his previous adviser. When you didn’t hear his name announced in the regional contest for editorial writing, you realized then that the boy is fit for some other, loftier things. He must have taken the editorial writing skill to heart, that in no time he rewrote his contest piece on Consumer’s Rights Act for the school paper issue. He surely deserves an award for such an effort.

You are equally happy for Stanley and Doris, Val’s fellow editors who laboriously took to editing the many articles of the school paper. Though you could just be apologetic to Doris in learning that her front-page article was “murdered” in the press—there is perhaps no one to equal her enthusiasm to finish the work she is assigned to do, given the time constraints and a whole lot of other workload.

Their fellow senior Stanley, meanwhile, is one success story—what with his all-out smile when he was cited for outstanding performance in feature writing in the Punta Villa regional writing tilt in December. You relish in his newfound skill as he should be lauded for the two substantial feature stories—the school gym article and the coach’s story—that must have made the school aware and feel more privileged for such two blessings.

Also, you will remember the generosity of spirit of one Ernest, a Manila-born freshman who sustained the odds of being in a new environment, eager to learn new things and share life with his new found friends. Ernest’s politeness and composure have always amazed you to say that the boy is very well ahead and well prepared to undertake bigger tasks in the future. You believe he will do well and he can pull through.

Among other things, these are only some of the many stories—call them blessings—which you cannot trade for other values in the world. The days with your junior, senior and freshmen students will not be forgotten. You’re sure they are here to stay wherever you go. As long as you live.

After some ten months of working and being with your high school students, you cannot help but look back now in regret. Regret because you do not intend to pass this way again—regret because you are finally calling it “quits” for teaching.

After all, it has truly been a good year.