By Francesca Ean Alexis Tiu (Grade 8 – Jacinto)
Sometimes we find ourselves standing between two separate roads, our feet and eyes rooted to the ground because of the impending uncertainty that lies in the destination that the two paths would take us. An unguided, naive soul, unsure of where to take a step, turns to the only source of an answer within reach. The sign that stands in between the two crossroads.
Likewise, every choice we make in life shall lead us to two different futures, maybe even more. As children, we let those kinds of fleeting thoughts throw caution to the wind, not caring about where it will land or where it will lead us. That is why we often need someone to catch those thoughts that we have thrown away to bring them back to us. And that someone is our teacher.
My teachers have taught me more than just the usual things being taught inside the walls of a classroom. They have taught me more than just slope-intercept form equations, or the powerhouse of a cell, or the difference between a phrase and a sentence fragment. As we grow, we often need to be told of the world around us, and how to cope with it which is why we have our teachers to be the hand that guides us along the way.
As we continue our journey, we also change along with the seasons. As we continue to walk further, our feet begin to wear out, and the lines across our foreheads deepen. We become more mature, yet also more confused as the day we would step up on the podium to receive our diploma crawls nearer.
My teachers have taught me many things. One of them was to always be open. Spread your arms wide, and allow challenges to come your way. Even if you may stumble, and even if your posture crumbles, remember to keep standing. Through those obstacles, you will eventually learn from them, so you don’t make the same mistakes in the future.
Another lesson was to not be afraid to fail. Don’t be afraid to take that step and venture into the unknown. If you never take that step, a doubt would be tugging at you at the back of your mind, repeating over and over again while wondering why you never took that chance when it could have led you to somewhere beautiful. Even if the light at the end of the tunnel was not what you expected, at least it would be better than carrying the regrets on your shoulders for the rest of your life.
Lastly, don’t be afraid if you can’t do enough. Oftentimes we’d push ourselves so hard that we’d go over the cliff and succumb to the pull of gravity, pushing us back onto the surface of the ground or suffocating in the dark blue waters. Sometimes we should take a deep breath and take a step back. Know what you did was enough rather than work endlessly to be hurt in the end.
Sometimes we find ourselves left with two separate directions without knowing where it would lead us. Should I take a left or a right? Even if we are given the guidance of our teachers in executing each step, it would be up to us to see where the road would lead us. With the help of my teachers, I will surely be content with the path they helped me choose.