"We are all teachers, it does not matter if we want to teach or not-we still teach. Teachers are not just those of us who write books or give lectures, not just those of us who have students assigned to sit in our classes, not just those of us who have initials after our names indicating that we have an advanced degree. Each of us teaches others every day:our children, our lovers, our family members, our friends, our colleagues, everyone with whom we have contact in even in small ways. We teach hope or cynicism, kindness or insensitivity, generosity or selfishness, trust or suspicion, love or apathy."
- Dr. Barbara De Angelis
Last week a Principal friend of mine asked me if I would do her a big favor and translate for the teachers on two days because they were holding conferences and some parents did not speak English. I thought it was just going to be for a couple of hours and I also wanted to be in good favor with my friend so that she would allow me to do my student teaching at her school and I could finally complete my teaching credential.
It turned out to be an all day thing and at times it was a bit tiring because I was helping teachers back to back. But I learned tremendously from the teachers I assisted. I realized that the teachers were not only teaching the children academics but also self-esteem, courage, determination, confidence, planning, kindness, cooperation, peacefulness and wisdom as well. I told my Principal friend, "Wow! I got lucky. I had all the good teachers. They were awesome!" She replied, "I have nothing but good teachers working here." I thought about how fortunate the children were. The parents even recognized it. One mom told her daughter, "You are very fortunate. You have two moms that really care about your well being and your future." One mom told me that her daughter went through a profound transformation as soon as she started going to school there and at the age of eight she was already telling her parents she wanted to go to college. Her young sibling said he wants to do the same.
Many of the children commented on how they wanted to be just like their teacher. My experience in grade school was very different. If I had not been exposed to these wonderful teachers all clustered in one school, I would have continued to have thought good teachers were an exception. After my experience at this school I see things very differently.
The teachers weren't teaching by telling the students what to do. They were teaching by example. From what I have heard from various psychologists, children learn by emulating you. Not by what you instruct them to do. These teachers seemed to have known this instinctively. However, we are all teachers. We do not have to hold a title or credential. We are especially teachers to our own children. But we are also teachers to whoever we come in contact with.
"As you come to into your time of wisdom, you must find ways to pass that flame of wisdom on to others. How do you do this? Look for opportunities to share what you have with someone who needs it. If your time of challenge has passed, then your task is to recall your moments of feeling lost, isolated, frightened of what was to come. Look around-you are sure to find someone experiencing that despair or confusion now. Share your strenght and courage with that person Have the willingness to offer your love, your service, your support, and opportunities will present themselves. You won't have to go looking for them-they will find you." - Dr. Barbara De Angelis
I use to believe that I had nothing to teach other than the academics that I was learning at school. But in one of my college classes an Instructor's requirement was to volunteer helping highschool moms with emotional support and career guidance. It was such a joy to have something of value to share with the young women. The Instructor said that the reason she made volunteer work a requirement to pass the class, was because there was a huge need for young women who were labeled At Risk to get out of hopelessnes and helplessness mode which their families and society programmed into them. And with college students, especially of their same culture and gender, showing them how it is possible for them to change their lives, they begin to delete false programming.
"You do not have to be perfect to share your wisdom. Even if you are in the middle of your own challenges, you still have something to offer. Someone behind you needs your hand to help them take their next step. Perhaps you don't yet know how to climb up the step in front of you, but you know enough to help that person behind you up their next step, upon which you are already standing."
Outside of school I have learned that I am also a teacher. I do not have everything figured out yet. Nobody does, even if they pretend they do. But in the areas I have healed and grown I am more than happy to share with others. I often come across someone when I am out and about who mentions their challenge and it happens to be something I have mastered and could be of some help. The things I still struggle with I talk to those who are ahead of me in that area. So we are all teachers to someone.
Like my new friend and author said to me, " You could work at Lowes or be a waitress, it does not matter. You are a teacher wherever you work and wherever you are. You do not have to have special title or make a certain amount of money. A person can make more of a difference in the world than some guru or expert merely by his/her presence and the way he/she is with others."
This is so true. A few people like this come to mind. In fact, yesterday I did not get to see my favorite couple because they had a prior engagement and I missed their presence terribly. I wasn't the only one. I kept hearing others comment on how much they missed the sweet couple. It is not necessarily what they say or do. And they do not have any degrees, titles or credentials that I know of. They are just very kind people. Maybe even the sweetest I have ever met. You can't help but feel that you are one of their adopted children when you are around them. With the care and attention they give you and how they inquire about your happiness and well being. They sometimes surprise me with how quickly they rush to assist you when they find out there is something troubling you.
They are definitely way ahead of me in the spiritual area. But that is why I go to them for support. But there are also many others who seek me out to help them with what they have not yet mastered. That is how things should be and many people are now consciously evolving to. Ofcourse there are still those who are selfish and self centered. But if you work on doing your part to help others, no matter how small it is, by the Law of Attraction others will come to help you.
"Once you have gone through your own challenges and difficulties and come out the other side, you have something priceless to share. When you offer what you know to others when they need it, you solidify and recognize your new wisdom. "
- Dr. Barbara De Angelis
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