One Picture And One Story Week #91

Just to recharge a bit, I took a quick break to drink some coffee. I’d spent the whole day scrubbing and tidying every corner of my classroom, all by myself. The silence was almost creepy, but I didn’t mind. This coming Monday is the first day of class, and I wanted everything to feel just right. I was proud of how the room had come together.

I sipped my coffee as I lazily browsed through my phone. That’s when a photo on my screen suddenly caught my eye. It was a picture of my students who graduated last April, this year. I looked at their faces, and in an instant, all the memories came flooding back.

I remembered Inday Thia... oh, she was something else. So talkative! No matter how many times I tried to remind her to quiet down, her voice would always end up louder than my lecture. Sometimes I’d just turn it into a joke, “I’m already wearing a lapel mic, but you’re still louder than me. What do you have, built-in speakers?” Everyone would burst into laughter, including her. At least it would get her to quiet down, for a bit. But once I started the lesson again, there she went, talking all over again.
And of course, I couldn’t embarrass her. She’s a young lady now, after all.

One time, I remembered I approached her. I noticed something unusual... She was quiet. Silence wasn’t like her at all. She’s usually super cheerful and always full of energy. So I checked in and asked how she was doing.

That’s when I found out the story behind her loud, bubbly personality. Behind all that noise, she was going through something heavy. Her mom was working abroad. Trying her luck to give them a better life. Her dad, on the other hand, wasn’t taking care of them. Sad thing, the money her mom sent was often gambled away by her father. I was honestly stunned. What I felt was hard to explain. I was sad, but kind of warm. Wow, she trusted me enough to share it, but it broke my heart, you know.

She has graduated.
"Wow, she made it through. I wonder if she’ll be able to continue her studies. She’s been through a lot.” I said to myself as I took another sip of my coffee.

You really can’t understand a kid if you don’t take the time to truly get to know them.
I remember that’s when I started to grow closer to her. Slowly, I figured out how to handle her in a way that worked.

Then, something stirred in my chest. The quiet around me wasn’t just silence anymore. It was filled with memories from the past year. Bright and heavy all at once. I was thrilled with the kind of students I’ll meet this year. Hopefully, I’ll get lucky with a batch of respectful kids. Maybe, just maybe. The one that won’t ask for unlimited deadline extensions so often this time.

I couldn’t help but smile, though it nearly made me tear up.

Teaching is a beautiful thing, but the students are not easy to let go of. They weren’t just learners in my classroom. They become part of my life. My teammates in this journey with being a teachers. I glanced at the time, and ops! It’s almost time to head out.

I said to myself, “I hope we get to see each other again someday. And I hope you all find success in life, especially you, Inday Thia.”

My coffee break was over, but I couldn’t help smiling as I looked at the graduation photo one last time. I felt hopeful, wondering what kind of stories and faces I’d meet this Monday. A new class, a fresh start. The kind that’s tough to say goodbye to… because you end up missing them every time.

---

I am inviting my co-teachers and my close friends @kyrie1234, @abby0207, and @bisayakalog to join this contest initiated by @suboohi.