To Teach is to ...

It is National Teacher's Appreciation Day (aka Teacher's Day) in Jamaica! In other jurisdictions it was celebrated yesterday.

Having been in the teaching profession for a few years and having recently volunteered to teach science to a kindergarten class, I know that being a teacher requires both skill and heart. This means we see teaching as more than sharing information but more so molding minds and nurturing talent to impact the next generation.

Many professionals will attest to the fact that their career paths were influenced in some way by the guiding light of a teacher. For some persons, it was advice they received from a teacher, it was how the teacher taught with great passion, it was way the teacher engaged us during interactions, while for others it was the motivating words that encouraged us to accomplish great feats. Let's confess it; we have all had a favourite teacher at some point during our educational journey!

I will hasten to acknowledge that being a teacher has its challenges. Most of us are aware of a lot of these challenges so I wont include them here. You can check the local and international news to find a few, if you want to be more aware. This challenge (you can insert any one of them here ... pick the one that shocks you the most) is often the reason persons shy away from entering the profession. At the same time, there are many who take on the challenge with great enthusiasm. These persons demonstrate creativity, courage, caring and charisma every day. They see their role as an important investment in the lives of the present and future society.

To teach is to... change lives, open minds, guide, engage, encourage, protect, nurture talent, mentor, inspire, build confidence...

To teach is to IMPACT OTHERS, hopefully in a positive way.

I would like to use this opportunity to say THANK YOU to my teachers (past and present) as well as to give KUDOS to my former colleagues and other teachers in my network. You IMPACT lives positively every day!

Please feel free to share your stories and comments about your favourite teacher(s) and the reason you chose this person this person / these persons.