Throughout my life, I have played various roles and have come to realize that each role has its opposite. The majority of my time on Earth is dedicated to learning. In an ideal world, we all possess an inherent desire for constant growth and knowledge acquisition. Additionally, anyone who considers themselves a student also holds the capacity to be a teacher. However, teaching should not solely be confined within the realm of formal education with teachers adorned with chalk-stained hands and apples on their desks. Genuine teaching transcends beyond classroom settings and standardized tests; it emanates from ordinary individuals in our everyday lives.
Our initial educators are typically our parents, who may lack formal schooling but impart invaluable wisdom nonetheless. Interestingly enough, parents also gain valuable insights from their children that cannot be obtained through traditional classroom teachings. From the moment we enter this world, we simultaneously assume both the roles of students and teachers. These roles hold immense significance in shaping my life journey.
Identifying the social factors that have influenced my role is a complex task, as it is not limited to a specific group of people but rather encompasses everyone I have encountered. Each individual has had an impact on me and continues to shape the role I fulfill. Although certain individuals like parents, schoolteachers, close friends, confidants, siblings, and those with whom we share strong bonds play a significant role in this process, others also contribute to our development. Just like in other aspects of life, one’s performance in any given role can vary; they may excel or struggle. When it comes to teaching specifically, some individuals provide support and bring benefits while others may have a negative effect.
Teaching does not always have to be a positive effort. It is possible for a younger sibling to learn negative behaviors from their older siblings. Our teaching skills are often influenced by what we observe in our environment, particularly from our parents or primary role models. In some ways, this teaching role can be inherited, but not through biological or genetic means, except in rare cases. These exceptional cases may involve being born with a defect that alters one’s perspective and makes them a cynical teacher who cannot see the bright side of the world. Alternatively, someone’s genetic makeup may isolate them from society, leading to bitterness and an inability to teach lessons without a negative outlook. On the other hand, there are also positive instances where teaching can be considered genetic. For example, if a child has exceptional parents with strong teaching abilities, it is likely that the child will also possess the skills to impart valuable and positive lessons throughout their life.
The role of a teacher and mentor is primarily obtained through experience and is influenced by multiple factors in our environment, not just other people. Personally, my outlook on life has heavily shaped how I function in this field. As time went on, I cultivated a positive and empathetic demeanor while retaining a profound curiosity and fascination with the intricacies of life. From my earliest recollections, I have consistently sought after knowledge and possessed a strong aspiration to disseminate my discoveries to others. These revelations were not solely derived from books but rather from personal exploration.
Witnessing the repetition and transformation of lessons from my own life for the benefit of others is a truly remarkable experience. This represents the pinnacle of effective teaching. I frequently observe this phenomenon, particularly among individuals who are easily influenced. It becomes evident that spending significant time together causes people to adopt similar behaviors and sometimes even physical appearances. The underlying reason for this is that both parties are actively transmitting and imparting essential aspects of their characters, while simultaneously absorbing and assimilating the teachings of the other. This continuous cycle of teaching and learning gives rise to numerous similarities.
I have personally observed this pattern in many of my friends, as well as in the children I have encountered in my life so far. Children often perceive adult figures as role models and strive to emulate certain attributes. Hence, it is not uncommon for them to engage in the so-called “shadow game.” With this awareness, I have always endeavored to present my best self and act as a positive role model.
Maintaining a passion for learning is also crucial to me because one never knows when someone may internalize that part of who I am. Personally, I believe that I have gleaned the majority of my knowledge and lessons from my mother and grandparents.In particular, my mother embodies what I like to describe as an insatiable seeker of information.She has a strong thirst for knowledge and is able to effectively share it with others.
My grandparents, who embody the stereotype of spoiling their grandkids while imparting valuable life lessons, are exceptional teachers in my eyes. Their stories always begin with “Back when I was your age” and carry a moral. As I grew older, it became natural for me to learn more from my friends than from my own family. Fortunately, I had incredible friends who taught me invaluable things. Among them are two very close friends – one being the smartest person I can imagine and the other being the most compassionate girl – both of whom expanded both my mind and heart with important lessons. These lessons hold more value to me than any Ph.D. degree in the world; however, this does not diminish the importance of learning from our actual teachers.
This statement is false. Despite this, I am of the opinion that the lessons we acquire from teachers are not solely based on their lesson plans but also on their words and actions. During my elementary and high school years, certain teachers had a profound impact on my life. When I transferred to a new school in first grade, my shyness made me extremely nervous, leading to a lasting feeling of inadequacy.
Fortunately, in second grade, Mrs. Bishop became my teacher. Irrespective of our last names or how well she knew us, she treated everyone with equal kindness. Through her influence, I started to feel like I belonged and grew more at ease in my new environment.
However, these positive changes did not completely eradicate the sense of not measuring up to my peers’ perceived mediocrity.
In sixth grade, my life changed drastically when Mr. Storer entered the picture. He was not only my favorite teacher but also the one I felt closest to. This was a completely new experience for me since I wasn’t used to receiving special treatment from teachers. Consequently, I began to break out of my shell almost miraculously. As time went on, my classmates started liking me without any conscious effort on my part. This transformation continued throughout middle and high school as I became increasingly outgoing. I participated in more activities, attended numerous social events, and made countless friends each year. All of my high school teachers recognized both my academic dedication and popularity, and they admired how effortlessly I managed both aspects of my life. Each teacher taught me valuable lessons – ranging from the significance of open-mindedness to confidently presenting myself onstage before large audiences.
I have not acquired this knowledge from books. In the cyclical journey of life, we learn some of its lessons but never all of them. Along the way, we encounter individuals with clearly defined roles. Perhaps they have chosen to dedicate their careers to embodying a specific role, or maybe they have become fixated on one aspect of their lives. They may sacrifice personal experiences to fulfill this role. This is exemplified by a quote from opera singer Mary Garden, who was so committed to portraying characters that she never married or had her own friends. She once said, “Others acted a role; I became the role. The person named Mary Garden died so that the character could live.”
That was my genius … and my sacrifice. It drained off so much of me that by comparison my private life was empty. I could not give myself completely twice.
There are many roles to play in this drama that is life. It’s an impressive feat to be able to juggle all of these roles. To me, the most important lesson is to keep one role ongoing even though you may have to do the opposite side of it. What I mean by this is never stop being certain because of a question and never stop doctoring if you have to be a patient and never stop teaching while you feel that you must learn.
