In life we encounter two kinds of people: Those who encourage and inspire us to rise up to our potential and those who bring us down. However, if we are determined nobody can keep us down for long and if we are unwilling to work, no one can help us. A great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do and the determination to prove them wrong is in fact a kind of inspiration. Not surprisingly, we often feel thankful to both kinds of people.
Thomas Edison, the man who introduced us to the Electric Bulb had only three months of formal schooling. The Reason: During one of the Inspections in his school all the students could give correct answers asked by the Inspector, except Edison. His teacher got so annoyed that he told the inspector that the boy was abnormal. When Edison narrated the incident to his mother, she was very upset and came to question the school authorities. A fiery argument later, the school Authorities summarily dismissed the boy with a transfer Certificate that had the remark “Thomas Edison cannot cope up with studies because he is abnormal”. Mother and son had to return home in tears!
Fortunately for Edison, his mother who was an ex-teacher took up the challenge of teaching the boy at home. Perhaps, the determination to show how wrong the school teacher was, also acted as an impetus and the rest as they say is history!
In today`s world, knowledge is readily available at the click of the mouse but good teachers remain as relevant & important as always. Good teachers, apart from being role models for young minds, can create the spark to fire the imagination and enthuse the students.
Mrs. Baretto, my teacher at St. Thomas, was one such wonderful example! Simple and affable yet subtly firm, this graceful lady always created a warm welcoming atmosphere conducive to learning with her caring nature and enthusiasm. I do not exactly remember what she taught us apart from craft and I don’t think she was exceptionally gifted in the field of art. But Mrs. Baretto had the supreme art of getting the best out of her students! A word of appreciation from Mrs. Baretto felt like an award and we students would vie to give our best.
Indeed, appreciation can inspire us to do better, make someone`s day and even change a life – Your willingness to put it in words is all it takes!
