- By Seema Lal, a school counsellor and life skills teacher and a child rights activist at TogetherWeCan
You came to me, running in glee, and said, "Ma'am I will not get into trouble today! I didn't forget to wear the football uniform! My teacher will be happy!”
A high five and a pat on the back kick-started your day and the sparkle in your eyes kick-started mine too!
Yet I found you in the corner again because you had forgotten the regular uniform. Sigh... Obviously, your teacher could not allow you to sit in class in your sports wear!
You are the one who stayed back in class cleaning the mess on the floor but landed in trouble for the next class as you reported late after all the cleaning. Obviously, your teacher could not let you walk in as you please!
You are the one who studied hard all night for the test next day but ended up scoring a zero as you got the subject wrong! Obviously, your teacher could not praise you for a zero!
You are the one whose hands will ache as you write for long and get all the spellings wrong, but you will complete the homework at any cost. Yet the next day I will see your name in the defaulters list as you forgot to bring in your book! Obviously, your teacher could not correct your work without you submitting it!
You are the one who raised your hands first in the class on vehicles. But when the teacher asked you to name one, all you said was, "My uncle is coming". The class laughed and the teacher controlled himself. Little did they know you actually meant to say, "My uncle is coming in an airplane and an airplane is a vehicle." Obviously, your teacher could not read your mind!
You are the one who will own up and cover up for what your friends do as that's the only way you know to be 'included' in a group. You are blamed for what's true and what's not too. Yet you learn to let it all go.
Because you are the one, my resilient one! The one who cannot focus on one but has the intelligence of ten! You are the one, my special educator, who shall never tire of any ridicule or trial.
Someday you will educate us to focus on what you can do and let go of what you cannot.
Someday you will educate us to focus on what you remembered than on what you forgot.
Someday you will educate us to look for what you did and not for what your didn't.
Someday you will teach us to teach you!
Until then, let's celebrate the little things together for all the effort you put together.
