Revisitng Chris’ take on Teachers. This column was originally published on October 09, 2016
Teachers and trainers touch lives. They do not just touch lives but they also have the potential to transform lives. This is one of the essentials that I reminded our trainees for this week.
I was writing this at a hotel in Quezon City, a day after conducting three training modules for the trainers of BFAR. These trainer-trainees came from different regional/provincial offices in Bicol, Cebu, Davao, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga. They often conduct technical trainings to their colleagues, to communities and fisher folks but beyond all the technicalities that they share about practices, procedures and concepts, it is the lives of the people that matter most. After all, the purpose of teaching the technicalities of fisheries and aquatic resources is to support the lives of people.
While we were conducting our training, there was also a crowd of teachers undergoing training at the upper floor. One morning, while I was going down, I met an educator at the elevator. She enthusiastically greeted me, ‘Happy Teachers Day!’ She assumed I was one of them. And maybe I am – a teacher outside the traditional classroom. I greeted her back, “Happy Teachers Day!”
Teachers and trainers have similar objectives. And I always put it this way – that we as trainers/teachers are to instruct and inspire, to educate and empower our audiences.
As someone who has benefited a lot from the noble works of teachers and trainers, I would like to say THANK YOU to all my teachers starting from my ‘day care center’ days at the barangay up to my elementary, high school, college and graduate school days (for a trimester).
I say THANK YOU as well to all the trainers that I have and continue to have – in actual and virtual learning events. I have a lot of them. Some of them were mentioned in my books and articles. They have touched and transformed my life in different ways.
If you are a teacher or trainer, I cheer you on! Keep on touching and transforming lives.
If you are not a teacher or trainer (in its technical sense), you still are a teacher or trainer (essentially). In your own works and words, you are also teaching and training. If you are a parent, you are raising your children. If you are a worker, you may be passing on information to your clients or customers. If you are a supervisor or manager, you are passing on knowledge and skills to your subordinates and maybe even to your superiors as well. If you are a pastor, priest or preacher, you are sharing the Word to God’s flock. If you are a leader or any kind of influencer, you are always sharing something that is meant to instruct and inspire people. You are a teacher and trainer.
My words to you: THANK YOU and KEEP ON!
We need more teachers and trainers – whether in the technical sense or in its essential sense regardless of field or profession. We need more people who touch and transform lives especially during these times when there is a lot of trash that is going on around. We need more positive things that bring real change in the lives of people – especially the young minds.
This is our role. As somebody whose life was formed with the help of teachers and trainers, we pay it forward. You and I shall help each other to touch and transform lives for the better – one little step, an audience, one person at a time.
(Chris Dao-anis aims to empower his fellow young minds with practical instruction and inspiration in the fields of communication and personal leadership. He is an author, trainer and speaker. For talks, seminars or speech coaching, email him at chrisdaoanis@gmail.com. His latest book ‘Living Large in the Little Things’ is available at Mt. Cloud Bookshop, Casa Vallejo, Upper Session Road and at Psalms Bookstore (Sunshine Supermart) in Baguio City. Other options are available at www.chrispoweracademy.com/livinglarge.)
