My Aeta Learners; My Inspirations

As I mentioned in my last article, I’ve been teaching in a far-flung school. Far-flung school means far-away which is located in mountain areas that can be traveled for more than 2 hours away from town proper. This is a remote area where connectivity and electricity are not possible, and where people living here lack so much access to different aspects that prove the simplicity of life. Most of my learners there belong to the indigenous group of people specifically called Aetas.

And it’s been 4 years had passed but my heart for my Aeta learners is always burning with love and care for them and here are the reasons why: •

·        They are kind of learners that are very appreciative.

I’m more than a teacher for them. The way I treat them as my children and the way I teach them with a heart very matters to them. For them, you’re one of all the people that they can rely on every day. They appreciate my efforts to teach them that every minute that counts become so memorable for them. They appreciate even the smallest thing that you can give, for them this is your act of showing that you love and you care for them. Calling them “my child” makes their hearts flutter.

·         They are punctual and industrious.

Imagine how far they need to walk just to go to school every day. They need to wake up as early as they can because they need to walk almost 3 hours before they can arrive at school. Some of them are barefooted, and some of them have no breakfast at all. And these are things that make my heart broken that push me to work harder for them and teach them all that I can to make them so productive and take away them from any of the discrimination here in our society. And their effort just to see me every day makes me realize how important it for them is to learn despite all the struggles and poverty that they have.

·         They are sweet and caring.

Maybe they treat me as their second mother and a friend, but for me, they are my source of happiness and strength. They may not offer anything, but they make sure that I will feel that they love me and care for me. They make me feel respected by listening attentively, obeying all the rules, and making our classroom clean even if I’m not asking for them to do so. They are so initiative for all the things that they know can offer just to show that they appreciate me.

·         They have the willingness to learn.

Despite all the struggles and poverty, they don’t hesitate to go to a school just to learn. They may lack many aspects, but I can see and feel that they have the willingness to learn. They give also all their might that even though they are in a remote area, where all accessibility is not possible and even electricity is not available, they have the guts to prove that they can also what others can do.

·          They’re all beautiful.

They are the most beautiful people to me. This is one of the most important reasons why I love them. They are all adorable. They are people that have the golden and the most genuine heart. They have the sincerest and the purest smile. May be different for others, but for me, they are the most wonderful human that God has created.

These are just some of the reasons why my 4 years in public school are so worth it. There may be a lot of paper works and tasks needed to do, but for me, my life as a teacher here is not a waste and I will forever be proud that I am a teacher of Aeta Learners.

I’m forever grateful to share all that I have for them and willing to sacrifice all things that can help them grow and improve a better and more confident person someday.

 I believe always and in all ways, that they can also be more than what they are capable of. They are more than a student to me, they are my children, and they are my treasure. And I will do everything to make their efforts not turn to waste.

They’re not just my learners, they are my inspirations.

Here are some of my photos with them:

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