By Jan Vicente B. Pekas
Unfortunately for the many teachers who had hoped to have their lessons be etched into their students’ head for most of their lives, I have forgotten at this point a lot of what my own teachers preached. But, there are a few exceptions in the few memorable teachers I have had the privilege to be a student to. As each day was filled with tedious subjects, the life lessons found from their experience and not just from the textbooks, I found to have a bigger impact in me.
One of the subjects that I still find myself replaying to this day whenever I’m stuck with a certain dilemma, is the philosophy subject I took in UP Baguio a few years back. It could be because of my own preference to the social sciences and philosophy and not towards the sciences and math that this subject is something that accompany me on most nights I can’t sleep but have all the energy to just think.
To this day, though I could still remember the failed quizzes, I have no doubt that mot of what our teacher taught is something that I can still vividly remember and try to embody. Among those was when our teacher was caught up in his usual passionate rant session. These were the times when I notice he gets caught up in one part of the lesson and explains it in such a manner that gets everyone caught up in his energy.
I remember that lesson being about following what you wanted to do deep inside right then and now. And the continuous rejection of your inner desire would only result in a miserable life.
Throughout my years of education, I don’t think I have had a more impactful class than that one philosophy subject taught by the teacher I can’t even remember the name of but remember his words and lessons clearly. And I don’t think I have been more attuned and caught up to a teacher’s lesson than those few minutes in a late sunny morning just before 12pm where he went on to discuss the importance of pursuing that which you so desire. At that time, as the teacher was in the midst of his passionate discussion, I was forced to reflect inwards. And later on I would go on to have my ears pierced.
That may be an anticlimactic conclusion, but for me who have been rarely told to do what I wanted had just been told to do what I wanted by a person I looked up to, that feeling of liberation is something that I still try to find after all these years.
Since I have recently noticed being easily angered and frustrated, I remember my professor’s lesson. I may have gotten too comfortable in brushing over even the small things I wanted to do in life. And these lost opportunities add up to create a foul mood first thing in the morning and last through the day. Perhaps this should be reminder to everyone, are you satisfied with the way you are living right now? **
