As a teenager, I had the honor of having my mother also teach some subjects at school.
I grew up watching her work with love and empathy, extending her roles, being a good listener and counselor to her students.
There were many students who were unmotivated and frustrated with personal and family problems: lack of attention from parents, absence of parents aggravated by divorce, hurt daughters who were constantly cursed with horrible words, among many other cases!
My mother used to listen calmly and give advice based on love, patience, understanding and respect to parents.
Because they could “open up” and talk about their pain, these students were already beginning to show some relief.
There were other students considered as “problems”, because they expressed their revolt and rebellion. Something impressive to me is that (amazingly!) my mother really enjoyed dealing with these ones!!
She often says that they already show what they feel, so it is more difficult to deal with those who hide their hateful feelings with deceit and falsehood.
The truth is that those young people with explicit rebellion were lacking in attention and completely unmotivated, because the family context in which they were inserted.
So, I saw teacher Margarida (mom) caring about their problems during class breaks, spending time with them (instead of going to the Teachers’ Room), talking, highlighting their potential, encouraging them with observations on tests who pointed out their improvements, etc.
And my mother had challenges and problems to solve just like anyone else! But those trials did not affect her professionally. When she stepped into the classroom, she enjoyed her duties, as if she lived without a problem!! I am a witness because I was there as a student and knew about our personal challenges.
You know what was most rewarding for her? Seeing her work was not in vain! Notably, the change in behavior and posture of those students could be seen!
One of them had become like a orator! A teenager who was completely unmotivated, with horrible grades and considered a problem student, now looked like a young speaker (full of elegance, even in words!), presenting his work in front of the class, highly motivated!
Other rebels became calmer, polite and kind, presenting a notable change, including good grades in the tests!
Others, who used to spend their time planning riots and turmoil in the school, took tests and managed to pass to enter renowned schools and very demanding in relation to this content for student selection!
Some parents of these students visited the school in order to meet the famous Teacher Margarida, who so many of their children talked about!
When asked why those who were rebellious treated her with so much affection and kindness, she said: It’s love. It’s treating them with respect and attention.
Simply love motivated her to participate in the lives of her students, not only as a teacher, but playing other roles as a psychologist, friend and mother.
I was thinking these days how good GOD is for having given her this vocation and presence in the lives of her students!
I wondered… What if those frustrated young people had found one of those thugs who usually entice minors into crime? Generally, they promise shelter to these emotionally vulnerable teenagers, to then collect their favors, involving them in crimes and the abyss of drugs.
Our professional role must extend to social responsibility. After all, we are part of a socio-environmental context, in which we all need harmony, helping each other.
In this journey, we have many examples of professionals who stand out for their performance beyond what their functions require. I didn’t have to go far to learn more about it. GOD gave me the Gift of having this at home, with my mother Margarida. GOD be praised for her life, love and wise conduct!
Love is the Force that motivates for the best results. Love never fails.
UniC - Union in CHRIST 🇧🇷 🇬🇧 