Wednesday, November 14, 2007
17:15
sweetness of being called a teacher
it tugs my heart when i found out a student is struggling through a lot of emotional pain. on the surface, it may not be quite that obvious, in fact, most of them won't show their problematic symptoms in school.
it is very shocking for me to actually have students with unbelievable family background. part of the reasons is, maybe, i am so used to the comfort zone where i am granted good environment all my life where flaws are seen as very rare. for that, i am glad Allah has given me the opportunity to be there for these innocent angels. at least, as a listening ear and a crying shoulder for them.
for the past 6 months or so,i tot this particular student seems the happy- go- lucky sort. that's until I got to know the real truth. art lessons usually have a lot of personal consultation between a teacher and a student to discuss and give feedback on his/her works. so having the personal discussion, a teacher can actually figure how every students is like, be it their characters, their styles, their preferences etc.
therefore, an art teacher has the previlege to reach out deeper into the student's life.
so today i get to go beyond just the surface. a student came to me for one of the usual consultations and let her problems out. masya allah, i have all my sympathy to this child, barely 15 years old, carrying a burden even an adult like me would not be able to handle alone.
divorced parents, mentally ill- mother, self- centred brother who lives with the father, living with aunt who hates her and always chasing her out of the house. friends are not always there for her. basically, she has no one. and mind you, at just 15 years old.
her tears almost made me cry with her. alhamdulillah, i managed to convince her enough that no matter what happens to her, she is never alone and that Allah is always there for us. I made her realise a few important things, just in case, if she ever loses faith. I believe at times like these, one is at his most fragile. Inputs at this point will be easily accepted. so, alhamdulillah, i have taken that opportunity and said what i have to say.
i pray allah will give her strength and show her the right path. Amin.