Be A Good Example

June 6, 2018 by Banchiwosen Woldeyesus

Every day,

Every moment,

Every breath.

                Be more than you.

I want it to be more than me,

Once I started leaving,

                Lasting footprints,

                Wherever I touch,

My soul’s stopped being scarred.

                                _Lighting the Candle

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.” Albert Schweitzer

Once in a class room one clever teacher has encountered a great problem. The students seem to know what they want when they grow up. He has heard them many of times, I want to become this and that. And they are clever at their studies. But the teacher wants more.

He wants them to start taking little responsibilities by themselves. For example when he assigns someone to clean the writing board before he enters or leaves the classroom nobody took him seriously. They are all engaged in their studies. Another example could be, when he asks his student who wants to be a teacher to revise last lesson the student gives different reasons like “I am not ready today teacher or I am afraid of standing in front of all these students”. When the teacher heard this and similar little things, he paused—

–          He knows how clever his students are

–          He knows who they want to be when they grow up

–          He knows that they want to achieve their dreams

He knows these and yet with one reason or another he was unable to make them do little
“insignificant” things. So, in order to change the situation the teacher has to think of something—

The next morning, the teacher was there in the classroom before his students arrive. When the students enter their room, they saw something unexpected. Usually when they enter the teacher will be writing on the board the day’s lesson’s but on that day they saw him sitting at one of the student’s bench and covering his hand with bandage.

Because all the focus of the students were on their teacher, they did not observe their classroom’s appearance is changed as well. Unlike any other time, the chairs were put haphazardly and the class was a mess. The students are confused and stood looking at one another. Then, all of a sudden they went to their teacher and asked him what has happened to his hand. He answered them, while I was coming here the outside door scratched me a little bit. While he is reciting this made-up story, he is looking at each and every students face so that they will not know he is lying to them. At the same time he is continually binding his hand with bandage.

The students continued to look at him. When he saw this, he said to them “let us start class” they still continued to look at his injured arm. When he repeated “I am waiting for you guys”, one student approaches the teacher and said “you should not teach today sir, you should rest”. Rather than answering the student, the teacher continued to rub his hand. He patiently waited for them to go to their respective chairs. This is when they see their chairs are all over the place, but rather than complaining they began rearranging their classroom. The teacher observed this and asked himself how this is possible.

“Before today, when I ask them to do something they do not do it or they do it with little enthusiasm or effort. How come they did something today without my asking anything?”

Today they have done something with their own initiation. While thinking this, the teacher stayed in his seat. All of a sudden, he thought of something and said loudly

“If I am not mistaken, isn’t there a student here who wants to be a Doctor?” One student raised his hand. The teacher then told him “you can help me finish this” he said to him while gesturing to his hand. The other students while observing this waited for a couple of minutes and one said “aren’t we going to learn today teacher?” when the teacher looked for the one asking the question, he found that he is the one who asked him to take a rest today.

           Teacher:  “Didn’t you tell me I should not teach today minutes ago?”

              Student:  “Yes, I did but we are all sitting and staring at one another”

              T:  “If that is the case, why don’t you repeat yesterday’s class today?”

              S: “Me?!”

              T: “Yes, didn’t you tell me that you wanted to be a teacher?”

              S: “yes”

              T: “Then give us yesterday’s lesson”

              S: “Is it possible for me to do that teacher?”

              T: “If you don’t try, you do not know. So why don’t you try today?”

On that day, the teacher was very happy with his students. He remembered when he was about his student’s age, one exceptional teacher has made a huge impact on his education. He shared his story with fondness to his student’s.

            One morning, even though it is late and way past the class attendance time, I was outside playing cards and all of a sudden the teacher I like the most sat next to me and started reshuffling the cards.

            S. “What are you doing teacher?”

            T. “What you are doing.”

            S. “This is not happening, it is not possible.”

            T. “Why? Are you afraid I will win? If you do it, what is to stop me from playing?”

            S. “Me,  I thought this is a class time.”

            T. “It is. And I am waiting for all my students to attend, till then I am playing”

            S. “Teacher, all the students are available. I can see them from here. They are waiting for you.”

            Silence.

            S. “Teacher?”

            T. “yes”

            S. “Time is passing”

            T. “So? What is the problem? Don’t you think my students will wait for me?”

            S. “Of course they will. You are a great teacher but you shouldn’t be late because of me.”

            Again more silence.

            T. “You know I am not seeing the highly professional card player that I have been hearing a lot about.”

            S. “I am not playing with you. Rather you should go to the class and apologize for your lateness.”

            T. “Me! Why on earth would I do that?”

            S. “Because you are doing something which you have never done before. You are missing a class.”

            T. “Oh! While concentrating on the game I forget the time, let me go and apologize to my students.”

            A Little pause.

            S. “Instead of you, I will apologize”

            T. “You! Why?”

            S. “It is because of me that you’ve missed a class.”

            T. “I told you my reason, I am still waiting for all my students to attend.”

            S. “But teacher, all are in our classroom and waiting for you.”

            T. “No, not all of them. I am still waiting for one student.” While he is saying this he is staring at me.

                                    “Be mindful of intention. Intention is the seed that creates our future.” Buddha