25/08/2026
They informed me that teaching was a noble profession,
so I took up the challenge and entered the classroom with aspirations in my heart and optimism in my soul.
They advised, "Educate the youth, shape the nation, and sow the seeds of tomorrow."
Thus, I embarked on this endeavor.
I cultivated doctors,
engineers,
lawyers,
professors,
politicians,
businessmen, and leaders.
Nevertheless, the educator who nurtured these minds struggles to sustain himself.
The chalk became my burden.
Every morning, I enter the classroom with a smile, while my heart grapples with unpaid bills.
I teach mathematics while calculating my own survival.
I teach economics while my finances are in turmoil.
I teach social studies while society disregards my profession.
I inspire children to dream, while my own aspirations slowly dissipate.
They reassure me, "Teacher, do not worry, your reward is in heaven." Heaven?
What if I do not ascend to heaven?
Must I perish in poverty before my work is valued?
Must my children inherit my empty pockets and unpaid sacrifices?
Must I endure hardship today because someone promises me a reward tomorrow?
No, I refuse to accept this fate.
I desire to live a fulfilling life. I aspire to savor good food without counting every penny.
I yearn to wear decent attire without borrowing.
I aim to construct a house while I still possess the strength to sit in its doorway.
I desire to travel, laugh, and relish life.
I expect my labor to yield tangible rewards before my demise.
Because I am an educator, not a martyr.
Do not romanticize my poverty and label it dedication.
Do not glorify my suffering and call it sacrifice.
Do not utilize the term vocation to conceal exploitation.
The world has evolved. Teaching is no longer an attractive profession for many brilliant minds.
The classroom is losing its educators.
One by one, they are departing. Some have become entrepreneurs, while others have migrated or joined alternative professions. Some are simply awaiting the right opportunities
To be continued...
