Why I like Teaching

Apr 12

Teacher’s Diary - Ragab Kamal

Why do I like teaching? Why do I find it interesting through the difficulties? Here I share with you some thoughts about how I find teaching and education.
I always appreciate the time with my students/learners. The classes could be face-to-face or online classes. However of course both ways have got different advantages. But always find the face-to-face and the live sessions more interesting. It means a lot to me to spend some time with the person himself personally than just doing it online.

I always get overwhelmed with the idea that we - human beings - all will be gone someday, basically, we are born to die. There for that, I find it pitiful that I myself have got the opportunity to live in this wonderful world, and never managed to make a change or try to leave my memory or part of me in this world. The idea of being eternal is not new, and I’m not here today to discuss the history of it, but it is just to share my thoughts about why exactly I like teaching, especially meetings in person if possible. Since the dawn of time, people were keen to show the whole world their civilization.

Therefore I reach the point where I understand and realized that fact of; being great doesn’t indicate that you give or produce the best of everything, I believe it is good enough just to give, and show the best of you. I don’t have to build some other pyramids, or Burj Khalifa to be remembered. It is good enough to remember for a few decades in someone’s memory, it is good enough to help someone to get his life straight than it goes a stray, and it is good enough to educate today’s kid, to be tomorrow’s man who would build the future. It is scary that a small word coming out of someone's mouth could change someone else’s life for good or bad.

It is GOOD enough, not better than that, to be mentioned after 50 years when you are gone by one of your students and he/she mentions how grateful he is for the advice, support, and love you offered as an educator.

Today I had a class with my 7-year-old student, Isa is his name, who I really appreciate every minute I spent with. However sometimes he could get you crazy but he fast he could get distracted, or how moody he is. I always remember that it has been never the student’s fault, it is about how we guide them, they are just kids. They are just kids!! I don’t think I was right, he taught me a lesson about how they analyze and see life. We had a quick talk by the door when I was getting ready to leave after I finished my lesson with him.
Isa: Mr. Ragab, you know, I really would like to be like you when I’m old.

Me thinking: Yes, here comes one of my best moments ever when he says how much they love me - he often said that to me - and because of that he would love to be like me, feeling flattered, smiling to him and saying, why Isa?

Isa: I just want to be a free man like, I go where I like, whenever I like. I don’t have to accompany my kid with me everywhere, I don’t have to struggle with him every morning getting him up, feeding him, then going to school, etc.

Me: Smiling and appreciating his thoughts, oh dear boy, like is easier than what you think. We’re not created to be alone. We were born as a member of a family and to make families. Maybe now I’m single, but inshallah I will someday would get married and I will ask Allah to give me a smart boy like you Isa. You are an intelligent boy, I love you dear.

Isa: Smiling and flattered showing appreciation of the nice quick talk that we had. Then I left.