The Lesson I’ll Never Stop Teaching

I remember my days as a student
Once, I was caned for asking a doubt.
Since that day on, I dared not question again,
Afraid to speak, afraid to be wrong.

A strange force within compelled me
To nod in agreement to things I never knew,
To pretend I understood when I was lost.
That was long, long ago.

Later, I moved to the city for higher studies,
But the same cold silence filled my classrooms
Not just from teachers, but even from classmates.

Years passed, and one day I opened my eyes
To find myself holding chalk and duster in hand.
Before me stood children
Bright and varied,
Like flowers of many colours, bold and alive.

I remembered my past and wished
I could have learned in this new era.
These kids are talented
Some, even multi-talented.

Then I looked within myself and wondered,
“What am I truly good at?”
Perhaps not as much as these children are.

Where do I stand? Where do they stand?
Where do we all stand?

And then I knew
Though our talents and interests may differ,
There’s one thing we all can nurture and grow:
Kindness.

So I choose to be kind
To my students, my teachers, my friends,
My colleagues, and even to strangers.
For kindness is the lesson I’ll never stop teaching.