Thomas F. O'Neill: Teaching is a life calling ....... 🦅

Many students in China understand the value of American education, and thousands of Chinese students apply every year to the top American schools. The majority of students in China also have great respect for their teachers, and it’s because of that, I enjoy being in their company.

If we are honest with ourselves, we all want and need to feel valued for who we are and recognized for our contributions and accomplishments, which is especially true for teachers. It’s important for us to know that we have made a difference in someone’s life. If a person takes the time to express their heartfelt appreciation for something we have done, it boosts our spirit, passion, and purpose. It builds our self-confidence, self-esteem, and our entire self-image. It gives us energy and motivation to work harder and do more. When you give people a sincere compliment, words of encouragement, or just a warm smile, you are making their world a better place. You are making them feel appreciated and valuable. For most teachers in China, recognition and a feeling of accomplishment are more significant than monetary rewards.

I have found that when teachers express their approval or gratitude for something students have done, they not only enhance their students’ lives but also enrich their own lives. Teachers feel more fulfilled when they have done something to make someone else’s life better.

One of the laws of the universe states that what you give, you get in return. It costs little or nothing, and it almost always follows suit that most people will demonstrate their gratitude for what you do.

My students all dream of making significant monetary gains in life, but I like to remind them that the most precious things cannot be built by hand, bought, or sold by man. They can only be experienced through a wondrous soul and shared from one heart to the other.

When you show interest in others by noticing the good things they’ve done, they will be drawn to you like a magnet. It will accelerate the relationship-building process and enhance their overall impression of you and when a teacher accentuates all that is positive within their student. They, in turn, accentuate all that is positive within themselves.

In China, it’s a free form of currency; teachers will do more for recognition than they will for money. If you are in a teaching position, remember that students will work harder and do more if they know they will be recognized for their accomplishments. Show them you care, and they will be loyal to you, and you will see a considerable improvement in their academic performance.

It has also been proven that if parents show an interest in their child’s education, their child will also take a greater interest in their schoolwork. If parents lack interest in how their children perform in school, they will not recognize the value of getting a decent education.

I once told my students, long after, your old lesson plans are forgotten. It will be the simple, kind acts of your teachers that you will remember well into your old age, and that is perhaps your teacher’s greatest legacy.