Subscription 
My mentor - Treading my parents path- 3-Sep-2015
Little more than a few would have influenced everyone's life, but the greatest of all is to be influenced by the values of parents.
Today, order of the day for most teachers is to shun away questions from students for the reason that they do not want to spend time on enlightening students; whiling away precious time just by teaching for namesake and getting a handsome pay at the end of the month. But, only when our own children suffer under such teachers, we really understand the pain of students.
This is a lesson that my parents taught. Both, my dad and mom were teachers. In the beginning, I never liked teaching profession. Just for the sake of my father, I took this job as a teacher. But today, according to my conscience, I work sincerely.
Teachers hand needs to be clean, it should be clean, were the teaching of my parent to me who had already amassed great amount of respect in their lifetime as teachers. Every day, I strive towards the way they had garnered respect. Of course for which, my students have given me their rewards.
In a particular month of the Tamil calendar, few among my students go to temples, offer prayers for me, fulfill vows, show the amount of love that they have towards me. I consider this as a gift of God as well as Gods encouragement to me.
I hardly remember my parents take any leave during their service time. They used to care for all the students. Just like my parents I too show concern on all my students that the students are affectionate towards me. Every day, I renew myself to be worthy of receiving this respect.
My dad and mom are the only reason for my growth by being a parent, teacher and by being Godly figure to me in my life. Every appreciation that I get in this field of teaching, will remind me of them.
When I retire from this noble profession, I should move out with joy of the love earned during these years. Only that would be the heartfelt thank offering to my parents who had died, passing me a legacy of values towards this profession.
-------A.UmaDevi, Headmistress, Panchayat Union Elementary School, SriRaman Colony, Kattumannaar Koil.
