My Teacher, My Contributor: Abigail Rose Zaide Juano

"My first job was neither in the field of Medicine nor Education. I worked in a Japanese-owned company in Carmelray II, Calamba City as a Human Resources Staff. But at that time, my mind says that I wanted to become a doctor, and my heart had a hidden desire - to teach."

Teacher Abbie.

With her students at St Peter's Jakarta, Indonesia

She vividly remembers her kindergarten graduation day. In front of many people, she made it known that she wanted to be a doctor. She was a quiet and obedient student, and was not a topnotch nor a teacher's pet. During elementary, she was the "Most Behaved" pupil for for four straight years. I really can imagine how meek and quiet Abbie was as a student.

College served as an opportunity for Abbie to excel and discover her abilities. She took up Psychology as a prerequisite to her long-time dream of being a doctor, and tried things that she believes will enhance her talents and abilities. Self-motivation was her key to achieving things. She studied and joined extra-curricular activities and became vice-president of the Psychological Function Society of Letran College in Calamba, Laguna. The leadership of her group earned them the Gawad Arriba Award as the best organization in 2003.

All these got Abbie prepared for what life is all about after college. Her first job isn't about teaching nor anything related to the medical field. But this didn't stop Abbie from going on. She took each experience as a stepping stone towards the quest for her passion. Once she discovered that teaching is what lies in her heart, she went ahead and followed its desire.

She, then, took a teaching post when she was only 21. She face college students that were either as old as she or older. At first, it was hard to see where she had to stand. But her training and experience made her adapt and later on, with the help of her colleagues and approachable superiors, Abbie realized that teaching is indeed her passion.

"Aside from sharing the knowledge that I have, inspiring students is my other goal. Teaching, to me, is like stepping on a stage play and showing that you are a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed person while backstage, it's staying awake late at night checking test papers and recording the scores."

In between the pressures of teaching, she still finds time to play the piano or the guitar. Unknown to many, she comes from a family of artists. Her Lolo, David Zaide, Sr., was a piano teacher and her her Lolo's sister, Editha Zaide, was a stage play singer and coloratura soprano.

Taken at the LSEF Sta Cruz Chinese School

If she's not playing these instruments, she likes sketching and painting, aside from scrapbooking and collecting photos. And, of course, being in touch with her friends and students thru Facebook and other social networking sites is a thing that she also tries to squeeze in between.

Abbie has been to Indonesia to teach for quite some time and traveled some places. But being born in Pagsanjan, and raised in Magdalena, her heart always comes back to Laguna, a place she says she loves and believes to be more beautiful than those places she has been.

Currently, she is studying (while teaching at the St. Joseph Oasis Center for Spirituality in Pagsanjan, Laguna) at the University of the Philippines - Open University to earn a Diploma in Language and Literacy Education. When she finishes this year, this will give her the opportunity to gear up to a master's degree.

Young as she is, her desire to be an inspiration to her students is worth more than anything. She feels fulfilled whenever she sees her students smile. A hard day's work means nothing to her when she sees her pupils study hard and work hard and appreciate their lessons.

"Yes, I live and breathe teaching. Maybe I didn't become a doctor, but the teaching profession is also like healing someone in an extraordinary way like leaving a mark in somebody's heart."

Teacher Abbie. My Teacher, My Hero this Tuesday.

Note:
Abbie is a writer even when she was young. She was a part of the elementary paper of their school, "L' Immaculata," and "The Bosconian" when she was in high school. Later on, we will see her works published here because I believe this lady can write.

** Images used with permission.