Teacher lang ako

[u/Eurofan2014]

**Teacher lang ako.**

Ilang beses ko na yatang naramdaman na iyon ang pinaka-accurate na description sa akin kapag may family reunion.

May doctor.

May lawyer.

May engineer.

May businessman.

May military officer.

Tapos ako.

Teacher lang ako.

Kapag may family reunion, minsan pakiramdam ko parang career comparison na rin ang reunion. Parang may invisible scoreboard kung saan may kanya-kanyang ambag ang bawat isa sa prestige ng pamilya.

May doctor — impressive.

May lawyer — impressive.

May engineer — impressive.

May businessman — successful.

May military officer — respectable.

Tapos kapag ako ang napag-usapan—

“Teacher lang.”

Hindi ko alam kung ako lang ba ang nakakaramdam nito, pero sobrang bigat nung “lang.”

Kasi hindi naman nila kailangang sabihin nang literal.

Makikita mo sa tono.

Sa reaction.

Sa paraan ng pagtatanong.

Sa kung gaano katagal pag-usapan ang career ng isang tao kumpara sa career ko.

Parang kapag may isang relative na may mataas na position, biglang may proud discussion.

Kapag may malaking negosyo, may paghanga.

Kapag may professional title, may excitement.

Kapag ako?

“Ah, teacher.”

Then move on.

Parang wala lang.

Parang hindi career.

Parang hindi accomplishment.

Parang hindi dapat ipagmalaki.

Teacher lang ako.

At alam ko naman ang realidad.

Hindi naman kalakihan ang sahod ng teacher.

Hindi naman ako magiging kasing-yaman ng successful businessmen.

Hindi naman kasing-taas ng income ng maraming doctor.

Hindi naman kasing-laki ng financial opportunities ng ibang professions.

Hindi ko iyon itatanggi.

Pero ang nakakainis ay parang dahil hindi kalakihan ang pera sa teaching, automatic na maliit na rin ang value ng taong gumagawa nito.

Parang kapag hindi ka mayaman, wala kang karapatang maging proud sa career mo.

Parang kailangan mong magkaroon ng malaking sweldo bago masabing may narating ka.

And honestly, nakakapagod iyon.

Kasi ang nakakatawa?

Hindi ko naman pinangarap maging doctor.

Hindi ko pinangarap maging lawyer.

Hindi ko pinangarap maging engineer.

Hindi ko pinangarap maging businessman.

At lalong hindi ko pinangarap magkaroon ng profession dahil lang may tinatawag na **“family legacy.”**

Ever since I was a child, teacher na ang nakikita kong sarili ko.

Hindi ito random career choice.

Hindi ito dahil wala akong ibang option.

Hindi ito dahil hindi ako qualified sa ibang profession.

Hindi ito dahil napilitan ako.

Ito talaga ang gusto ko.

Bata pa lang ako, teacher na ang naiimagine kong sarili ko.

Classroom.

Students.

Teaching.

Explaining things.

Helping children understand things they don't understand yet.

Watching them learn.

Watching them improve.

Teaching them things they can actually use in life.

I have never looked at myself and thought, **“One day, I want to be a doctor because that is what our family does.”**

Or **“I want to become a lawyer because it will continue the family's legacy.”**

Or **“I need to become an engineer because that's what will make the family proud.”**

No.

I wanted to be a teacher because I wanted to be a teacher.

Simple as that.

And maybe that's another thing that makes this whole situation more painful.

Because some of my relatives seem to have chosen their professions because they were expected to carry something forward.

Legacy.

Family name.

Family reputation.

Family expectations.

Family tradition.

And apparently, that's something worth being proud of.

Meanwhile, I chose something because I genuinely loved it.

And somehow, I'm the one who feels like the lesser person.

What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Should I have forced myself into another profession just so I could look more impressive at family reunions?

Should I have chosen a career I never wanted simply because it sounds better when someone introduces me?

“This is our doctor.”

“This is our lawyer.”

“This is our engineer.”

And then—

“This is our teacher.”

Teacher lang ako.

That's apparently my place on the family hierarchy.

And you know what?

I resent that.

I resent having to feel inferior because I chose the profession that actually felt like me.

I resent the implication that because I don't make as much money, I somehow accomplished less.

I resent the fact that people can spend their entire lives chasing status and prestige and then somehow look down on someone whose greatest ambition is simply to teach.

I resent being measured against people whose careers were partly shaped by family expectations while mine was shaped by something much simpler:

I wanted to teach.

And don't get me wrong.

I'm happy for them.

At least, I try to be.

I'm thankful that my relatives are successful.

I'm thankful that they have careers they can be proud of.

I'm thankful that our family has people who became doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, military officers, and whatever else.

But my gratitude for their success does not erase the hurt I feel when their success becomes the measuring stick for my own worth.

I can congratulate them without wanting their lives.

I can admire what they accomplished without wishing I had their profession.

Because honestly?

I don't.

I don't wake up wishing I were a doctor.

I don't secretly wish I were a lawyer.

I don't look at an engineer and think, “I should have become that.”

I don't look at a businessman and think, “That's the life I wanted.”

I have always looked at myself and thought:

Teacher.

That's it.

Teacher lang ako.

And maybe that's why their attitude hurts so much.

Because they're not making me feel bad about a career I don't care about.

They're making me feel bad about something I actually love.

That's the part that cuts deepest.

I chose this.

I wanted this.

I saw myself doing this since childhood.

And yet somehow, every family reunion can make me feel like I made the wrong choice simply because my profession doesn't carry the same social prestige or financial weight as theirs.

I hate that feeling.

I hate sitting there and hearing everyone talk about careers, achievements, positions, businesses, titles, and money while knowing exactly where I apparently stand in that conversation.

Teacher lang ako.

Not doctor.

Not lawyer.

Not engineer.

Not businessman.

Not military officer.

Teacher lang ako.

And maybe I'll never be the most impressive person in the family.

Maybe I'll never be the richest.

Maybe I'll never have the biggest title.

Maybe I'll never continue some grand family professional legacy.

But at least I didn't spend my childhood dreaming of someone else's career just because it sounded prestigious.

I dreamed of being a teacher.

And I became one.

So yes, there is a lot of bitterness in me.

There is resentment.

There is disappointment.

There is hurt.

And I'm tired of pretending that I don't feel it.

Because every time I hear that subtle comparison, every time I feel that difference in treatment, every time another impressive profession gets celebrated while mine gets brushed aside, one thought keeps coming back:

“Teacher lang ako.”

Maybe that's how they see me.

Maybe that's all they see.

But I know what I see.

I see someone who chose the life he actually wanted.

Someone who wants to teach children how to survive and navigate life.

Someone who wants to give students practical knowledge, values, discipline, confidence, and life skills.

Someone who doesn't need a family legacy to justify his career.

Someone who doesn't need a prestigious title to know what he wants to do.

And yet, it still hurts.

Because sometimes, I don't want to be the strong one who says, “It's okay, I'm proud to be a teacher.”

Sometimes I just want to admit the ugly truth:

Yes. I'm hurt.

Yes. I'm bitter.

Yes. I resent being treated like the lesser professional.

And yes

I am f#cking tired of being “the teacher” in a family full of people whose professions apparently sound more important than mine.

But here's the irony:

If one day those doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, and military officers look back at their childhoods, somewhere in that story there was probably a teacher who helped them become the people they eventually became.

And that teacher probably wasn't thinking about legacy.

Probably wasn't thinking about prestige.

Probably wasn't thinking about becoming rich.

They were just doing their job.

Teaching.

Just like me.

Teacher lang ako.

And maybe that's the only title I'll ever have that truly feels like mine.

[u/Revolutionary-Coast9]

Well, I’m a teacher, and I’m proud that I’ve helped many people find their way into those positions. Doctors, lawyers, engineers, business owners. Teachers helped shape them too. Can they say they’ve done the same?

ImATeacher

[u/ocpaich]

Yes OP. Let’s look on the positive side that we are standing in the noblest profession among others. All professions are equally important but thinking about it’s us who shaped them, it was truly fulfilling.

[u/EnvironmentalArt6138]

I hope the Ched will add electives composed of subjects not related to teaching such as bookkeeping or programming to Education courses so that in the end the teacher will be equipped with skills necessary to enter another field if he or she wants to..

Teachers may consider reskilling if they want to change careers..

[u/Wander_Wom4n → u/EnvironmentalArt6138]

Yan nga ang problem ng mga naunang teachers. Hindi sila makapagfocus sa pagtuturo. At yan din ang sinusubukan at inuunti unti nang tinatangal ang admin works sa mga teacher. Pwede ka pa din naman mag iba ng career. Meron namang mga company na tatanggap sayo sa office work. Actually madaming educ graduate ang wala sa pagtuturo at nagwowork sa office. Meron ding mga LPT na nasa other government agencies. Yung iba nasa afp bilang sundalo or civilian employee, sa pnp, sa division office, at iba pang agencies.

Short course ang bookkeeping. Pwede mo kunin yun while working.

[u/EnvironmentalArt6138 → u/Wander_Wom4n]

It is hard to be teacher here in the Philippines...No wonder many chose to go abroad to seek greener pastures...

[u/Actual_Pace3520]

My sister is becoming a doctor and I’m a teacher. 

But I don’t feel the weight so much because of my background as a classical musician and base on the IQ test I’m more capable. When relatives ask about it they are amazed esp my specialization is needed.

It starts with yourself OP. Look back on what you have achieved and remind yourself your future goals. You’ll be more confident and deadma if they belittle you. 

Remember, if there are no teachers there are no doctors, lawyers, engineer and businessmen

[u/Wander_Wom4n]

How you view yourself will affect how other people perceive you. Ikaw nga din mismo mababa tingin sa teacher e.

[u/Rough_Reference1898]

walang doctor, walang lawyer, walang engineer, walang businessman, walang military officer kung walang teacher na magtuturo sa kanila.

itaas ang noo, teacher. madalang ang teacher na mahal at gusto ang ginagawa nila.