We give our hand to the Manila-born Charles Darwin Magdaluyo, named 2022 Vystar Teacher of the Year, besting 180 other nominees from the Duval county in Florida, who considers teaching as his calling in life.
A graduate of the Philippine Normal University, he went to the United States through an exchange teacher program and has been teaching human anatomy and physiology at the Jean Ribault High School in Jacksonville, Florida for over three years, reported ABS-CBN.
We appreciate the echoes of his declaration: “When we talk about establishing the trust and confidence of your students, it’s always going back to your purpose why you really want to become a teacher or why you want to do this…If you like what you are doing, you won’t feel like you are working in the classroom.”
There is a stone in Magdaluyo’s statement that teaching is not just about competence. He is correct in shouting out that teaching is “about commitment and character (and that) when you feel like you have to do something, you have to do it.”
We underline the substance and the essence of his statement, reflecting on his calling that his point as an educator that his purpose in his calling “is not just to produce students who are strong in mind but also in character.”
What displays his humanity as a son, more than a teacher, is his filial jargon that the award is not possible without the dedication and motivation of his parents.
He also said: “When we talk about establishing the trust and confidence of your students, it’s always going back to your purpose why you really want to become a teacher or why you want to do this. If you like what you are doing, you won’t feel like you are working in the classroom.”
On the mode of teaching, Magdaluyo said he still prefers face-to-face classes over doing virtual learning, which the school has temporarily applied during the pandemic.
“It makes it more challenging for me to do remediations, to help them out personally because I am very much particular, comfortable doing teaching when I am in front of my students so I can be a guide,” he said.
We look at his person as a teacher and find himself properly as an ultimate role model for his students.
For indeed great teachers always have compassion for their students, understanding of their students’ personal lives, and appreciation for their academic goals and achievements. Teachers, verily, are role models for children to be positive, always try harder, and reach for the stars.
Teacher Magdaluyo deserves our salute.
