The “If” of Teachings

I want to share my thoughts on full online teaching during the COVID-19 pandemic. What makes a teacher—a real “teacher”? I guess everybody has their own set of beliefs, perhaps dogma or credo. My guidelines as a facilitator of knowledge, a catalyst of wisdom, and as a person are enveloped in the poem written by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936) titled “If.” The didactic words in the poem may provide a blueprint for integrity, cutting-edge inspiration, deeply rooted motivation, rock-solid ethos, and a true maxim for life. Becoming a teacher is not a single event but rather a series of attributes developed over time. These attributes and virtues, which I apply to my profession and life, are contained in the poem. Let me share with you.

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,

Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,

And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:

I have to be true to myself. Being honest connotes integrity in what I am saying and doing. It’s a fact that other people, including students, think differently—they may even cast a shadow of misjudgment, uncertainty, and reservation—teaching and integrity work hand in hand. Identity and integrity are the hearts of teaching (Palmer, 1997). This notion is supported by Santoro (2013), stating that “when the role of teacher serves as a significant source of moral identity, protecting the integrity of teaching is deeply connected to protecting one’s integrity” (p. 563).

Nonetheless, I rise above the situation and do what I know is right and just. I experienced several times that students had provoked me. By valuing my self-worth and mustering my confidence without becoming too conceited and self-righteous, I can withstand annoyance and aggravation with dignity and lure.

If you can dream—and not make dreams your master,

If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim;

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build them up with worn-out tools:

Pursuing my dreams and thinking profusely should not prevent the same dreams and thoughts from controlling every moment of my life. Realization of my goals shall not turn me into a self-proclaimed bigot. Instead, I have to master modesty and humility. A disappointment with students’ performance will make me strive and persevere more with my teaching modalities. I treat every defeat as a life-learning lesson. The voyage of being a teacher is a dusty road. Along the way, I need to surrender everything I have to fate and infuse the power of creativity to start all over again.

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,

And lose, and start again at your beginnings.

And never breathe a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you,

Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”

To be successful in profession and life, risks must be taken accordingly. Hopelessness should not linger if things do not work out the desired way. Crying over spilled milk is useless. When I lose, I start from scratch with a shatterproof heart, armored nerve, and unbreakable sinew controlled by my determination. Never give up, even during the most trying times of life. I have risked my previous achievements career track while aiming toward the bigger goal of being a conduit of teaching and learning. I just hold on to my dreams, and now, I started bearing the fruits of my own initiative, labor, and prayer.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,

And—which is more—you’ll be a Man, my son!

In general, students and people should be treated equally regardless of sexual preference, political spectrum, religion, and creed. As such, I do not place myself above my students—practicing truly a learner-centered philosophy in learning and teaching. I believe then that I am just as good as my students. If we look hard enough, we can see things to be admired by everybody. As the Little Prince said, “What is essential is invisible to the naked eye.” Students learn from me, and I learn from them. The science of learning and teaching is two-way traffic. With everything that may come to an end, I should seize every moment, utilize every second, capture every minute, and enjoy teaching and life to the fullest. Wasting time is unforgivable. Make every minute of each day count!

True, there are soaring life standards. It is still a work in progress. “If” is, indeed, my road map to vocation and life. With or without the COVID-19 pandemic, I have my “ifs”; what are yours?

Supplemental Material

sj-docx-1-jht-10.1177_10963480211000819 – Supplemental material for The “If” of Teachings

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-jht-10.1177_10963480211000819 for The “If” of Teachings by Benigno Glenn Ricaforte in Journal of Hospitality & Tourism Research