Teach — Love — Inspire

Last weekend, my boyfriend and I + my sister and her hubby went for a walk in Pointe-Claire. I love that place for its very European realia, such as a breathtaking Neo-Gothic church, locally owned stores, and cobble-stoned streets. While window-shopping, my sis and I walked into the store that allured us with its cute tailor-made designs on shirts and other merchandise. Poli made me a gift — a plain green T-shirt saying Teach, Love, Inspire. 

Since we are having classes on Zoom, at least the upper part of my clothing is seen, and hence I want this upper part to look professional and cute. In good old days, when I used to work for ILAC in Vancouver, I used to pick my clothing the night before, decide on my jewellery to wear the next day as well as the hairstyle I wanted to have that same day. I’m not going to lie — I like being admired. My point is that I like to dress up. When Covid first started, for instance, I got fascinated with Levi’s T-shirts that appeared shiny white on screen. 

I recognize it is quite superficial to talk about clothing, and that it is ‘just-clothes-who-cares’; however, I do feel better (even on Zoom) when I see my neat nails that I just got done, a cute dress, or a fresh T-shirt. I don’t know if other teachers resonate with what I am feeling and saying, but dressing up makes me feel more uplifted on Zoom (considering I teach at least 5 hours every weekday). 

I have always regarded teaching not only as a vibrant exchange of knowledge with students, but (to a certain extent) as a form of entertainment (at least that is how I perceive it), where I am an actress, a stunt performer. William Shakespeare said “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. They have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts.”