I really had the best teachers ever.

When I think of my time at Protea Glen’s Itemogele Primary School, I cannot help but simply smile and reflect on the good old times. Listen to me, speaking as if I am an old man…

I thank God for having teachers who gave their all. Teachers who treated every lesson that they had to deliver to me as if it was their last and ensuring that those lessons were fueled with nothing short of their best. Teachers who are mothers to me and continue to play that nurturing role. Teachers who I always thank God for. One taught me how to read and write at an early, the other perfected my reading and writing skills at my later stages of education. Talk about a master combination.

I will always treasure the roles that these two women played in my schooling career and with that, I challenge you as well to do the same to those teachers that made a difference in your life.

Mrs Gasa and Mrs Mkhabela will always occupy a reserved seat in my heart for building character in me and for contributing to the person I am today. I write and speak with ease, and I continue enjoying to, because of these two women who felt it their duty to help with honing the basics from an early age. And I have not looked back ever since.

Day 24 of my Women’s Month Appreciation series and today goes out to my beautiful teachers. In as much as I do credit and acknowledge the many who have equally contributed towards my education, I feel these two women simply occupy a dear spot in my heart.

There really is something special about a female teacher.

Teaching is a calling. A job that one really has to do passionately, at all costs, to represent its significance and desired impact to those who are recipients of the service. These two women have shaped my life in more ways than one and I will never cease to stop echoing my gratitude and appreciation to them.

My grade one teacher, Mrs Gasa, is one phenomenal woman. I thank you for introducing me to Christ and the love gospel music at an early age, while in class. Those moments were my favourite back at Itemogele Primary School in 1997. I did not have the privilege of attending crèche as a child and as a result, a part of me was scared when I had to do my grade one because of the fear of being left behind. You did all the work for me and assisted me big time to catch up, the basics – numeracy, literacy, alphabets and writing.

I pay special credit to her in particular for my handwriting, always telling me to take pride in my work, to make my work as neat and presentable as I presented myself. For never accepting anything less. I recall how she would always turn us back and even ensured that we knocked off late at school, mind you this is grade one I am talking about, when she felt our work wasn’t neat enough to meet her standards.

Even to this date, her words and influence still echo everytime I have to put my handwriting onto any piece of paper.

Then still at the same primary school, I met my cherished english teacher who I love so dearly, Mrs Mkhabela. I cannot even begin describing how beautiful and fun her English class lessons were. I have to give her credit for setting up a very solid foundation of the language and its many writing and speaking rules, tricks, tips and skills that earlier on in my schooling career. When she would be absent at school, those were my worst days at school. Her english lessons were that daily dose of happiness I needed to get by.

Always went over and beyond what was expected of her and instilled the principle of reading in me, which to date, I always carry around boldly. I got an acknowledgement award for my matric english marks and she was moved (well I was also touched actually) when I handed that award to her as I felt, it rightfully belonged to her.

In as much as Maths and Science were my other strong subjects, English still remains my most favourite subject throughout my schooling career as a result of her teaching.I think the quote I chose to sum up the influence that these women have had in my life is beffiting,

‘They shared themselves with me, cared, listened and challenged my mind’ 

To all of my teachers, both male and female, I thank you and take this moment to honour each and everyone of you for the brilliant work you did. For now, I must just find some time off to spoil these beautiful and phenomenal women while I still can.

A very happy women’s month to you two!

#MrsGasa

#MrsMkhabela

#ImTheProductOfTheirWork

#EternallyGrateful

#MyTeachers