Now that a new school year has started, it has dawned on me that even though I am at peace with my decision to “grow up” and move to another level in my career, I do miss being “Teacher Ria.” For seven years, I had sung silly songs and choreographed and danced with the kids (even if I cannot carry a tune and I have two left feet!). I think I’ve seen all possible shapes and sizes of cookies, biscuits and cupcakes, and punched hole after hole in all kinds of tetra-pack juices. I’ve been mother, nanny, friend, nurse, and everything in between to my kids!

People used to ask why I chose to be a preschool teacher, when it was a thankless job, one that was little more than “just playing” and definitely not very financially rewarding. At every high school reunion or get-together, I would become painfully aware of how my friends had become “successful” and conscious that I still had glue on my pants and stains on my shirt from my kids’ spilled snacks. But every time a mother called to say that her son got a Gold Eagle or her daughter earned first honors again, I felt like I had made the right choice.

Reflecting upon my experience, I realize that I didn’t just teach children, I learned a lot from them, too. When I taught them the ABC, I learned the ABC, too. And it wasn’t just the alphabet: I saw how everything in life can be put together with the alphabet, just like the words the children learned to read. The ABC I learned in preschool made me see what is truly important in life:

I learned the Art of Appreciation and the Beauty of Balance. I saw how important it is to be with the right Company and how Determination can make a Difference. I learned to Enjoy the moment despite change, challenge and frustration.

From the people I worked with, I learned the true value of Friendship and how far it can really go. From the parents who entrusted their children to me, I learned Grace under pressure, especially when their children got hurt or got into a fight, or when they didn’t like what I said or did.

I could also say I learned and felt the different meanings of Hugs — those that meant “Thank you,” “I’m sorry,” “Help,” “I’m scared,” “I love you,” etc.

In the playground, I understood what Integrity and Justice meant. They were not vague grown-up concepts: your word really counted so it’s only fair that you kept it.

I now agree that deep down inside, people are really Kind. But because we get caught up in getting more and being more, we forget what random acts of kindness can do.

During snack time, I saw what Labor of Love could produce. It was demonstrated not by the amount or the kind of “baon” [provisions] the children brought to school, but by how the parents had painstakingly peeled grapes, cut out teeny-weeny peanut butter squares or repacked chips just the way their kids liked them.

I also began to appreciate what being a “Mom” was. But much as I wished that I had kids of my own, I was glad I wasn’t one yet because I couldn’t afford it.

Something I had a hard time learning was how to say No. But because I was a preschool teacher, I learned to say no and mean it, without being mean going about it.

Some of the most valuable lessons I learned were Patience, patience, patience, and that meant taking a step back when I was mad and spending some Quiet Time or taking Time Out.

In the eyes of my children, I saw what Respect, Sincerity and Unconditional Love really were.

While teaching, I also learned that Violence really doesn’t solve anything; that Waiting for your turn is essential; and that we go through life making mistakes that must be marked with an X but should not be regarded as if they were the end of the world. I also realized that Yesterday truly is a thing of the past, and that being the best is not as important as having the Zeal to commit oneself to the task on hand and the determination to be the best that you can be.

But more than anything, it was in the preschool that I came to understand what it means to be a member of the human race. As Robert Fulghum put it, all I really needed to know I learned in kindergarten.

Ria Tirazona, 27, gave up her preschool teaching career to pursue clinical work as a psychologist. She continues teaching part-time as a lecturer with the psychology department of De La Salle University.

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