Wikipedia defines thus - ‘A teacher (also called a school teacher or, in some contexts, an educator) is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence or virtue.
Informally the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. when showing a colleague how to perform a specific task).’
Teachers support with what the books don’t teach. Teachers are role models to emulate.They help you to go beyond what you generally can by yourself. They help build big dreams and help you to achieve them.
Great teachers have compassion. They understand your background and have a lot of patience. They help you not only to do academically well, but also help you well beyond your school life into adulthood.
They do not accept failures, but push students to figure out the problem solving.
‘Teach a man to fish” rather than give him fish!
We have teachers in schools and colleges who push us into adulthood.
We enter the world as workers and professionals and carry on into 40s and 50 years of age. At that time there is lull. We have somehow become teacher by then. Our experiences are coloured by why what has happened to us over the past 20-30 years.
There have been good and there have been bad experiences.
So one becomes a pessimist or an optimist as a teacher or guide or coach. Some folks would contemplate retiring in a few years, whereas others would go on to achieve more.
At that stage, instead of continuing to lead life the way you have been doing, it is better to take on a teacher in whatever field you may want to excel in. By then one would have some financial independence also, to spend on a good teacher for advice. It could be any field such as computer, paining, potter, zumba, yoga, tai chi, personal physical training, music, cooking, etc.
Depending on your interest and the level of excellence you wish to achieve, you may need a teacher for a limited or long years.
As time goes on you realise that you may find a friend in your teacher .
As adults, we tend to read more, interact in the outside world more.
Books may teach in various fields, internet too. YouTube is full of information. International and national webminars especially during covid times, have become popular. But there is nothing compared to a teacher who has your goodness in his heart and advises you personally.
Teachers in adulthood help you look over your shoulder, examine your blindspots and point them out to you without hesitation. They help you to adjust to the new advances which have cropped up over the past 1-2 decades when you have been professionally active.
Choice of a teacher in the professional life or hobby depends on the person having a high level dedication, skill, patience, understanding, being a role model and willingness to help you. It also depends how far you want to do in life.
Finding such a person may be a tall order at adult life, but when you do, latch onto him/her and make there you have your teacher!
