The silent ferryman

(DN) - There are sayings that the older we get, the more we understand, like the poem: "Father's rice, mother's clothes, teacher's words - Think about it to make up for the days of longing". Then, after many years, I understand that in each person's life, the three most important things that we must be grateful for are our father's work, mother's kindness and teacher's grace. Parents give us our bodies, teach us our first words, and teachers give us the key to open the door of knowledge, so that we can confidently and strongly step out into the big world out there.

When talking about teachers, I always feel a warm, anxious feeling in my heart. The two words “teachers” seem simple but are extremely sacred. They are not blood relatives, but they love and care for us like a second parent. They also stay up late and wake up early, also busy with many worries, also looking forward to each step of their students’ maturity. When we are young, we rarely realize that silence, but when we grow up, we understand: there are people who have spent their youth standing beside the youth of others.

I still remember clearly the image of my first grade teacher. Her hands were thin but always warm. She patiently held my hand, carefully wrote each stroke, smiling and saying: "Slow but steady, my child." She graded each of our papers with incredible meticulousness. Whenever a student made a mistake, she never said anything harsh, just gently sat down next to me, pointed out each small mistake, and gave each little instruction. Even now, every time I pick up a pen to write, I remember her bent over under the yellow light, patiently correcting each of the class's exercises.

Then in secondary school, I met a teacher - someone who was incredibly patient. He not only taught lessons, but also instilled in us a passion and curiosity for knowledge. There were lessons where the whole class was silent because they did not understand, but the teacher slowly explained each idea, giving each example. After finishing the lesson, he walked down and asked each student: "Do you understand?". At that time, sometimes we could only nod, but later we realized that those were lessons taught with all our heart.

During stressful exam seasons, teachers were our invisible support. When the whole class was tired and stressed to the point of not having the energy to study, the teacher would put down the chalk, smile and encourage: "Please rest a bit, breathe comfortably and then continue." She patiently went from table to table, asking, encouraging and reminding each student. Those simple gestures, at the time seemed small, but now looking back, we see that they were the silent love that teachers had for each step of our growth.

Teachers are also the first to teach us things that are not in books: how to live a kind life, how to apologize, how to be grateful, how to stand up after mistakes. I remember when I was in high school, I once made a mistake that caused the whole class to be criticized. Instead of scolding me, she just called me back at the end of class, looked at me for a long time and said softly: "Next time, remember to learn from your mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes, but the important thing is what you learn from them." It is that tolerance that has made me more mature and more considerate of others.

Now that I have left school, every time I accidentally pass by the old school gates, hear the sound of the drum, or see a white ao dai in the yard, my heart sinks. Time passes so quickly that we don’t even notice it. The teachers of the past may have gray hair, but the love they have for generations of students has never diminished. And no matter where they go, what they do, whether they succeed or fail, I always believe that: in everyone’s luggage, there is the shadow of a teacher.

Another Charter season has come. Amidst the hustle and bustle of life, I just want to send my sincere wishes to teachers. Thank you teachers - the quiet "ferrymen" who row day by day through many sunny and windy seasons, so that one generation of students after another can safely reach the shore. I hope you are always healthy, safe, and keep the passion of your profession in your hearts. We can go far away, we can be busy with our own choices, but the baggage that teachers have given us - from simple lessons to silent love - will always follow us throughout our lives.

Ha Linh

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/van-hoa/202511/nguoi-dua-do-tham-lang-7b31ab5/