Erzsébet Supák

I AM TAUGHT -

THANKS TO YOU ALL

Why are you reading this story of mine? Was it recommended to you? Have you just bumped into it? Are you only bored so you just wanna pass your time with something no matter what? Have you thought ’bout those previous questions….as you are still reading this story? Or are you also simply just like that person – me – who wrote it all? (Remember, I did not write ’the same’!) Well, you seem to be persistent and interested as you are still reading it….so….

OK. I’ll stop questioning you, though I do not know if I am right to do it or not ‘cuz, believe it or not, those simple questions may say more to a person who is willing to think than simple declarative sentences do. Why (oh, a question again!)? Because I cannot think instead of you. And you cannot do so instead of me either. But I have realized how much we can learn by answering unexpected simple but basic (it depends) questions. Yet this is not the only way I have learnt much but it follows here…just keep on reading…you will not mind it later…hopefully.

One more question: Who and/or what do the following words (I do not say people or thoughts, etc. because these are only words, strings of letters written here and the interpretation depends on the present reader – you) CHILD, PUPIL, TEACHER, FRIENDS, ADVERTISEMENT and GOSSIPS, CLEANER, TIME remind you of? Think before continuing to read, please…………………………….Thanks!

I suppose you have had a chance to observe a CHILD’s behaviour: you smile at him/her and so s/he smiles at you. You spent some time around him/her and s/he will cling to you after a while as well as trust you. The reasons or causes why are not important at this point. What counts is what s/he usually does.

I have had chances to teach children so they can be called PUPILS as well. They asked me to teach them and yet I was taught by each one of them, too. The ’bad’ ones show me what not to do as a student, what can make a teacher feel confused and uncomfortable or even how to get people to dislike what they have been working for so hard for so long…and of course the ’good’ ones show me how to get a teacher to feel his/her work is not in vain so it is worth continuing with that. Each one of my pupils either ’bad’ or ’good’ teaches me how to treat my own present and future teachers or boss so that they will say one day – It is great to be a teacher/leader!

I am a student so I have TEACHERS as well. I have both ’bad’ and ’good’ ones. I know what it feels like to have a ’bad’ teacher…no matter what you do and how hard you study, you should do it in another way…and if you politely dare to tell him/her what you think…you just make things even worse….so they show me how not to treat my present and future pupils/people I will lead some day. But having ’good’ teachers I can learn how to make my pupils/workers feel worthy – in my opinion everyone is valuable. Teachers either ’good’ or ’bad’ teach me how to treat pupils/workers so that I am respected and not feared – you cannot expect people to respect you without showing them respect as well. Strength without humanity and sense is weakness.

<">I have met a lot of people so far. Some of them became my PALS but only few are called FRIENDS. My past pals whom I have left behind showed me how I should smoke (I have never actually done it) and other things like that…I would rather not even mention this because they are not worth it…that’s why I left them behind. And leaving them I have more time for my FRIENDS. They teach me if ’I wanna have a friend, first I must be one’ .

Many people like sitting and watching TV – even ADVERTISEMENTS . . . because though they will not buy that certain product and may have seen them a thousand times, yet the advertisement is soooooooo goood! (oh, my God.) or they like chatting – I mean GOSSIPING – well, these are two of those many activities I try my best to avoid and so I can spend that time alone just like right now. They get me to spend time alone and have a rest, to think, and those are the moments which seem to be wasted, yet without them I could not have ’extra’ time. Advertisements and gossiping are harmful but avoiding them is/can be constructive.

Oh, while writing this paragraph, looking out of my window I can see a lady coming home from work. She lives in the same street as I do, and she is a cleaner. I have observed people’s reaction to introductions and how much it matters to certain people what the other person whom they talk to does: If the person is a lawyer or doctor or teacher, etc. s/he is worthy of talking to, but I’ll have nothing to do with a cleaner, oh, no, nothing, really! But do I really have nothing to do with a cleaner? Is it true? Hey, wait and give it a thought at least now. Let’s imagine entering the classroom and after finding our places we would take a seat….if we could . . .because as the cleaner is ’only’ a cleaner and so not much of importance she did not do her job. Did anybody else do it for her? NO! We know it since we can see the litter and dust around. So is she as a cleaner still so little of importance? I do not think so. It teaches me everyone is needed no matter what their jobs are. It is the same with you and me and with everyone else as well.

Well, I could continue it . . .and surely I will. But now I’ll stop and give you time to think about these very simple thoughts. You see, observing simple common people has made me think what I have just written so far. I am sure they are not even aware of teaching me…but I am taught and I am thankful to those CHILDREN, PUPILS, TEACHERS, FRIENDS, CLEANER . . . and for the ’extra’ time I can spend without ADVERTISEMENTS and GOSSIPING. And in the first place am thankful to Him who brings these and other people as well into my life so that I can be taught. Thanks!

(2005)