To speak of teaching is to talk of the very foundation of society. Most of our lives are spent alongside teachers, those special beings who accompany us from early childhood. They, with patience and an unwavering dedication, guide each student from childhood in the discovery of the world.
Teaching is not only about educating and transmitting knowledge; it is about sowing hope. With the teacher's guidance, we learn our first letters and, at the same time, how to interpret life. They teach mathematics, but also how to solve problems; they teach history, and also how to understand that each person is part of a larger story. The greatest happiness a Cuban child can feel is when receiving their I Can Read Certificate from their teacher.
In an educator's words, there is discipline and tenderness; in their gestures, there is both rigor and understanding. This unique blend transforms education into a profoundly human act, capable of transcending the school walls and reaching the heart of every student.
Behind every professional is a teacher who believed in them before anyone else. Each child's impact begins in the classroom, in those hours of dedicated effort nurtured by someone who devotes their energy to shaping individuals capable of thinking and feeling. Although they often face shortages, excessive workloads, and a lack of recognition, they persevere, inventing resources, adapting to new realities, and maintaining the hope that education can change everything.
The true reward for a teacher lies not in accolades, but in those unexpected encounters that arise over the years, when students recognize the white-haired mentor who taught them to think and can't help but exclaim, "Teacher, do you remember me? You taught me!" Then, as if time had stood still, she recalls that once-childlike faces and might even tell their names, to everyone's astonishment.
In every school, there's a space where different worlds intersect: the child who dreams of becoming a doctor, the teenager who doesn't yet know which path to take, the young woman who wants to write poems. The educator is the one who listens, guides, and, above all, reminds them that each person has unique value. This ability to see beyond grades and exams, to recognize hidden talents and instill confidence, is what makes them true architects of the future.
We cannot forget that teaching involves considerable sacrifices. Often, they take work home, grade exams in the early hours of the morning, prepare lessons with limited resources, or seek strategies to motivate students who have lost self-confidence. Even so, every morning they return to the classroom with the same conviction that teaching is an act of love and worthwhile.
Educators are not distant figures who only appear in childhood memories; they are protagonists of our present and future. Congratulating them is not a mere courtesy; it is a debt we owe. Without them, there are no trained professionals, no culture, no progress. In one way or another, we all had a teacher we remember with immense affection, among other reasons, for their dedication and love, their patience in explaining a subject until we understand it.
Teachers are the ones who whisper in your ear, saying, "You can do it; yes, you can." They are the ones who silently nurture the seed that, over time, becomes a tree. They are the true everyday heroes who don't need capes or applause to transform the world. Perhaps the best tribute we can pay them is to acknowledge that, thanks to them, we all have the opportunity to be better.
