Some experiences leave a special mark on us throughout our student life; people who come into our lives and help us see the world from a different perspective. Osnami Alcolea, a teacher at the Camilo Cienfuegos Military School in Las Tunas, is one of those who leaves an indelible mark on everyone who knows him: students, professors, officers...

He, a son of a marriage with nine children, saw in Chemistry a way to help his siblings overcome their difficulties with the subject. This motivated him to continue down that path. “My father always told me that greatness lies in doing what is difficult, so I decided to take on the challenge,” he says.

In Osmani, his students find more than just a teacher. For him, a teacher should not only teach classes but also be someone with the knowledge to prepare future generations as the times demand; an educator must also know the student in the social sphere. “In my classroom, there is no complacency, but rather order, commitment, and discipline,” he explains. Despite his high standards, he has won the hearts of his students, who see him as a father figure.

He is also the kind of person who, when he perceives a problem, points it out. “Commander-in-Chief Fidel Castro taught us that where there is a problem, there must be an explanation and a solution; I always advocate for that,” he asserts. Certainly, he does not hesitate to point out the difficulties; he knows that words cannot remain unspoken when the duty is to find solutions. “To remain idle is a crime,” he declares.

This teacher, his gaze shifting between books, expresses his gratitude for the efforts of his students, whom he encourages and motivates through his own example. “To the students who accompanied us during this difficult year, to their families, and to all those who contributed to the educational process, my eternal thanks,” he says.

Always concerned with preventing inappropriate behavior in the younger generations, he sees himself as part of an army of love vital to our society. He summarizes it thus: “More than the student, we must see the man and woman of the future; it is our role to prepare them for tomorrow. My wish is to be able to appreciate the work they have done; the future of our nation is in their hands.”