A Teacher I Appreciate Most

  A Teacher I Appreciate Most – Mrs. Shanthi Peiris

More than a teacher , she was our strength and our second mother

                In every student’s life, there comes a teacher who becomes more than just an educator. Someone who becomes a guide, a friend, and even a second mother. For me, that teacher is Mrs. Shanthi Peiris, my beloved class teacher in Grade 13.

                Though she didn’t teach me a subject directly , she taught Sinhala to my classmates ,she taught me something far greater: life lessons . I first met her when I was in Grade 6. She was the teacher in charge of my sports house, Andrew house , and I still remember how tirelessly she worked for us. Sleepless nights, endless dedication for to win.She poured her heart into everything she did.

             By Grade 9, I had gotten much closer to her as an athlete of Andrew house. Whenever we feared a race or doubted ourselves, she was there — motivating us, cheering us on, standing beside us like a warrior leading us. And when I reached Grade 13 and she became my class teacher, I understood just how deep her love and care for us went.

              She never let us feel alone. If we were hungry, she’d give us money from her own pocket. If we stayed after school for decorations for school functions, she sent us food. She celebrated our efforts, our grades, and our smallest victories with a proud smile. Even when we made mistakes, she pretended to be angry , but we knew her heart was soft and full of love.

                 There’s one memory I will never forget. One day, she was upset with the class, and while coming down the stairs, she suddenly saw me and my friend. She slipped slightly and nearly rolled down the stairs trying to pretend she was still angry. We all laughed and worried at the same time. It was a sweet, real moment that showed how much she truly cared.

                 During our final school farewell, one of my friends shared how, on her first day in Grade 1, she cried loudly, clinging to her mother. Our teacher  was a trainee teacher of our college that time.So she comforted her and said, "Don’t cry, baby, I am also your mother now." From that moment, the little girl stopped crying. That’s who she was — a mother to all of us.

              She was our strength when we were weak, our voice when we couldn’t speak, and our smile when we wanted to cry. She was more than a teacher —she was a mother, a listener, a protector, a problem solver, and a friend.

           I will always be grateful for everything she gave us. Not just knowledge, but love, kindness, care, and guidance. Thank you, teacher for being the heart of our classroom and the soul of our school life. We love you forever.

“A thousand lessons, a million memories.All under her gentle guidance.”