Dear Students:

      I am honored and flattered to have been hired to teach at the prestigious Anqing Foreign Language School. I am thrilled to be a part of this institution where I can contribute to your thirst for learning.

      In the Philippines, I would always tell my students that what should make them and their parents proud the most is not the actual honor of achieving, but it is what they have to go through to fitfully acquire the nobility. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.” The recognition we have is just the icing on the cake, not something to anticipate but certainly to celebrate.

      As a foreign language teacher, I challenge my students to not rest on their laurels but instead, to continue to strive toward even loftier goals. One of the requirements in attaining these possibilities is to remain “active”. When a student actively participates in discussions and other activities in class, in addition to remaining mindful of other students’ contributions, he will certainly stand out in a group of learners. I urge you to utilize intelligence and diligence in your endeavor to achieve goals. To measure up to your aspirations to excel, you must have these essentials: alertness, intelligence, active participation, leadership, and good character. These are significant in fulfilling your plans to succeed. Remember that your choices represent your being.

      My dear students do not ever stop aiming for something beneficial for your future. Each time you decide what you WANT and NEED to learn, the experience will be rewarding. Learning becomes easier, and soon it becomes a habit. I am aware that not all subjects are easy, and to some, acquisition of knowledge may be difficult, but striving to grasp difficult subjects has a wonderful reward.

      Before resting your eyes at night, try to ponder on the things that you have accomplished--- your active engagement in class, outstanding behavior, and awareness of your surroundings. Congratulate yourselves for a job well done. It is important to inculcate in your young minds that the goal is not to get power, but to get your vision and purpose across.

      If there is one thing manifested by your daily choices, it is your character. What do you do when no one is around? When the teacher steps out of the room for a moment while you are studying, you understand that you need to focus on your work. The drive to learn must come from you first.

      On the final thought, each person's goals are different, and what comes easy to one may be difficult for another. Therefore, considerations must be practiced.

      Study now, play later.