Paglaki mo, Teacher ka: From A Father’s Words To God’s Calling
By: Janelle De Ocampo
The things we love most often find us before we’re ready to embrace them. At a certain point in our lives, something shows up in our path, unknown, unfamiliar, and uncharted. Whether it may be situations, opportunities, or dilemmas. But sometimes, it’s actually the calling that pulls us in even when we’re not sure it’s where we want to go. Some spend years searching, while others realize it unexpectedly.
Teacher Liza Reyes’ journey into teaching wasn’t by chance but by destiny. “It’s my calling—alam kong tinawag ako ni Lord doon, and I love children,” she shares, indicating that her heart and patience for kids ever since were meant for a purpose.
She recalls how, as a child, her father recognized her innate connection and heart to children. Initially, her interest was in math as she excelled at it and dreamed of becoming an accountant, it was her father’s words, “Paglaki mo, teacher ka” that encouraged and shaped who she is today; her father passed away during her high school years and that’s when she made a silent promise to herself: “Sige, i-ga-grant ko yung wish niya na mag-teacher ako kasi nakita ng papa ko sa akin.”
As of now, she has been a passionate educator with 24 years of service in JCSGO Christian Academy (JCA). As one of the longest-serving teachers, she is not only a mentor to her students but also a source of inspiration to her colleagues. Even though she has been teaching for over two decades, there is still so much about her left unexplored.
𝟮𝟰 𝗬𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗢𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵
According to her, every day is memorable as it’s filled with learning opportunities. However, she mentioned that the most memorable was her first years at JCA, particularly when her students from the Early Childhood Education (ECE) department won a competition against Grades 1-3. “Nakakabless na bagong teacher ka and may naprove kang something,” she says, reflecting on how that moment remains in her heart especially because her mother was there during the awarding.
Teacher Liza’s strict yet loving approach to teaching is her trademark. She shared that most people might not know that beneath her tough disciplinarian image is a very compassionate educator. She explained that she handles kids at a level where you still have to mold them, not only in their academic work but also in their responsibilities and attitudes, explaining why she is viewed as strict—”I’m strict, but I love them,” she says, describing herself as a disciplinarian who ultimately wants to shape her students to be better versions of themselves.
As the academic head of the ECE department, it is evident that her leadership style is marked by humility. “I always consider others better than myself,” she says, explaining how she encourages her fellow teachers to showcase their talents. She views leadership as empowering others rather than maintaining control. She continues, “Hindi forever ako, someday kayo rin,” urging the next generation of educators to step up and realize their potential as this was how her journey as a teacher in JCA started in the year 2000.
𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗺
In getting to know her, only a few people know about Teacher Liza’s many talents outside of teaching. Beyond the classroom, she is actively involved in her church’s praise and worship team, even leading the tambourine ministry. In addition to that, she plays the drums and enjoys sewing, a skill she learned from her mother, a dressmaker. A fun fact about her is she finds relaxation outside work by planning her weekly grocery shopping trips, finding joy in budgeting, and preparing meals for her family.
When asked if there was a personal motto she lived by in her teaching and daily life that she rarely shared with others, she replied that she almost shares everything with people around her when it comes to her philosophy. “Isa kasi sa mga motto ko in life is ‘Time is Gold’ kasi I’m a person [that] always thinks ahead, I always plan ahead, and I use time wisely.” In her opinion, time lost is something you can never get back. Her foundation, though, is mostly her faith: “I can do everything because I have God in my life,” she asserts, and her simple yet meaningful prayer, “Wisdom, Lord, Wisdom,” guides her as she continues to touch the hearts and nurture the minds of the children and her colleagues.
As JCA prepares to honor ECE Department Head, Liza Reyes for her 24 years of service this coming Foundation Day, her story serves as a testament to the impact a devoted teacher can have. She now knows that her father saw something in her long before she did. His words, spoken when she was just a young girl, remained in her heart, waiting for the right moment to take root, a calling she had finally embraced after being introduced to it too early before she realized it was meant for her. At first, it felt unfamiliar, but as time truly is gold, two decades have passed, and JCA became the place where her passion for connecting with children blossomed. As life often shows us the things we love most find us—sometimes long before we’re ready to embrace them.
Layout by: Rodge Justin Depra