The Ruthless Teacher Made Me an Influential Teacher
In a world where the influence of educators can shape lives, my journey began under the shadow of a cruel teacher at Bahir Dar University. His harshness ignited a fire within me—a desire to become the kind of teacher who inspires, uplifts, and nurtures students. This story chronicles my transformation from a student impacted by negativity to a passionate educator dedicated to fostering hope and compassion in the classroom. Through resilience and empathy, I aimed to make a difference, proving that kindness can triumph over cruelty.
Hi! I’m Aklilu Mandefro, currently based in Ethiopia, a gem of East Africa. One of the teachers who taught me at Bahir Dar University, where I completed my undergraduate studies, was very cruel and ruthless. Although he was a qualified and competent teacher in his profession, nobody liked him.
One day, when we were taking the final exam, one of my classmates was absent due to an unexpected intestinal illness. As a result, he missed three exams. When he recovered, he asked the teachers about the courses for which he had missed exams, providing medical documentation as evidence. While two of the teachers accepted his medical information and allowed him to take the exam, the cruel teacher said to him, “I don't believe students' medical information, so I won't test you.”
Then, a friend of mine asked him, “Don’t you believe me?” He undressed and showed the cruel and merciless teacher his surgically treated stomach. I was shocked when my friend, who had undergone surgery, approached the teacher. Yet, this cruel teacher still didn’t believe him. If he does not believe what he sees, what can he believe? What cruelty! As a result, my friend dropped out of school for a year.
Because of this cruel teacher, I developed a strong desire to be an elite teacher, liked and respected by all students and the community. To make this dream come true, I was hired as an ICT teacher at a preparatory school for higher education after graduating with a degree in computer science.
Due to the respect I showed to my students, my relentless efforts to ensure they had sufficient ICT knowledge and skills, and my ability to empathize with them while teaching and preparing course modules, I quickly gained admiration and popularity not only among the students but also within the school community. Consequently, other preparatory schools in the region invited me to teach their students in workshops and seminars. How wonderful it is to be wanted and loved by people! I gladly accepted invitations from these schools and began offering technology-related training through workshops, seminars, and other events. Within two years, I had trained more than 80,000 students at 37 schools and about 15,000 non-students from the local community. In 2017, I received a medal, a certificate of recognition, and other awards as the first young influencer at a regional and zonal education festival.
I am fascinated by volunteering. I experienced many moments of despair in my life, times when it felt like an unseen cloud was constantly raining on my efforts. Eventually, I began volunteering with youths in educational programs at schools, colleges, and universities, believing I could help them learn and grow. In reality, they brought me immense joy.
The more I contributed to those around me, the more fulfilled I became. This shift in focus towards others' happiness alleviated my stress. It also allowed me to forge new relationships while deepening existing ones. The more I offered to others without exhausting myself, the more content I felt within.
Overall, Although I now work professionally as a researcher and software engineer, I also teach at various schools, colleges, and universities by invitation. Because I remember that cruel, ruthless, and unloved teacher, I always try my best to make someone smile, feel someone’s pain, and do something good for those around me. That's it.
Thank you for reading, and have a lovely day!
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