2. "Self-fulfillment: the most important purpose in education"

Human beings can reach self-fulfillment through education. Education gives people the opportunity to change and transform their lives. Teachers who see their students as "whole persons" are the ones who have reflected on the transforming power of education. These teachers are able to see beyond "academic goals". They know that teaching is more than imparting knowledge or information, and that transformation cannot be achieved only through academic goals. Human beings are "head and heart". Therefore, teachers need to consider social and spiritual goals as well. Only then, we can talk about helping our students reach self-fulfillment. 

Teachers must help learners develop their potential. Sensitive teachers know their students´ needs, and care about their students´ issues. Empathy is the key word here. Teachers “who feel with their students” go beyond. They think about who they are in their relationships with their students, or who they have to be in order to help their students overcome problems and face challenges. Students´ needs are different. Students might need someone who inspires, who encourages, who advises, or who challenges them. But before a teacher can play any of these roles, students first need a teacher who notices them. Students need someone who cares so much for them that he or she is “willing to go beyond”. When this occurs, teachers can contribute to the great purpose of education:  helping learners develop their potential so that they can reach self-fulfillment. What is a greater mission than this? Indeed, teachers who transform serve one of the most beautiful purposes in life: “illuminating change in head and heart that helps learners achieve their potential and their purpose”.

We have to teach with hope. Teachers can illuminate change in their students´ lives by believing in their potential, and never giving up on them. If we give up on our students, then we are failing as educators. Making students know that we believe they can be successful is essential. Working so that they are prepared to succeed in life is our responsibility. We know that teaching is not only about the subject matter, or our teaching methods and techniques. It is also about how we relate to our students; this is the aspect of teaching that will impact our students the most. “We have to teach so that our students are able to know, are able to do, and are able to be better persons”. 

"It takes a whole teacher to teach a whole child". Let´s remember the holistic perspective of education. We have to attend our learners´ academic, social, and spiritual needs. We need to "feel with our students" so that we can become a source of inspiration and support. We need to nurture, motivate, encourage, and challenge our learners. We want our learners to believe in themselves. Our learners will be able to persevere and overcome whatever challenge they face if they believe in their potential. Then, our learners will be on their way to self-fulfillment.