02/10/2024
What Do Old Calendar Sheets Mean to Me?
(Honoring my Mama Remeria Salatan, my first Reading Teacher)
To many, old calendar sheets might seem like forgotten pages from a past year, destined for the trash or lost in the back of a drawer. But to me, they hold a world of meaning and memories—a doorway to my first encounter with words, letters, and the rhythm of language. They remind me of my first teacher, my mother, who despite our hardships, made sure that I would learn to read, no matter the lack of resources.
I was only four years old when she began this journey with me. With no fancy books or pens at her disposal, she turned to what she had: the back of old calendar sheets. On them, she wrote out the letters of the alphabet, then syllables, and eventually whole words. Her marking tool? Charcoal from the kitchen, which she carefully used to write every letter and word and guide my little fingers through the curves and lines.
Each session with her became a new step toward the magical world of words. My mother wasn’t just teaching me to read; she was showing me how to overcome challenges with creativity and resilience. That simple act of using what we had—those old, discarded sheets and the blackened pieces of coal—became more than just lessons in literacy. They became lessons in life.
Today, as I reflect on my journey, I realize that those early moments shaped the foundation of who I am. My love for learning, my drive to push through difficulties, and my belief in the power of education all trace back to those humble sessions by the hearth, where my mother’s hand guided mine. She didn’t just teach me letters; she gave me the tools to navigate the world.
The old calendar sheets remind me of the indelible mark she left on my heart, a testament to her unwavering dedication and love. They symbolize the strength of a mother who, despite the odds, ensured that I would not be left behind. In every word I write and read today, I see her influence, her quiet determination to give me a future beyond what the present could offer.
Those old calendar sheets mean the world to me, because they remind me of the priceless gift my mother gave me: the ability to dream beyond our circumstances.
Happy Teacher's Day, Ma.
