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The Teacher Who Believed in Me Before I Believed in Myself
Long before I became a poet, a storyteller, or a writer, I was a performer.
I joined declamation contests and won. I became part of theater productions. For a time, I even imagined myself pursuing professional acting. Performance came naturally to me, long before I fully understood its power.
It All Began at Ten
I was ten years old when everything began.
That same year, my father discovered my gift for words and my ability to craft compelling verses. My mother, a schoolteacher, became my first coach. Under her guidance, I joined a district-level declamation competition—and won. I was the youngest competitor, facing students far older and more experienced than I was.
Winning at the district level meant moving on to a higher competition. But because of my age and lack of experience, many teachers doubted I could represent our district well.
All except one.
The Teacher Who Fought for Me
Ma’am Phoebe—Ms. Phoebs, as we fondly called her—fought fiercely for me. She believed I deserved the chance, regardless of my youth or inexperience. Together with my mother, she coached me patiently and tirelessly, pouring both skill and heart into every practice session.
What I remember most from that time is how much fun it was. Practice never felt heavy. Even on competition day, I felt excitement more than fear.
There were more than fifteen contestants, if I remember correctly. I performed second to the last. I was the youngest—and quite literally the smallest. The program ran late into the evening, with other categories still waiting to be announced.
Exhausted, I went back to our quarters and fell asleep.
In my ten-year-old mind, I was certain I wouldn’t win. So why stay awake?
“You Won!”
At midnight, I was jolted awake by excited screams outside. Three older girls—Guada, Darlene, and Judy (I often wonder where life has taken them)—came running in, shouting, “You won! You won!”
Ma’am Phoebe hugged me tightly and said:
“I knew it from the start. I never had a single doubt you would win.”
That hug stayed with me for years. So did her unwavering belief. At one point, she even joked, “I think you have the making of an actress.” And yes, Ma’am, I did try my hand at acting later on—though my father was firm that it wasn’t the path he wanted for me.
Carrying Her Belief Through Life
Life moved on. I left for the city to attend university, finished school, and continued building my life. Somewhere along the way, Ma’am Phoebe and I lost contact. But her belief never left me. Whenever doubt crept in—and it often does—I reminded myself that once, there was a teacher who believed in me when no one else did.
Meeting Her Again
Recently, I received an unexpected and beautiful gift: I met Ma’am Phoebe again after decades apart. The joy of that moment is hard to put into words. I had been looking for her for years—perhaps just in all the wrong places. Seeing her again felt like closing a beautiful, unfinished chapter from my childhood.
A Thank You That Still Echoes
Thank you, Ma’am Phoebe, for seeing me before I learned how to see myself.
Your belief in me ignited my passion for creativity and excellence—and it continues to fuel everything I do.
