05/10/2026
TEACHERāS DAY š
How fitting that I found this picture I took on Careers Day in primary school, at the then Libala Stage 3 primary school š¤.
I still remember that day so vividly. We were in class when my primary school teacher asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. As one of the ābright studentsā in class, I still wonder what everyone expected me to say, but it was clear that no one was impressed with my response š¤£
I stood up with much hesitation and said, āI want to be a diplomat.ā
I had probably learned the word that very same week from watching the NEWS with my dad. All I knew was that diplomats travelled for work, and at that age, I thought that sounded like a pretty fun career. š
My teacher then told me I should think of something āmoreā because diplomacy was something anyone could do; āanyone could be appointed a diplomat Nelly, even a marketeer, you need to think of an actual career.ā I remember hearing my peers in class burst in laughter and I stood there not sure how to feel lol
Funny enough, more than ten years later, the picture on the right is me graduating with a degree in International Relations from Georgetown University in Qatar.
How funny is it that words can indeed have power?
Growing up, everyone expected me to take the traditional route of becoming either a doctor or a lawyer, simply because I had always done well academically. But neither ever felt like me. I knew I wanted to do something different; I just didnāt know what that āsomethingā was, or maybe I did š
Little did I know, I had already spoken it into existence years before I understood what it meant.
And perhaps that is one of the beautiful things about teachers. They are present in some of the earliest chapters of our lives, often before we fully understand who we are or who we will become. They ask us questions, challenge us, encourage us, and sometimes plant seeds that take years to grow.
On this Teachersā Day, I find myself thinking about all the teachers who have shaped my life. I am one of those people who genuinely remembers every teacher who has ever taught me ā¤ļø from Baby Class all the way through university. Each of them left something with me, whether it was a lesson, a word of encouragement, a challenge, or simply the belief that I could become more.
One day, Iāll share the stories of some of these incredible people and the ways they have influenced the person I am today.
But for now, I simply want to say THANK YOU! šš¾ā¤ļø
Thank you to every teacher who sees potential in young people before they can see it in themselves. For your dedication and for showing up, day after day, to shape the next generation.
Now that I am older, I see that my teacher was not entirely wrong. Diplomacy is such an interesting field š
but I think I will turn out just fine ai?
Happy Teachersā Day to every teacher who has ever played a part in someoneās story. ā¤ļøš
