I saw her picture on my screen and froze. There she was, poised, confident, holding her head high, standing on a national stage. A finalist in a national competition.
A bright light. And right beneath that polished presence was a name I knew so well.
I taught her in Year 3.
Back then, she was the girl who would sometimes forget her lines in assembly but never forget to help a friend. The girl who asked “why” too many times and laughed from her belly. And now… she was here. Making waves. Representing her school. Representing excellence.
My heart wanted to burst.
I felt proud. But more than that—I felt fulfilled.
That moment reminded me why growth as a teacher is not optional. It’s sacred. It’s intentional. And it must never stop.
The Children Grow, So Must We
Every term, our learners stretch. They move from scribbling letters to writing essays. From shy readers to student leaders. Their shoes get tighter, their questions get deeper, their dreams get louder.
And you know what? If we, the ones standing before them, remain the same, unmoved, unchallenged, unlearning, we fail them.
We cannot pour into changing children with a stale cup.
Their growth demands our growth.
Growth Is Not Just Professional, It’s Personal
When I saw that child—my child—on that stage, I realised something: she had grown, but so had I.
I had learned how to handle different learning needs with grace.
I had learned how to reflect, reteach, and reset.
I had learned that curriculum is only the beginning, connection is where the real work begins.
And none of that happened by chance. It happened because I made a decision: to keep growing.
Growth Must Be Intentional
Let’s be honest. The Nigerian teacher’s plate is full, underpaid, undervalued, overworked. But even within that reality, growth is still possible, and necessary.
Not just attending trainings for certificates. No.
We’re talking about intentional growth.
- Reading a book that expands your worldview.
- Joining a network that challenges your thinking.
- Asking questions like, “What can I do better next term?”
- Watching your students and learning from
- Reflecting deeply on the impact you want to leave.
Because one day, a student you taught in Primary 4 will show up somewhere unexpected. On a stage. In a boardroom. With a mic. And you will know that a part of their strength came from a moment with you.
And the only reason it meant something is because you grew.
We’re Not Just Teaching; We’re Sowing
The beauty of growth as a teacher is that the harvest often comes years later. It sneaks up on you in LinkedIn posts, convocation pictures, and sometimes, in the news.
But you’ll know.
You’ll remember how they struggled with spelling “because,” or feared Maths, or refused to raise their hand. You’ll remember what you poured in.
And it will hit you: You are part of someone’s becoming.
Final Thoughts: Grow On Purpose
Teaching is legacy work. It’s service. And legacy cannot be left to chance.
So dear teacher, grow. On purpose.
Stretch your mind, expand your heart, sharpen your skill, deepen your faith in what is possible. Don’t just upgrade your slides, upgrade your mindset. Don’t just meet the standard—raise it.
Because when the student rises, and they will, it won’t just be a win for them.
It’ll be a win for the teacher who dared to grow.
