A Hope

One day I planted a tiny seed,

Watered it, cared for it, watched it succeed.

Its little buds began to bloom,

Filling my heart and the quiet room.

Another day along the road I walked,

Gazing at trees so tall, I almost talked

To them, wondering if my little tree

Could one day grow as grand as these.

Then I thought of children in the green field,

Tiny hearts with dreams yet to be revealed.

Just like the sapling that grows with time,

They too will flourish, strong and prime...

 

 

Dreams on the Dusty Roads 💓

Today, I’m not going to talk about the children from the “green field” .

My “green land” is something quite different  a small, beautiful village in the Sabaragamuwa Province, in the Kegalle District.

About twenty kilometers away from the town of Deraniyagala, deep in the hill country, lies my green little world.

It is a wonderfully beautiful village  the sacred land of God Sumana Saman.

In fact, for those who go on a pilgrimage to Sri Pada (Adam’s Peak), one of the most scenic routes begins right from the edge of this village.

Most of the children don’t come to school by bus. they come to school on foot.

That’s because there are very few public transport facilities in this area.

The same goes for the teachers.

The lack of proper transportation is one of the main reasons why education in this region faces many difficulties.

Most of the teachers in the schools around the Maliboda area come from distant districts.

For them to travel to school every day, there should be a proper and reliable transport system.

But sometimes, the morning bus breaks down before evening,

and the teachers who travel long distances face great inconvenience. This is big problem in this kind of area.Because of this, some private vehicles now provide transport services from the villages to Deraniyagala.

not only for school children but also for others who need to travel for their daily needs.

 

I too have chosen one such special bus to travel to my green land

“Sudda Mama’s bus,” as everyone calls it.

Early in the morning, that little bus fills up with the villagers and they come to town.

The whole village seems to come alive inside it.

It has its own unique charm.

For someone like me, an outsider, getting on that bus feels like stepping into another family’s home.

Everyone talks cheerfully, laughs together, and even shares food.

It feels less like a bus ride and more like a joyful little trip.

 

Most of the time, I use my uncle Sudda’s bus to go to my classes.

Every time I step onto that bus, I can’t help but remember the first chapter of  “To Sir, With Love.”

Though the situations are not the same.

E. R. Braithwaite’s book To Sir, With Love begins with the line:

 “The crowded red double-decker bus inched its way through the snarl of traffic in Aldgate.....”

That moment, when Braithwaite is on his way to his new school as a teacher, always reminds me of my own daily journey. Every day, when I step into the green bus that takes me to my village classes, I remember that same scene.

Just like Braithwaite, I too travel with hopes, dreams, and responsibilities to teach, to inspire, and to make a small difference in the lives of children in my “green village.”

Anyway, this is my belief

The little buds that bloom in this forest must learn to win their lives, no matter what challenges they face.

As a teacher, I always try my best to be a source of strength, love, and encouragement for them.

I feel it is my duty to help them discover their own paths and to guide them towards the brightness of life.

“A Dream Turned into Teaching”

One day, while I was scrolling through Facebook, I came across a beautiful quote: 

“If you are a teacher, try to be the teacher you wished you had when you were a child.”

It really touched my heart. When we were young, some teachers’ actions didn’t always give us a good impression of them. Sometimes,

  I used to think, “If this teacher had taught us in this way, it would have been so much better.”

So, when I became a teacher myself, I tried to become the kind of teacher I had once dreamed of being.In rural areas, children often find it a bit difficult to learn English. The main reason is that they don’t get the chance to learn it in an enjoyable way. Because of that, English becomes something they fear or dislike.

When learning English, a child should develop all four skills . reading, writing, speaking, and listening  together. So, in my teaching, I always try to cover all these areas. I didn’t want my class to be just another tuition class; I wanted it to be something meaningful and rewarding  not only for me but also for my students. I wanted to give them new experiences and opportunities.

That’s why I planned a special event called “Student of the Year"

At the end of the year, I held an exam to select students who showed great skills in reading, writing, speaking, and listening. The top students from each grade received a gold medal and a gift.To make it more exciting, I also planned a trip for them. During the trip, I organized a practical speaking activity. The goal was to help the students talk confidently in English with strangers — to make them feel proud and fearless about using the language.

        

I took them to the Peradeniya Botanical Garden, where I had arranged for some of my friends from the university to talk with the students in English. Those little children faced the challenge successfully and did their best. After that, we awarded them their gifts and medals.

That day, I felt a deep sense of satisfaction for being able to do something different and meaningful. The children were so happy, and I felt that the effort I put into their learning was truly worthwhile. Every time, I try to give them something fair and valuable for what they pay and that gives me great personal joy.

 🌿 Behind the Scene

This story comes from my real experiences as a teacher working in a rural area. Every day, I see how eager yet shy my students are when learning English. I wanted to give them something more than lessons — an experience that would build their confidence and make them love the language. The idea for “Student of the Year” was born from that wish. It gave me the chance to see my students shine, laugh, and believe in themselves. That moment reminded me why I chose to be a teacher — to inspire, to guide, and to make learning meaningful.