I used to write Teacher's Month stories - ranging from the ones I had written after winning a contest with Metrobank to those I had published through my blog. For the first time (in a while), I write about somebody who started as my college professor, turned my project's statistician in MIT and now my best friend, something I am honored to have in my life right now.
Mr. Simon M. Ogbac had been a part-time lecturer for FEU Institute of Technology since 2008, I was in Second Year in 2009 when I had him as my Probability and Statistics and Math Methods professor, back then he was one of the class I had enjoyed taking up my Math with since he makes sure to reach out to the level of his students even those whom he felt had a hard time taking up his classes or those who are not interested in Math at all. Even if his time was golden and even if his students do not see him in FIT most of the time, He has made a mark by being a "student" choice for Math classes, with the term "swerte kapag kay Ogbac" or "sana sa kanya na lang kami ng Differential Calculus", anything more to that extent .
Don't get me wrong, Sir O's classes is never a walk in the park, you work hard to get those high grades, in between the start and end of classes, He knows who made an effort and who didn't, who worked their ass off understanding his equations and who was actually lax in their classes. He tries to erase the notion "pag Ogbac, walk in the park." and I believe I made a serious effort to understand his classes, all 2 subjects of it (and my grades were a picture of that effect). I think it was one of those classes I managed to ace aside from the one I had with Ms. Marcos.
He was not around when I graduated with my college degree back in 2012 since he worked for Adamson, but after which, he came back in 2013, he was then a friend whom I catched up from time to time. He was always the busy person, juggling things left and right, but remembers to talk to you with his spare time even with the help of a social media . That was for the span of 2 years, until early 2015 when we plan to meet up with my college batch mates which never materialized because of all the work we do (and eventually me taking up the MIT program).
We had the chance to work with each other for the Alumni Tracer project I had for my Master's Degree, that time at first I thought he can't really accommodate me but little did I know, he did, even in the ungodly hours after his classes, he entertains questions (had to adjust to going home late so he can accommodate me) and true to the fact that he wanted to help, he didn't ask for anything even during the time that I was telling him, "Sir, I passed." He didn't even mention the term, "Libre ka naman Mich". Moreso, he extended help until the 1st term of 2015 -2016 by saying, "I just wanted to see you graduate, yun lang. You never have to do anything for me. Tama na sa akin yung ipagdasal mo ko sa Pink Sisters, tama na sa akin yung nasa Auditorium ka na and this being your final term"
In that time frame, he was also my best friend, despite how busy he juggles everything, he was there when I say, "Dinner tayo after work?" provided it was a Monday or a Thursday night since he knew I just needed somebody to talk to. Recently, He was there to listen to all my bad vibes especially after a sudden decision of another person closest to my heart. I know I went gaga that time because I would not understand why, but instead of him turning his back on me, he just said, "Labas mo lang, Andito lang ako."
He proved to be my angel who was there at the right place at the right time and no matter how annoying I get, he makes it a point to be there from successes to failures to ending my Master's Degree to trying to care for me indirectly, there were times where he would quickly narrate, "junkfood nanaman yan" which made me forget eating my favorites now because it's too unhealthy.
There are a lot of times where he thought of quitting teaching, it was one of those in our discussions as friends for the last few months, but I believe once you have set your heart into something that you really wanted to do, you grow to becoming fulfilled as a teacher, which is why he was there for the last 12 years. Sir Simon is the kind of person who despite the struggles is fueled with passion for his craft and to making it better, rarely do I see somebody spend his 4 hours break studying every time or sleeping late just to be able to keep abreast with the times. There's no doubt for me, he is one of the best, one of those every student in FIT has been thankful for coming in their lives even once as their professor and one person whom I dedicate much of my success recently with. He himself inspired me to try teaching, something that he has supported me of doing all this time even the society tells me it is not feasible to do so.
An amazing teacher. A great listener and the best friend, total qualities of a very endearing person and a teacher at that. glad to have met him closer. We may not have been the original tandem to work but still glad to have worked with him as my statistician and glad to have him within my life as the best friend I'll ever wish for. You may have thought of quitting but please get yourself reminded of your worth and how people value you with what you had done for the last 12 years. If the world doesn't appreciate you for what you do, look back, you got me and the people who truly care for you.
This is my teacher story, somebody who entered my life as my professor and whom eventually the person I share most of my success recently. Towards my goal to a degree are people who made it possible, one of them is Simon Ogbac, somebody I never hesitate to call as my angel and nevertheless, my lucky charm.
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