Learning

The poem reflects on learning’s shift from teacher-driven to self-driven, emphasizing personal effort and faith in success.

As a child, I believed learning was clear,

It was the teacher’s voice I’d hear.

Whether I liked the subject or not,

Their energy shaped the lessons I got.

The tricks, the style, the way they’d test,

The mannerisms that impressed

Could they challenge the mind, make it grow?

Nice or strict, I’d still follow.

Back then, learning was their display,

Not my pursuit�"it felt their way.

Now, grown older, I’ve come to know,

Learning’s a seed I must sow.

Whether the teacher inspires or not,

The drive to learn is something I’ve got.

A teacher may teach, or they may fail,

But I decide if I’ll set sail.

Teachers guide, but they’re not the key,

Learning’s determined by the effort invested in  me.

Learning’s a journey, a battle to fight,

A student’s will is the guiding light.

Teachers assist, but the truth is plain,

Determination is what  breaks the chain.

Some teachers are good,  some are bad,

But with faith in God, success is had.

With faith in myself and God by my side,

Success is a path where I choose to stride.

Learning’s the forge, where strength is won,

A lifelong journey that’s never done.

Author's Note

How has your relationship with learning changed over time? Do you find that your own effort shapes your success?

Reviews

[emipoemi]

I'm an honest reviewer, and I won't change that - I believe in quality - so forgive me for saying that this isn't your best of the bunch. The theme is fantastic, and you stay with it all the way through for the most part (some redundancy but nothing too prominent). But where it slips is in musicality. I'll grant this though, when it slips, it's just that it's missing a syllable somewhere (or a syllable too many), and it bungs up the flow that otherwise would accentuate this really intriguing message. Teachers aren't the fountain of education, contrary to popular belief, they are the guides, and I love that metaphor. You could definitely also play with that contrast with more power - really drive that home with the imagery rather than focus on the rhymes, which are solid, but your want to rhyme can lead you astray to some extent in order to hit the rhyme. This is a great poem on paper, though, and I applaud your intent with it.

[Elly]

Thank you so much for your honest review. It really helps me grow as a writer, and I appreciate your feedback.

[emipoemi]

My pleasure.