HERE’S to the new beginnings, both seen and unseen — the quiet starts that shape who we become. In classrooms, on sports fields and in the still corners of our homes, the most powerful lessons are often not spoken at all. They are felt. They are observed. They are absorbed in silence — in the way we carry ourselves, in the patience we show, in how we rise after falling.
As a teacher and coach, I have come to realise that the greatest influence I have is not in the drills I run or the lessons I plan. It’s in how I react when things don’t go my way. It’s in how I treat the cleaner as respectfully as I do the head of the school. It’s in the extra minute I take to listen when a child speaks.
Children are always watching. Long before they read our handwriting or follow our instructions, they read our hearts. They pick up on how we handle pressure, how we celebrate others. How do we forgive? And in those subtle, unscripted moments — that’s where the real education begins.
On the sports field, I’ve seen young athletes mirror the energy of their coaches. If a coach fumes, they sulk. If a coach lifts, they rise. In the classroom, it’s the same. When a teacher’s voice carries calm even in chaos, learners feel safe. They learn that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it whispers in patience and presence.
This week, I found myself reflecting more than usual on the kind of adult I want to be, not just for my students and athletes, but for the next generation quietly watching. What values am I modelling? What kind of future am I preparing them for? What kind of world do I want to help shape, one unspoken moment at a time?
Because in the end, the legacy we leave isn’t written only in awards or accolades. It’s in how the children we influence treat others when no one is watching.
So here’s to all the silent lessons:
The ones in a smile, a steady hand, or a deep breath.
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The ones in how we lead, how we lose, and how we love.
To the tiny eyes that remind us — even without saying a word — that every moment matters.
lBessie Masiya is a primary school teacher and a multi-sports coach. She can be contacted on bessiemasiya@gmail.com and her X handle is @Bessie_Masiya.
