03/10/2025
๐ข๐ฃ๐๐ก๐๐ข๐ก | ๐๐ซ๐จ๐๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฆ๐จ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง
By: Aries Dolores
Love is a universal experience, capable of bringing both extreme joy and intense sorrow. But what if this intense emotion ignites within the classroom, and the object of this affection is one's own student? In this situation, a simple question becomes a complex test of integrity. Should one take the student's actions personally, especially if the love is unrequited?
It cannot be denied that when we are attracted to someone, we are ready to do anything. But passionate love must have limits, especially when we are in a position of power and responsibility, such as being a professional. The school is a sanctuary of knowledge, not a field for the personal pursuit of romance.
The problem begins when the rejection of one's feelings leads to coercion, imposition, and above all, the showing of anger or acting personally. Unrequited love is not a license to hurt, humiliate, or oppress others. The anger resulting from rejection must not be directed at the student, who has done nothing but express their own freedom to love, or not to love, in return.
One needs to know the boundaries. As educators, the primary obligation is professionalism and the care for the welfare of the student. The profession is a vow of service and ethics. The question is, are you willing to surrender or compromise your profession for the sake of a love that is uncertain or does not truly want you?
The answer is a resounding NO.
No one has the right to take a person's actions personally, especially a student's, simply because they cannot give you the love that you desire. Such an act is not only unethical but can also lead to a violation of the law and the destruction of one's career.
The student's education and profession should not become collateral damage of personal feelings.
Ultimately, one must use the mind before the heart. Set aside the overwhelming emotions. Discern and prioritize what is beneficial: maintaining professionalism, respecting boundaries, and ensuring that the school remains a safe and focused environment for learning.
Remember: You are not the one they love, so you have no right to take it personally from someone who cannot give you the love you want. Your guide should be your professionalism, and it should not be extinguished by blind love. This is the right course of action for integrity and for the welfare of the student.
Photocredits: Raquel Sabado