A pencil maker took a pencil aside, just before putting it into a box. "There are five lessons you need to know before I send you out into the world," he told the pencil, "Always remember them and you will become the best pencil you can be."
"One: You will be able to do many great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand."
"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time but you will need it to become a better pencil."
"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."
"Four: The most important part of you will always be what is inside."
"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."
The pencil promised to remember the five things and was placed in the box.
Now, replace the pencil with yourself. Apply the fi ve lessons to yourself and you will become the best person you can be.
One: You will be able to do many great things but only if you allow yourself to be held in God's hand. And allow other human beings to access you for the many gifts you possess.
Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but you will need these to become a stronger person.
Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make.
Four: The most important part of you will always be what is on the inside.
And Five: On every surface you walk through, you must leave your mark. No matter what the situation, you must continue to do your duties.
As an OUM tutor, your knowledge, expertise and experience are the gifts you possess. By imparting them to your learners, you can help them to grow and achieve their potential too. You might face various obstacles and challenges in carrying out your duties and responsibilities but in overcoming them, you will end up becoming an even better tutor. Whatever mistakes you make will be part of your learning process, since one learns from cradle to grave. In correcting your mistakes, you will develop strength of character and skills. No matter what happens, you must continue to do your duties and to do them to the best of your ability. This is your way of leaving your mark on society, by educating its members.
Adapted from: http://www.indianchild.com/parable_of_the_pencil.htm