Taking up the blog after a long time I must say! Once again I have only myself to blame- I cant make the lame excuse that i didnt have time, As everone else in this world I had 24 hours but i chose to prioratise other things !!
I am writing this on october 5th – so called word teachers day. Now i dont agree to this western concept of dedicating one specific day for something important and dear to us….they should be commemorated all days of the year, but in a way its good to have atleast one day to remind ourselves of what matters in life!!
I must say I have been fortunate in many ways to have had great teachers throughout my life and career. When I started my training in Sri lanka I had excellent surgeons to learn from. Things changed a bit for the worse when I moved over to residency somewhere else. There were many mediocre teachhers that took no interset in teaching me, though once again due to I got lucky and stuck gold. I did not have many great teachers but few I had were absolutely outstanding!! Suffice it to say with their generous help and guidance I did well!!
Good teachers are like candles, in my opinion. If you use a single candle to light thousand more , the original candle will not loose any brightness!! Similarly the lighted candles would also pick up the flame and light many more !! If you look at it its amazing isnt it ?
Similarly the great teachers and trainers [ albeit few] whom i was fortunate to associated with, were like bright candles….they not only ignited the passion for surgery but they also showed me the correct way forward with their guiding light…..I was truly fortunate and blessed to have them in my life indeed!!!
Fast forward many years, I am now in a pisition that I can pay back the next generation, which is a truly remarkable feeling!
Everytime i teach something to somebody , I feel I am also igniting the passion to learn and develop, and in turn they will also pass the flame onwards….onwards and upwards!!
Hence I will take the opportunity to thank all my teachers past , present and future!! Mr Ronnie Matthew, Mr John Wang, Prof Soo Khee Chee to name a few, amongst many more – Thank you for your generosity and kindness!! I will pay it forward!!!!
Happy Teachers day!!
Safe surgery till we meet again!!
LBS
Surgery-the good bad and ugly 