Teachership

I've been anticipating some news from the Philippines, so every morning, before I head to work, I'd get online to check my e-mails and to spend a few minutes on Facebook.

Today, there was nothing worth noting, except three of my FB friends are celebrating their birthdays. One of them is Cynthia, a junior student at my school, who was with me in Geometry last year. On her wall, I wrote: "Happy birthday, Cynthia! God bless you." I didn't get online again until lunchtime. When I did, I found this message:   

Cynthia Fregoso: thank u mr. jope i apreciate ur teachership:)

Teachership! Whoa!

I've known teachership to be a legitimate word, but upon reading it in her message, the word hit me in a way that I cannot possibly explain.

I am aware that my students appreciate me as their teacher. Modesty aside, the compliments come my way so often that I do not thirst for them anymore. But there was something in Cynthia's message that touched me so profoundly and I know that it has something to do with her use of the word teachership.

It's past midnight now, but I have not figured it out yet. Maybe I don't have to figure it out, right?