Before you were an expert at whatever it is you do now (or hoping to do), you were a curious learner in a classroom, guided by a teacher whose primary goal was to give you the tools you needed to succeed. This video reminds us why teachers are the real unsung heroes.
Johannesburg, South Africa (30 January 2026) – Do you remember what you wanted to be when you were young? Maybe you thought being a police officer was the bravest job, or you loved the idea of owning your own business, or believed that being a scientist would open your world to fantastic experiments.
Whatever career path you dreamed of then and whichever one you chose later, you were once a young learner, sitting in a classroom, probably confused and needing a bit of encouragement. Encouragement that often comes from dedicated teachers who plant the seeds of guidance and discipline that eventually grow into surgeons, pilots, or CEOs.
A heartwarming video by St Andrew’s School for Girls beautifully captured how teaching is the one profession that creates all other professions.
The clip shows the back of a female educator’s hand marked “Teacher” before she turns it over to take turns holding several of her pupils’ hands, each marked with a different profession. These titles ranged from doctor, vet, artist, makeup artist to baby doctor, scientist, comedian and so on – showing the dream careers of each little person in her classroom.
The sweet footage showed that without someone to decode the most fundamental learning concepts, the rest of the world’s knowledge would remain locked away.
The post has garnered over 264K views and lighthearted commentary from entertained users online. One touched viewer shared her personal take on the significance of teaching:
“So profound. As teachers, we are often undermined, yet we contribute towards learners’ dreams. We pave the way, we educate, support, encourage, equip, and comfort. Although our jobs may seem insignificant and we do not earn the salaries that you will earn one day, we want you to know that we will always be proud of you when those dreams come true,” commented Jesintha Coltman.
Teaching may be a humble, exhausting, and often selfless role, but it’s the foundation that holds up every other industry in existence. And that’s something to admire and applaud.
Sources: St Andrew’s School for Girls
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