Lessons in Empathy: The Heartwarming Story of My Student Prai
Why do we have favorite Students? Some students are very kind and beautiful, and it’s not about their appearance or skin
Epigraph from teachers, “Metaphorically speaking — We don’t judge a book by its cover but by its heart.”
Around eight years ago, I taught one of my senior classes, aged 16–17 years old, and I was about to fall down in the classroom, nearly passed out. Yet, one of my students showed exceptional manners of respect and compassion — I want to share this magic of teaching with the world.
I have answers for some parents and just curious minds.
I was an English teacher for grades eight and eleven. He was from the eleventh grade. The story is about a student named Prai.
In Thailand, it’s customary to call nicknames because some Thai believe that not all people have the right to name them.
I’m not sure, but it’s ok. I mean everything is good with this.
You can see a high-ranked position man, and he can say, “You may call me Pizza!” Am I kidding? No, it’s just okay here.
Thailand is remarkable, not easy to understand sometimes, but I agree with them about nicknames— very convenient.
I’m serious, but this story is not about nicknames. This story is about water, something more than about water, about empathy and the magic of teaching.
Let’s fly!
Beautiful Manners Make Us Beautiful
When I look back on my first year at our school, I always recollect memories of my favorite students. I bless them every time, and one of them is Prai.
You should know some other students and little ones also did it — showed empathy and compassion. Yet, I’m speaking in detail only about one student in this article, just for instance.
Why?
The student always showed exceptional manners — high-society manners, and I finally decided to speak about boys too. Before, I spoke in my stories about student girls, but there are good boys as well — student Prai never made me feel any pain.
He never looked down on me but always showed high respect.
How?
Let’s look into one situation.
One day, I felt a bit under the weather because of the hot temperature — around 40+. I was teaching Prai’s class and suddenly sat down and started breathing heavily.
You know, the first year in Thailand was slightly tough because of the weather, but now it’s ok.
So, I was not able to look at the classroom for a while. It was nothing serious.
I mean it! It was nothing serious — I just lowered my head a little bit.
All of a sudden, I got a cool bottle of water.
I was thinking, “Cool water? Did you just buy it?” I realized it was just from the fridge. I immediately looked into the eyes of the student, and I was touched.
It was as if I saw the rain of tears; I saw how difficult his life was, yet he bought me water.
He was so sad…
His eyes were deeply sad!
A beautiful smile was dancing on his face, but there was a deep, very deep sadness in his eyes, as sorrowful as the last words before saying goodbye forever.
Then I took the bottle, and as a flashback, I saw financial problems in his family. There is no magic in this part — it’s just obvious sometimes.
I thought, “Oh, Buddha! Oh, my little boy, you have such a difficult life, but you still give your heart to me?”
I could hardly keep my tears … I swear.
How could I explain to him in one sentence that sometimes teachers cry because of happiness?
How?
I kept quiet. I didn’t want to confuse him because his English was poor. I didn’t want to make him feel embarrassed.
I was about to cry, but because of happiness — he looked after the teacher despite all his problems. It was touching…
Chicken From Prai
After that case, with a bottle of water, I always came to the local market to buy some chicken from his hands. Yes, he cooked grilled chicken and sold it after school to make some money to get by and to survive.
I was blessing him every time I bought something.
I was so happy to see his smile. I was so happy to hear, “Alex! Sawaddee Krap — his “Wai” gesture on his nose — deep respect.
However, when I came to the market and didn’t see Prai, I was sad … I didn’t buy chicken.
No!
Even if I saw grilled chicken, I never bought it from others.
I used to buy chicken only from his hands … to bless him … because I felt his pain and remembered his kindness.
I wanted to buy as much as I could, but I didn’t want to throw his chicken away.
No!
I bought as much as I was able to eat — I respected his job, his effort! Usually, it was around 50–60 baht, but it was always delicious.
In my dream, I saw how many impolite students bullied him all his life because Prai was special. He was born to help some people understand something.
His parents had already got their jackpot, and many teachers sent him good and sincere words—he was kissed by Buddha.
I just see his smiles and sad eyes, laughter through tears. He looks happy, but his eyes are so sad sometimes…
Even though his English was poor, he never said, “I don’t know, or it’s boring.”
Instead, he always came to me with his phone, a cheap one but always enough to show his giant heart, “Teacher. Write, please”.
Oh, my Buddha!
He opened Google Translate!
Every time he did so! I swear, in every single lesson, he wanted to understand me. He always came to me and showed so much respect that my tears rolled down because of happiness …
He always wanted to understand what his teacher told him.
As he was thinking, “I don’t want, my dear teacher, you think I don’t respect you … I’m sorry my English is so little … but my heart — ”
“I know your heart, Prai,” I would say.
When I look ahead, I think about the students of this year, and I’m looking forward to the moment when I can write many good stories about them, about their improvement in manners … who knows?
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