Teacher transforms old stockroom into classroom using own money

Teacher Thessalyn Samson poses with a messy and cluttered old stockroom in the Plaza Central School in Tanjay City, Negros Oriental. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

TANJAY CITY, Negros Oriental — She knew she didn’t have enough extra money.

But wanting to have a room conducive to learning, public school teacher Thessalyn Samson decided to transform an old stockroom so her students would have a decent classroom.

Samson, who used her own money to do the makeover, said it was a challenging job at first but eventually found it fulfilling.

“After spending most of my time in school and sacrificing my weekends just to make my classroom ready for the school year, I can proudly say that the old stock room, which was renovated, is now conducive for learning,” she said.

Samson said she had to ask her sister and cousin to help clean the stockroom. She also hired a laborer to do some heavy repairs to make the classroom safe.

If she didn’t initiate the makeover, she and her students would have no proper learning facility where they could hold their classes.

The Plaza Central School in Tanjay City had a newly constructed building but had yet to be used.

Samson said she could not just depend on the school budget since having a classroom was an urgent need.

“The funds for the school’s maintenance and other operating expenses are not enough. We have a very big school. I cannot afford to just sit and wait for government funds to arrive before I move,” she said.

The school could only provide two gallons of paint because of tight budget. Samson said the other expenses came from her earnings and her family, and friends’ donations.

“As teachers, it is our responsibility to always give what’s best for our learners, even if it would mean going the extra mile,” the Grade 6 teacher said.

She said she was emotional when she saw her 42 students enjoying the classroom.

Teacher Thessalyn Samson distributes cupcakes to her students inside the newly refurbished classroom which used to be an old stockroom in the Tanjay City, Negros Oriental. (CONTRIBUTED PHOTO)

Aside from being a good teacher, Samson is also a home baker. On the first day of the in-person classes on August 22, she welcomed her students with sweet cakes.

“The eagerness to make a difference and the love I have for my learners are just some of the factors that pushed me to go the extra mile,” Samson said.

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