-
Tahimik ang buong klase, kabado dahil sa terror na guro namin ngayon sa financial reporting. Kanina pa niya pinapagalitan lahat ng mga estudyante na hindi masagot ang kanyang tanong, malaki ang pasasalamat ko dahil no'ng tinawag ang pangalan ko ay nasagot ko naman ng tama.
"Alright, class, let's move on to analyzing financial statements. Can anyone tell me what the current ratio indicates in terms of liquidity? Mr. Quid, let's hear your answer." Tawag ng guro kay Squid na ngayon kinakabahan, sabi ko naman sa kanya kanina mag review siya.
Hindi ito mapakaling tumayo, nagkakamot ng ulo at tipid na ngumiti. "Um... the current ratio shows how much... uh, how much a company's liabilities... I mean, assets can cover liabilities?" Sagot niya pero hindi sigurado.
Biglang tumaas ang kilay ng guro, ibig sabihin hindi nagustuhan ang sagot ni Squid. "Can you be more specific? Or is that the best answer you can manage after three years of studying accounting?" Tumaas ang aking mga kilay matapos marinig ang sinabi nito.
Iniyuko ni Squid ang ulo, nahihiya. "It's the ratio of current assets to current liabilities. It measures, um... liquidity." Muling sagot nito sa guro.
"Measures liquidity? Wow, that's very enlightening, Mr. Quid. I'm sure the textbooks you've supposedly read couldn't have put it better themselves." Sarkastikong sabi niya at tinawanan pa ang kaibigan ko. Pati mga kaklase ko ay pinagtawanan din ito, grabe naman sila.
Pailing-iling ang ulo ng guro bago tingnan ng seryoso si Squid. "At this level, I would expect you to be able to explain it clearly and confidently. How do you expect to pass the CPA board exam if you can't even handle a simple concept like this? Sit down."
Napalunok ako nang makitang namumula ang mukha ni Squid sa kahihiyan tapos pinagtatawanan pa siya ng iba.
"Let this be a lesson to everyone. If you don't study well, you'll struggle with even the basics. Don't end up like Mr. Quid here." Ipamukha ba naman niya sa amin ang pagkakamali ng kaibigan ko, pwede naman itama at pagsabihan. Parang sobra na yata 'yun.
Huminga ako ng malalim bago nagtaas ng kamay at tumayo. "Excuse me, Professor, but may I say something?" Magalang kong pagkakasabi.
Tumaas ang isang kilay nito. "Go ahead, but I hope this isn't another disappointing response." Sabi niya.
Tumango ako bago ibinuka ang bibig. "With all due respect, Professor, I think the way you addressed my classmate wasn't fair. He might have been nervous, and it's not easy to answer when the entire class is watching. We all know this subject is challenging, and it's why we're here, to learn, not to be ridiculed." Magalang kong salita.
Lumaki ang kanyang mga mata at biglang nagsalubong ang mga kilay. "Are you implying I'm being unfair?" Tanong niya.
Umiling ako. "Not at all, ma'am. I'm saying that criticism can be constructive without making someone feel ashamed. Squid tried to answer, and instead of guiding him to the correct explanation, he was made to feel incompetent. That doesn't motivate students, it discourages them." Matapang kong sagot ngunit sa magalang parin na tono ng pananalita.
Narinig ko ang bulungan ng mga kaklase ko at ang iba sa kanila ay sumang-ayon, may iba naman hindi makapaniwala dahil unang beses ko itong sumagot sa guro.
