The word teacher comes from the Latin magister, which means “the one who knows the most”, and we usually associate it with the professionals in charge of teaching children between the ages of 4 and 12, who are in preschool and primary school.

In this regard, Teacher’s Day was recently celebrated in Peru. For this reason, I’m going to take a moment to send warm greetings to my mother and two aunts, now retired, who taught for over three decades to various primary school children in Chiclayo, Trujillo, and Chimbote, respectively. Likewise, how could I forget my teacher, Miss Dorita Rivas Martino, who was my teacher for the first three years of primary school at the Manuel Pardo Private Educational Center (CEP) in my beloved Chiclayo.

However, returning to the topic of the article, in our country, the term “maestro” is used to refer to people who excel in a particular discipline or trade. It is also a way of acknowledging someone with extensive experience in their daily work.

In this regard, within this professional network, we often refer to various people as “master” or use the synonym “expert.” For this reason, I would like to connect the term “master” with “leadership” and “legacy,” because leading is nothing other than being of service to others.

Therefore, I share with you an enlightening reflection from Dr. Enrique Rojas (Everything You Need to Know About Life) which I have paraphrased: “Our current society needs teachers who move beyond teaching lessons in their field of action to being living witnesses of coherence, where what they think, say and do is consistent, and invite others to imitate them.”

In that regard, I will now list some characteristics that I believe a good teacher should have.

1. Commitment to teaching and delving into diverse topics, always with the truth at the forefront.
2. Approachable, disciplined, and radiating leadership, so that people approach him with complete confidence and naturalness.
3. Consistent with his actions, to sow the seed, in such a way that he is not only imitated, but surpassed.
4. Demanding, but first and foremost with himself and then with his students-disciples.
5. Concerned for others, quick to congratulate in public, correct or advise in private, always with affection and charity.

To conclude, I’d like to share a quote related to leadership and its meaning, shared on this professional network by Carlos Zavala – Country Head, Andean Region-Visa: “You are not a leader until you have produced another leader who can produce another leader” – Dr. Stephen Brown.

Now, in your particular case, I invite you to remember the teacher from your school, university, or professional years—whether from your early days or more recently—who, through the characteristics described, helped you believe in yourself and grow as a person and professional. Furthermore, if you are still in contact with them, you still have time to thank them.

You and I can make a difference, and as always remember: Keep rowing, rowing, strong like the Norwegian Vikings in the World Cup, against the current and out to sea!