The start of the new school year had a familiar rhythm—chalk dust in the air, the distant hum of janitors buffing the corridors, and new faces peeking nervously into unfamiliar classrooms.
Inside the EIM room, Sir Emman stood once again by the tool cabinet, inspecting the circuit panels, flipping breakers, and wiping down old meters that had seen hundreds of student hands over the years.
But this year felt different.
Not heavier—just quieter.
The absence of Marco, Bryan, Carina, and the rest of the last batch still echoed in the corners.
A Knock on the Door
It was barely 9:00 a.m. when someone knocked.
Emman looked up, expecting a deliveryman or a lost student.
But standing at the door—carrying a toolbox, wearing a crisp navy-blue polo embroidered with "Licensed Electrical Practitioner"—was Bryan.
Emman blinked. "Bryan?"
Bryan grinned, looking older, surer. "Surprise, Sir."
From Student to Electrician
Over cold water and warm conversation, Bryan shared his story:
After graduation, he enrolled in a TESDA-accredited program, passed the National Certificate II assessment, and—just two weeks ago—officially became a licensed electrician.
"I even did a small project wiring my aunt's sari-sari store. But it didn't feel complete until I came back here."
Emman smiled. "You came home."
"I came to say thank you," Bryan replied. "And… I brought something."
From his bag, he pulled out a roll of brand-new THHN wire, a digital tester, and a pair of insulated pliers.
"For the next batch," he said. "My way of passing the torch."
A Teaching Assistant for the Day
Later that afternoon, Emman was teaching his new Grade 10 class how to read a panel schedule.
"I know all these numbers seem confusing now," he said. "But soon, it'll all make sense."
Bryan, sitting quietly at the back, raised his hand.
"Sir, can I share something?"
Emman nodded.
Bryan walked up to the front, held up a breaker box diagram, and said, "You won't understand this in one day. But I promise, when you wire your first house, you'll thank Sir Emman. He doesn't just teach you how to pass—he teaches you how not to burn a house down."
The students laughed.
And then listened.
And in that moment, Bryan wasn't just a visitor.
He had become a mentor.
Mrs. De Jesus Enters
As the class ended, Principal Mrs. De Jesus passed by the room.
She paused, noticing Bryan shaking hands with students.
"Is that one of ours?" she asked Emman, half-smiling.
"One of our best," Emman replied.
Mrs. De Jesus nodded, arms crossed with pride.
"Legacy," she said. "That's what this is."
Evening Reflection
That evening, alone in the workshop, Emman took the donated tools and placed them gently into the drawer labeled "Reserved – For the Future."
He stared at the label for a moment… then smiled.
The torch had been passed.
And the current—of knowledge, of trust, of transformation—flowed on.
"Electricians don't just connect wires. They connect generations."
– Sir Emman, Journal Entry, Year 10 of Teaching