Instructor Eric came when the boats met. ‘How are the students? Are they certified?’ he asked.
‘Yeah, they are certified.’ I answered. Wondering why he suddenly asked the question that he had known the answer. He had trained the students in the pool. It’s for sure that the students would be certified once they completed the last open water dive this afternoon.
‘I congratulated them on their certification,’ he said, ‘but they were not sure if they were certified…’ Eric pretended to weep as if the students had answered in tears. Eric started him lengthy dramatic talking again. He was an excellent course instructor, and his dramatic talking certainly worked for his students. But, once another colleague had commented that Eric talked to everybody like talking to students.
‘Oh, I haven’t signed on their student records…’ I explained and tried to stop his endless talking. I was tired. I just wanted to finish the work and go home.
‘Seany!’ Eric raised his tone. He always called me this way when he was about to lecture me. ‘The instructor should cheer for students as soon as they get back to the surface from the certify dive. Not because the instructor has not signed the paperwork…’ I regretted what I had said. One thing I learned from the past few month was that Eric was not difficult as long as I let him finish what he wanted to say. I could learn a lot from his experiences. He was a good speaker but not a good listener. Never interrupt him.
‘It’s my fault.’ I said. Another thing I learned was to admit my mistake without any excuses. I had to face my own failure. Eric was right. The certify dive had been supposed to be joyful. It was a great achievement for students. I should have celebrated right after the students finished the certify dive. I congratulated to the students right after Eric finished his lengthy lecture. Next time, I should be cheerful for students.
The photo is my instructor certification card
