After 40 years of teaching, I can say with certainty that education is not only my profession; it is a central part of who I am. I still feel inspired when I see students engaged, curious, and willing to participate in their own learning process. Those moments remind me why teaching matters. They also confirm that, despite all the changes in education, the heart of our work remains the same: to create meaningful learning experiences that help students grow intellectually, personally, and professionally.

Today, one of the greatest challenges we face is artificial intelligence. For me, AI is both demanding and thought-provoking. It forces us to question our traditional ways of teaching, assessing, and guiding students. However, I do not see AI as an enemy of education. If used correctly, it can become a valuable tool for supporting learning, encouraging creativity, and expanding access to knowledge. The real challenge is not simply whether students use AI, but how they use it, why they use it, and what kind of thinking they develop through that process.

As teachers, we have a responsibility to rethink our approach to learning. We cannot limit education to the repetition of information or the completion of tasks. We need to design learning experiences that invite students to analyze, question, create, and reflect. Our goal should be to help future teachers become critical thinkers who take ownership of their learning and understand the ethical use of the tools available to them. After four decades in the classroom, I remain convinced that teaching is an act of commitment, hope, and transformation.