The world has seen many professions during the course of its existence. Professions which everyone strives for, can usually be categorized as either being glamorous or highly paid. Especially in an era where ones profession closely relates the individual to the social status, no one can be mistaken if the profession of teaching is forgotten.

A true teacher may not earn you millions or make you popular like many of the high profile jobs in the market, but it surely does give you something special which no other career can provide. It gives you the satisfaction of knowing that you can be the corner stone on which many people have laid their foundation to build up their lives. And I have been lucky enough to build up the early stages of my life as well as my career under the guidance of one such teacher who can be considered a perfect example for all who consider committing themselves into a teaching career.

Mrs. Daphne Lord, has been and still remains to be an individual who has given priority to the needs of her pupils and her staff throughout her life. Anyone who has had a chance to be close to Aunty Daphne would find it hard to believe that it has been 60 years since she started her career as a young Elocution teacher, and she still continues at her desk and greets her pupils with a motherly smile that makes the class feel as if it’s their own home.

‘Aunty Daphne’ as she is called by all her pupils and staff, studied Elocution under Mrs. Wendy Whatmore and Mrs. Yoland Abeyweera. She laid her stepping stone under their guidance, got through her diplomas and decided to branch out on her own. She started her career as a teacher at her Alma Mater, Good Shepherd Convent, Kotahena where she taught both English Language and Literature. I’m pretty sure that most of the pupils who had known her from school are very good friends with her up to date, because she is a person who always maintained a friendly relationship with her pupils both at school and at classes. In some people we find characteristics which separate them as "the best from the rest", and these characteristics made Aunty Daphne a well known and sought after teacher which resulted in the formation of "The Daphne Lord School of Speech and Drama", ( DLS as it is popularly known) which is still running successfully under her guidance.

Aunty Daphne rendered her services even more by being involved in the incorporation of the "Institute of Western Music and Speech" ( IWMS). She held many offices including being the President of IWMS for many years. She is the patron of the "Colombo Academy of Language Skills and Dramatic Art" (CALSDA) at present.

She has not only encouraged pupils day in and day out; she has also encouraged new teachers and given them both the theoretical and practical knowledge needed to be in the profession and has always been of help whenever needed. Such an environment has provided the teachers to feel at home and made them so comfortable that the teachers involved with DLS consider it as a family rather than a mere Institution.

One of the many unique features she has, is that she understands the potentials of her pupils and her teachers more than what they understand of themselves, which in itself is a God given gift. This has resulted in the blossoming of many a talented pupils and teachers. She did not limit her teaching in any way by only teaching general English, but she also taught the skills of Speech and Drama, Public Speaking and various other aspects related to the language which helped her pupils to be versatile.

Away from education, she is also well known for her religious faith which is portrayed through her commitments to the St. Lucia’s Cathedral which is her Parish where she has been involved with the Liturgy Committee for a significant period. She is a person who always believes that everything is possible through God.

When I look at Aunty Daphne, there’s one phrase that I always remember reading from a novel which says - " Nothing is impossible, it’s just that impossible things take a longer time to be done." This phrase really suits her, purely because of the amount of work she has put in throughout her 60 years at her desk and the results are there for everyone to see. Through her dedication and hard work she has realized her dream of providing English education to every corner of the society, and through her hard work and commitment, she has made the impossible possible.

As we all know, some people are given names with a meaning behind it or they may even be named after someone before them, but only a few people have for themselves a name which can clearly spell out their character. And I managed to find a few words that do give a clear description of who she really is.

D - Dedicated (Dedicated to her profession)

A - Attention to detail (Keeps a close eye on every pupil)

P - Perfection ( Likes to see it in everyone)

H - Honest ( Honest in what she says)

N - Natural talent (A talent of identifying the strengths and weaknesses of pupils)