In the world of education, where minds are shaped and futures forged, even the noblest professions are not immune to rivalry and resentment. This is the story of Eliza Thomas—a passionate, sincere educator—and how she navigated an undercurrent of professional jealousy and quiet betrayal, simply by choosing not to change who she was.
The Beginning: A Shared Space, Unequal Intentions
Years ago, Eliza began teaching at a reputed institution—let’s call it St. Gabriel’s Academy. She loved her work. Her classroom was a place of laughter, energy, and connection. Students adored her, parents trusted her, and all of it came not from effort to impress, but from being authentically herself.
Among her peers was a teacher named Clarissa James—a woman with a complicated past and a desire for recognition that far outpaced her interest in teaching. Clarissa had grown up in a conservative home, where being left-handed was considered wrong. Forced to write with her right hand, she had trained herself to write with both hands—an impressive skill, but also a symbol of deep psychological strain. Clarissa brought her trauma to school—but instead of healing, she seemed to channel it into subtle power plays.
The Anonymous Letters
It began with a whisper—a letter to the principal, Mrs. Rachel Matthews, accusing Eliza of being “too friendly” with parents of her students. Eliza clarified her position honestly and claimed ignorance about the accusations in the letter. The principal showed the horrible handwriting in the letter. Eliza’s sincerity convinced the principal of her innocence. Anonymous and ridiculous, it was thankfully dismissed by Mrs. Matthews with grace. But it left a trace of unease in the air.
Years later, when leadership changed and Mrs. Teresa D’Souza became principal, the letters resumed. This time, they were sent directly to the school management. The accusations were smaller, almost laughable: She calls students names, or she delays notebook corrections.
It wasn’t feedback—it was sabotage.
Mrs. D’Souza handled it quietly, never confronting Eliza publicly, but warning her discreetly. She never revealed the handwriting. Perhaps, she already knew the truth.
A Bigger Stage, A Deeper Betrayal
A few months earlier, Eliza and Clarissa had represented the school at an event. There, Eliza found her rhythm among the diverse group—both rural and urban educators. She belonged. Her empathy and openness made her a natural connector.
Clarissa, by contrast, seemed uncomfortable, left out. One day, a crude, insulting note aimed at the senior professor, Dr. Shafi, appeared—signed with Eliza’s name. Eliza was stunned. It felt like a dagger. She could barely breathe.
A formal inquiry followed. Handwriting samples were taken. Clarissa sat beside Eliza, hands trembling, body tense. She tried to shield her writing, avoiding all eye contact. But Eliza didn’t panic. She didn’t plead, letting her integrity speak for itself. The trainers saw the truth. Although nothing was announced, the silence that followed spoke volumes. Eliza walked away with dignity. Clarissa walked away quieter.
The trainers continued to interact with Eliza in a friendly manner. The trainers admired Eliza for her pure-hearted nature and friendly attitude.
A Joke That Revealed the Truth
One day, during lunch, a colleague named Maria joked, “Eliza, you’re such a hit, even anonymous letters are about you!” Everyone laughed. Eliza smiled and said lightly, “Maybe it’s Clarissa. She writes with both hands.”
That passing remark caused a ripple. Clarissa stiffened. Her face betrayed her shock. Eliza had, without meaning to, uncovered the truth.
The Final Letter
One final note came later—an accusation that Eliza used inappropriate language in class. But the management didn’t react. By then, they knew better. Eliza commanded a lot of affection and respect from both students and parents. Management of course tapped the targets but didn’t gather any evidence against Eliza.
Why were there complaints against only one teacher, repeatedly? The answer, at last, was obvious. Jealousy.
Reflection: The Grace in Endurance
To this day, Eliza doesn’t fully understand why Clarissa felt so threatened. She had never competed, never claimed to be superior. But she knows this: when someone feels small, they will try to make others feel smaller. When they can’t match your light, they’ll try to dim it.
But Eliza never retaliated. Never gossiped. Never lost her love for teaching.
She just kept showing up, lesson plans in hand, and heart open. In the end, it’s not the whispers in the staffroom that define a teacher—but the voices of children who remember them with affection, long after the last bell has rung.
Have you ever experienced silent sabotage at work? How did you rise above it?
Let’s talk about quiet resilience, professional jealousy, and the courage to stay true in the face of shadows.
29 Responses
Very interesting I am going through this at the moment .hmmm.
A 25 yr old thinks I am past it and shuld step down she keeps goi g round from ond person to another and to my face says I give her motherly feeling……..
Not realising I have been working in this field long before she was born.
Ugh, ageism and condescension can be so draining! 😒 You’re not defined by your age, and your contributions speak for themselves 🙌. Keep shining, you’ve earned your place!”
This is a must read for one and all . Very engagingly written .Keep writing . Keep inspiring dear friend .🤗
Thank you so much for your kind words! 🙏 Means a lot to me. Will definitely keep sharing and inspiring. Your support motivates me to keep writing! 😊
Quite interesting. This happens in all professions. Even I have gone through the same.
Exactly! 🙌 It’s universal and cuts across all professions. Sharing and connecting over these commonalities can be really helpful! 😊
You made the read a very interesting one. Love you teacher
Aww, thank you so much! 😊 Your kind words warm my heart. I’m glad I could make the read interesting for you. Appreciate the love! ❤️
This write-up is a must adopt lesson in right character building, and sticking to the values, principles that come along with it. You have effectively communicated that truth prevails after all. Found it to be very relatable, especially in the professional environment.
I am not sure about any evident sabotage experience at work. However, on few occasions, I felt that it has happened behind my back. ‘Silent’ kind if I may call it. More risky I feel, as a lot of time passes before you even realize. I did not pay much attention to it, due to lack of evidence may be. I focused (my energy) on doing my job right, and prove myself through my work. Thankfully, no one had the opportunity to point fingers at my work. So, if at all there were any conspirators, they failed is what I think.
Totally agree! 🙌 Your approach to focusing on your work and proving yourself is inspiring. ‘Silent’ sabotage can be particularly challenging to navigate, but staying committed to your values and delivering quality work is the best way to rise above. It’s great that you didn’t let potential negativity distract you from your goals. 👍
In the end,I can only say that if you are facing such toxic things make your work speak louder than your words . Because you are the best in that only:)
Toxic people can’t compete with you 😡
So true! Letting your work speak for itself is a powerful way to deal with toxic people. Your dedication and excellence will always outshine the noise! 💫👏
Secret rivalry at work is very damaging
Absolutely! 🤯 Secret rivalry can create a toxic work environment and undermine trust. It’s crucial to address and resolve conflicts openly to maintain a healthy and productive workplace. 🙌
A Beautiful piece …loved it
Aw, thank you so much! 😊 I’m glad you enjoyed it. Your kind words mean a lot! 🙏
This happened in all profession.even i have gone through when i was in teaching profession but your experience is very interesting and keep inspiring
Thanks for sharing your experience! 😊 It’s great to hear that you’ve been through similar situations in your teaching profession. Your kind words mean a lot, and I’m glad my story could inspire you! 💫📚
Very interesting….Keep on writing 🌻🌻🌻🌻
Thanks for your encouragement. 🙏
Very well written piece! Enjoyed reading.
Thank you so much! I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🤩
It is true many people face this kind of behavior without a fault of theirs. Any area of work be it the lowest paid or highest paid employee these kind of jealousy or hatred is evidently seen.
Absolutely…!! Workplace jealousy and hatred can be pervasive, regardless of the role or pay scale. It’s unfortunate, but true, that many people face unfair treatment due to others’ insecurities.
As usual, no words to appreciate the narration. 😊
I assume the names of the people used here are fictitious, similar to that of the name of the academy, and not the real ones.
In the past I had joined my college back to teach 2D animation. I had an year’s experience in teaching in a polytechnic sometime before that. I had also acquired few certifications and work experience in 2D animations, and good amount freelancing experience then.
So this college that I joined back had my old known college friend who was also a faculty and a senior. Initially things were good between us and then things started rolling the other ways. I got a lot of students to join. I counselled students and parents. Gave demos. Mr. J prevailed in my friend’s mins and started playing games. Luckily by then my work had already proven my credibility and I did not deter from me being myself. I had already gained enough love and respect from all including management.
All that I wanted a peaceful environment and good relationship. So I made sure that no promotions come in between us and I routed any such opportunities to my friend.
I even made sure that my behaviour towards him never changed thought he changed and resented me.
But i guess finally patience and perseverance to get back him as a good friend, was a success.
He changed himself for good and understood what he was doing was wrong. Since then we are good friends even today. 😊
Even till date that experience is a great motivation for me.
Thank you for making me bring out my learnings again.
I see two typos, sorry about them. Please ignore or read them as *mind and *though.
The autocorrect pushed in words that i didn’t want into this small box flod feedback where I missed them. 😊
I know you understand and thanks a lot for that. 🤗
I understand…..no issues there!
Thank you so much for sharing your story—it’s truly inspiring. 🌟
Yes, the names and the academy were fictionalized, but the emotions and situations were very real.
Your journey reflects strength, integrity, and deep emotional intelligence. It’s heartening to see how you stayed true to yourself, focused on your work, and handled a difficult situation with so much grace. Not many would have the maturity to prioritize peace over ego and still extend warmth to someone who had changed towards them.
The fact that your patience paid off and the friendship was restored is beautiful. Stories like yours are a reminder that staying grounded and kind, even when things get tough, can lead to lasting respect and meaningful connections.
I’m so glad this piece helped you revisit that powerful experience. Thank you for bringing it here. 😊🙏
Thank you for summarizing so beautifully 🙏