Showing posts with label catholic teachers' day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label catholic teachers' day. Show all posts

Thursday, January 28, 2016

On Being Destined to Be a Teacher


This was our board at the MatSci Department yesterday.  I was not there when these words were written.  I wasn't there to contribute any of these sentiments and realizations.  I wasn't there to pour my heart out but these were more than my very own hugot lines!  Because first and foremost, I did NOT choose to become a teacher.  I never ever wanted to be one!  However, I already had this gut feeling when I was still in high school that God wants me to become a teacher.  So I left Ozamiz, studied in MSU-IIT, took up Chemical Engineering, became a licensed Chemical Engineer, landed an engineering job in Manila, and had another in an industrial plant in Cebu.  I wandered far and long from the will of God.  I tried everything just to keep away from what He wants me to do.  Long story short, I never felt at home in all those places I went to.  My ending, went back home and did nothing for 7 months!

Then I still didn't want to become a teacher.  I did data-entry encoding, call center, secretary, online writing, and entrepreneur wannabe (now wannabe no more).  I tried all jobs not related to my field, kulang nalang was to apply as a domestic helper.  Promise, I was also willing to be one if only I had my own money to pay for the placement agency at that time.  Kaloka talaga my tambay days back then!  Until came such a time that I suddenly went to MUHS and applied as a secondary science teacher.  So I did become a teacher!

Teacher, teacher, teacher!  I was already a teacher but I didn't act like a teacher.  I just did the profession out of necessity so I've got something to do because at that time, I didn't care if I have money or not.  I'd rather not have money than do things I hate.  But I had nothing else to do and I also didn't want to forget what I've learned in college.  Blood, sweat, and tears lang naman ang ipinuhonan sa IIT, noh!  So I also wanted to share whatever knowledge I have.

Then off I went from school to school!  From MUHS, Medina College, to La Salle University.  OMG!  I just realized!  I am now on my 7th teaching year!  On my first job, I only spent 10 days.  Second job, 11 months.  And now, it already took me years in this teaching job?!  Oh, what a surprise!  Isn't it obvious that this is where I should be?  In 7 years, quota na ako!  Well actually, when a high school batchmate visited me at the store last Monday and asked me why am I settling for less here in Ozamiz 'coz she knows my potential earnings when I do a chemical engineering job abroad, it was my very first time to finally give an answer!  With conviction, I told her that this is where I'm meant to be!  First time ever, through my words I've come to realize that I had already accepted that I am a TEACHER!  This is my fate.  This is my calling.  This is my vocation.  This is my mission.  Though it took me 7 years to understand, I now have the heart for teaching!

Anyway, you might be getting me wrong in this.  I am not only saying this because my energy is still too high from yesterday's celebration of Catholic Teachers' Day.  I'm not only saying this because I was super happy during the celebration and super delighted with my students' surprises.  But I am saying this to officially decide to myself that I'll keep teaching until there are students who are willing to be taught.  When momentum gives way to gravity, I fall!  Fall in love with the teaching profession because I am destined to become a teacher!

The Day Started with This
And This
And This
Then Ended Up Like This!
The friendship I have with the MatSci Department keeps me going through these years!          
Once again, thank you so much to the Supreme Student Council for the very bongga Catholic Teachers' Day celebration!  And to my Physics majors who never fail me all this time!  Thank you so much, guys for the effort, hard work, thoughtfulness, and love.  Your love notes truly inspires me to continue being a "mother" not only to you but also to all my other students as well.  As always, it is my students who are my dear inspiration!  :)    

Balloons by Fascino

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Monday, January 27, 2014

Feeling Old and Sentimental on Catholic Teachers' Day

"Becoming a teacher was the least mental imagery I ever had in my entire being. I never wanted to become one because I never wanted to be like my old maid teacher aunt. She always complains about her job. She complains about her students, her paper works, her lesson plan, her principal, and everything! She always grumbles about her fate and tells us never to become like her."
- Excerpt from I Heart MUHS (Oct. 1, 2011)

But I did became like her!  And like her, I also complain a lot, grumble more, and rant some more!

"After all the denials, I had accepted the more-than-fact/truth of me being a teacher.  But for the longest time, here I go again doubting!  Why on earth did I ever involve myself into this very dreadful fate that I had kept on running away from?  God, I don't wanna regret forever in this decision that I had made.  What should I do?  Is it too late for a change?  But I swear, I had done things to let me learn to love my rightful profession (From One Career To Another To Another).  Or maybe I'm just paranoid with fear.  I don't know.  I really don't know...."
- Excerpt from Smart But Unwise (Aug. 20, 2012)

However, I had found meaning in this career path.

"Without our teamwork, Science Week would have not materialized. All activities were because of the kids, by the kids, and for the kids. It was a tremendous success for the whole school. And as for me as a faux science teacher, it was a great achievement!  Nothing is impossible if you just have a willing heart. Thus, I became one of the nerds who learned to love science as my model students had. And this post is for them, my Besties in Science."
- Excerpt from Reminiscing Science Week (Nov. 15, 2011)

Despite the complaints, grumbles, and rants, I found fulfillment deep in my heart.

"Teaching for quiet sometime now had given me my ups and downs.  It has been a roller coaster ride to me - being mad, being happy, being annoyed, being playful, and being exasperated with students!  But as I go along the way in this career, there are also surprises which keep me going." 
- Excerpt from When Their Success Becomes Also My Success (June 2, 2013)

But tonight I'm in doubt again.  With more than half of the two sections that I'm presently handling right now having failing grades for midterm, the regrets creep in again.  

"Maybe because I'm getting older that's why my patience is not that much as I had before.
Or maybe because of my boring subject that kids had already mindset-ly and honestly loathed
Or maybe it is because of my negative attitude toward the kids that kept them from liking me.
Or maybe because I had promised not to be over-emotionally attached to my students anymore.
Can I still turn back the time when I was once called a Ma'amy, a Ma'ama, and a Ma'amsky?"
- Excerpt from Looking for a Reason to Stay (Jan. 29, 2013)

Then I'm starting to question myself again.  Am I still eligible to become a teacher?  So here I go browsing some old photos to remind myself and encourage myself to go on.  

The First Rose I Ever Received as a Teacher
Teachers' Day (Sept. 28, 2009, MUHS)
First Set of Gifts Received
Teachers' Day (Sept. 28, 2009, MUHS)
First Set of Love Notes Received
First Set of Presents Received from My Pharmacy Students
First World Teachers' Day (Oct. 5, 2012, Medina College)
Some IG photos of the pahabol presents for World Teachers' Day 2012:




Surely, gifts can't buy grades but these photos of such so-called "gifts" remind me of the beauty I had found in teaching.  I admit, I cannot be a great teacher but I am doing all the best I can to become good.  It just aches me to fail students, you know.  So I will just credit their failing grades to the subject which is of course, the dreadful Physics!

Happy Catholic Teachers' Day to all my colleagues! :)

Program at the Arts Center
Lunch at MatSci Department
Purchasing Lasallian Items at the Bookstore