MY STORY

The young girl who has once dreamt to

become a journalist or news reporter has had
enough inspiration from her mother. With the
flickering light of an oil lamp, she cheerfully
watched her mother preparing her lessons
and checking students papers. The same
young girl used to play the role of a teacher
with her playmates as students. She would
scold her students for not doing their
assignments and gie a !ui" on the things
they learned after the lesson. She also
recounted that she was fond of joining #ittle
$iss %hilippines her playmates organi"ed.
&n the 'uestion and (nswer portion, when
asked what she would like to be, she
oftentimes described her mother wearing
beautiful uniforms and haing nice
penmanship.
The heartwarming experiences and
lessons I learned from my mother provided me
a sturdy source of inspiration in pursuing a
career oftentimes viewed by the society as
low-paying and a least college course
alternative. I also
oftentimes
doubted my
rather weak will
to influence
others thinking
and dreams. The sojourn to what I have become today
was marked with a long and tedious escapade but gave
me a lot of unexpected surprises. The next 11 years of
working with my chosen profession after my graduation in
college and after passing the ugust !""! #$T had been
years not with personal angst and frustration% but with a
reali&ation of what I had to be' a teacher.
(aving the pressure of a mother who established a good
reputation as a teacher and a sister who graduated with
flying colors and teaching in the same school where I studied% the pressure I carried for
three years in college was almost unbearable. This made me recount my high school
years where I landed as second honors after exhausting attempts to be on top. I was
then inspired to do my best to graduate as valedictorian% fresh from my victory in
elementary where I was a consistent first honor pupil from )rades 1 to *. +ecause my
family cannot afford to send me to a leading private school that time% I had to study in the
school chosen by my parents. ,ur valedictorians father being one of our teacher and
my classmates bullying me as a constant crier solidified further my dream to become a
teacher. I had the conviction that come the time that I will be a teacher% I will be fair to all
my students whatever be their backgrounds and status in life.
I thought that it was not enough to have a
dream. I had to study in college where the next
three years had seen me struggling as a
scholar and working student in the cold yet
hospitable realms of the +aguio -olleges
.oundation /+-.0. I was then a consistent
1eans #ister.
2hen I was a fourth year student in college%
I remember that once% I had to attend my
classes in slippers and use donated school
supplies because my things were soaked in
flood because of a typhoon. I had to incessantly
rekindle my desire to graduate% always being
reminded that my mother had to support me
and my three other siblings in our education.
3y father% that time% was jobless.
I had to choose $nglish as my speciali&ation
because I felt that I was weak in this field. This
also
compensated my dream to become a journalist.
(aving the fresh blood and earnestness to be in the field% I cheerfully watched
my seven pupils at 3abini $lementary 4chool as they colored the objects in their
drawing books. This reminded me of my personal 5uest- reali&ing a dream is like putting
a glow to a colorless object through multihued crayons. )ratitude became the memory of
my heart and the seven pupils who became my first angels became the reasons I finally
decided to have a career in
teaching. s a kindergarten
teacher% I had to play
multiple roles' from a
playmate to a sister and from
a disciplinary mother to
finally being a teacher.
6ndaunted by a meager
salary% my daily life as a
7indergarten teacher for one
year and a half /8une !""!-
4eptember !""90 was like a
series of scenes of life that
made me grow an invincible
admiration in my heart to a
teacher. I learned to love
children and they made me reminisce my young years as I watched my mother write her
lesson plan in the mercy of an oil lamp.
I was very eager everytime my mother received her salary because this meant
that I can borrow some amount from her. 3y salary as a 7indergarten teacher was
almost unconvincing. The money I
borrowed from my mother who
always understood my plight was
enough for me to purchase things
I needed% to do instructional
materials and additional learning
aids for my excited% hyperactive
pupils. I cannot contain their bright
eyes as I show pictures and other
visuals which motivated their awe
and enthusiasm to learn. ,ne of
my pupils asked me% :Teacher,
siguro po marami kayong pera
kasi teacher po kayo.; This made
me respond% :(nak, oo, marami
talaga, sige na, tapusin mo na
dino)drawing mo. It was a very heartwarming scene because what I meant was that my
pupils were my wealth. Their smiles% yells% and laughter were more than enough to
soothe my tired hands and
reinvigorate my sleepy eyes.
.rom 4eptember !""9 to 3arch 11%
!""<% I gained not only experience
but deep appreciation of my job. I
worked as a 4ubstitute Teacher at
4an =edro and Tolega >orte
$lementary 4chools which were 5uite
far from our house. This meant that I
had to look forward to uncertainties
and inade5uacies. 6ncertainties
because I was no sure whether I
would have a permanent teaching job
and inade5uacies because being a
substitute teacher meant that I have
to wait before I will receive my salary.
s a substitute teacher% I had to deal
with changing workloads and
indefinite schedules. I felt tired most
of the time and disappointed of my
pupils because of their performance
in class. >onetheless% I still managed
to have the strong spirit to perform
my job. 3y target then was to get
employed as a regular permanent
teacher.
I was hopeful. I was trusting. I
was believing.
?enewed in both
spirit and vigor% I
immediately set my goals
and furthered my
aspirations as a )rade *
4cience% ($74I and
-haracter $ducation
Teacher in the central
school. Indeed% to be
included in a central school
meant something. I was
then assigned as the
1istrict 4cience #eader
after having been
challenged to teach
subjects other than my
speciali&ations. I had then
to study 4cience lessons
and prove my worth as the district leader. I felt another wave of pressure and
expectations as I performed my duties as a teacher in the school. This resulted to
various assignments which not only made me more aware of a teachers job but taught
me leadership% initiative and even personal
sacrifices. -ogni&ant of the meagerness of the
school fund% I had to outsource fund from my
pupils parents and civic-spirited people to
support minor classroom and e5uipment repairs
particularly repainting and fixing of chairs. I was
reminded of the times that I had to borrow from
my mother for me to purchase additional
instructional materials to aid in students learning.
3eanwhile% as a -haracter $ducation
Teacher% I reali&ed that pupils learning should be
highlighted with values and character. This made
me further appreciate my job as a teacher of not only skills and knowledge but as a
developer of great and humane hearts in my pupils.
s I age in the system% I gained experiences and reali&ations that made me more
strong and committed. I began to be more aware and responsive to the inade5uacy of
resources% lack of instructional materials and insufficient opportunities for personnel
development. This is not to mention the
pressure I feel every time I see the real picture
of teaching nowadays. 3y experiences as a
studious% obedient% and enthusiastic pupil and
students are marred with the real-life
experiences of children who bully and are
misbehaving and troublesome% sometimes
unsupportive community and parents% and
diminishing social recognition of teachers.
This makes me reinvigorated to initiate and
implement doable programs such as tree-
planting and community outreach as the @$4-
, dviser and motivate parents to share their
services in the school being a class dviser in )rade *.
s to instruction% I have the continuous desire to strengthen weak skills of
through appropriate interventions% initiate and teach in ?emedial -lasses% share
innovations to other district science teachers% strengthen not only performance but more
importantly good attitude and character to my pupils and discover the potency of
technology in assisting childrens learning and social awareness.
I am not always contented with the
output of my efforts as a teacher but I
would definitely not switch the
personal satisfaction I had in teaching
all these years to anything in this
world.
fter a decade of being so
engrossed with my chosen career% I
was even inspired to pursue a
confirmation of my dedication to the
occupation I chose. Through the
support of the $duardo -ojuangco
.oundation /$-.0 =roject .?$$
=rogram and Tarlac 4tate 6niversity% I
had finished an 3 in $ducation after
barely three years% this time
speciali&ing in 3usic% rts% and =hysical $ducation /3=$0% after having been
challenged to pursue other teaching fields.
The time-demanding and challenging job I have chosen is more of continuous
desire and inspiration to help and support others. I am appreciative of the good people in
the teaching job who always made me inspired' my co-teachers and school head. -ome
the time% I want to extend the same motivation to others.
(aving gained a comparatively enough amount of experience and courage and
with the support of the
=roject .?$$-4ulong Tarlac
through the Tarlac =rovincial
)overnment% I embarked
with another act of
confirming my commitment
to the profession. I started
taking a doctorate degree in
=hilosophy speciali&ing in
Instructional 3anagement in
>ovember !"19. .or almost
a year now% I further gained
deep understandings of the
educational system and
attained a wider perspective
in the role of teachers in
making instruction and
learning happen among the youth.
(aving the goal to finish my =h1 course% I will then be committed to give my
utmost services as teacher and accept work without hesitation. The kind of education
that is service-oriented%
indeed% represents all the
lessons that I learned and
will learn in this course.
3y dedication to
finish my studies roots not
only to my desire for self-
fulfillment but more
importantly% for me to help
others better% particularly
my pupils who need my
concern as their teacher.
Today% my mothers
influence has gone very
far. In the family% three of
the children became
teachers. lthough my
sister is working in Indonesia% she preferred to teach there and practice what she has
been educated. 3y other sister is also an elementary teacher while my brother is a
3echanical $ngineering graduate and is now working as a manager.
I am hopeful. I am trusting. I am believing.
I always recount my mothers unwavering dedication to the job I also love today
as she wrote her lesson plans in the compassion of the light of an oil lamp. 4he is now
retired and happily sees me wear my beautiful uniform% the same beautiful uniform I
described when asked in a playtime pageant we enjoyed in my young years with my
peers.
There have
been instances that I
felt that I should earn
more by trying my
luck abroad but
because of my deep
appreciation of my
mothers sacrifices for
us to get educated% I
prefer to stay in the
country and teach. In
so doing% I would be
able to look after my
mother at the same
time.
4till alluding to
the good example set
by my mother% I have
become more
inspired to do the best that I can to help my pupils. 3y mother still coaches me in the
correct preparation of instructional materials and visual aids. Together with the discipline
fostered by my father% my mother also taught me to use my time properly. I was then
instilled the value of allocating time for family.
Today% I feel that the devotion which I built towards the cause of educating the
youth has grown deeper. +ecause of the feeling of being blessed% I would like to share
my talents and skills to the young children who mirror my dreams may years ago.
(aving had the plan to have my own family% it would be a dream fulfilled for me to
teach my own children% see them grow and be teachers like me. The same right and
positive values taught to me by my parents will be my best reference in raising my
children. The familys tradition of
teachers% hopefully% will continue.
Indeed% the good deeds made by a
teacher will become a legacy which
will be forever remembered by the
ones who were influenced.
3y decision of becoming a
teacher had compensated me
more than any profession in this
world. I see myself serving 1ep$d
in the coming years' a happy and
fulfilled life with my children and
family.
3ore importantly% I always
reminisce the times I had been with
my seven 7indergarten pupils who provided me with the wealth of inspiration and
motivation. I would never forget their bright and enthusiastic eyes which gave me seven
important possessions which I learned to have all these years of teaching' mind% heart%
eyes% hands% smile% hope and trust% and optimism.