My name is Stephannie E. Evangelista.

I was born on November 24, 2003 in

Bancoro, Daykitin, Buenvista, Marinduque, and I am 19 years old already. I am the eldest
child and the only girl of my parents. I have two younger brothers that are both high
school students. My father is from Bancoro, Daykitin in which where I grew up and live
now, while my mother is from Tabionan, Gasan. Growing up, my parents struggled to
meet our needs. We didn't even have our own house back then. When I was younger, my
father worked as a driver, driving a friend's jeepney. And it is still a vivid memory for me
of my parents struggling to meet our basic needs, but fortunately, my grandmother was
able to assist us financially. My mother enrolled me in a private school because she
believes that starting my education in a private school will provide me with a solid
foundation. However, due to the high cost of tuition, my mother decided to enroll me in a
public school when I entered kindergarten. But, fortunately, my aunt paid my tuition and
books, so I could continue attending that school for another year. Years have passed, and I
have witnessed all of my parents' sacrifices in order to provide a better life for us, and
now I am slowly repaying it through my academic achievements, and I promise myself
that if I am already a teacher, I will be the one responsible for this family.
When it comes to personal strengths, I am an optimist who believes in the
possibility of a positive outcome in any given situation. I am a multi-tasker, which allows
me to do multiple tasks and activities at the same time, allowing me to be more
productive and save time. Furthermore, I am a flexible person who can adapt to changes
and think creatively about problems and tasks. And being a believer and follower of God
is something I consider to be a source of strength because I believe he always guides me
in my daily life and gives me the courage to face various challenges in life. As my
strengths boost my confidence, my weaknesses lower my self-esteem; and this is one of
my problems that I have yet to solve. Concerning my weaknesses, I am a shy person,
which I despise because it limits my to show my abilities and express my ideas and
opinions. I also have a fear of speaking in front of a crowd, which causes me anxiety and
impairs my performance. I understand that a teacher should not have these weaknesses,
but I believe that as I pursue this degree, I will overcome them. Apart from that, I am too
emotional and sensitive about certain things, and I take things personally.
My life is like a seesaw, with ups and downs at times. Sometimes I live in a state of
abundance, where everything in my life is perfect, whether it's the financial status of my
family, my academic performance, or my relationships with my friends. For example, I
recall a time when my achievement and a blessing for my family both occurred on the
same day. It was the day that despite the difficulties in online learning set up, I graduated
with honors, and then my grandmother's operation was successful. I'll never forget that
day because it was like a magical day when God allowed me to be extremely happy. On
the other hand, there have been times in my life when I felt as if I were carrying the
weight of the world. I'll never forget how hard the pandemic hit my family. Our family's
income has dwindled to the point where we are struggling to eat three times a day. And I
recall seeing my mother cry one day because we didn't have rice to cook and didn't have
the money to buy some. It was heartbreaking to see my mother cry for the first time, and
those days were depressing for me because I couldn't help my parents in their lonely
times.
"There are no failures—only results to learn from," is my life philosophy. I've
always believed that there is no such thing as failure because it is simply a learning
experience that must be endured in order to reach the goal. For me, the words "success"
and "failure" simply represent two different types of feedback. However, these two words
are words of destination for me, and we never really stops at a destination. If one receives
positive feedback, it means that something is working and should be expanded upon; if
one receives negative feedback, it means that something isn't working and should be
improved; and I always believe that every faltering step is still a step.
After finishing college and passing the licensure exam, I hope to return to my alma
mater, Buenavista National High School. I intend to become an effective teacher for my
students, and I hope that my words of wisdom will inspire many of them. I will strive to
have a joyful learning environment for my students where they can enjoy while learning.
While teaching, I plan to pursue a Master's degree in order to become a professor and
serve at Marinduque State College.