REFLECTION PAPER ABOUT MY INTERSHIP JOURNEY

I’m uncertain where to begin, but possibly with my introduction to teaching a Grade 8
class with garments focus. The experience was a mixture of delight, thrill, and apprehension,
primarily because the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated a shift in our social norms, and I
witnessed numerous individuals flouting the one-meter physical distancing protocol. I have a
two-hour class scheduled from 9:45 to 11:45 in the morning with Grade 8 students, during which
I will conduct a discussion and then move on to conducting laboratory work. The sum total of
these numbers is 48 and they hold significant importance. Despite the early hour, I am
immensely fatigued and could easily drift off to sleep following this interval. Back in the day, I
came to understand how dissimilar those children were to us. I encountered a significant
challenge when I discovered that the female students were not excelling, which was an
uncommon occurrence during my era. Although I had the option of releasing it, I chose not to, as
I am convinced that pupils require external incentives. Subsequently, I resolved to generate
commendation vouchers that acknowledge individuals for their outstanding effort, regardless of
the incomplete status of their assignment, as long as they are making progress towards achieving
it. Within two hours of offering my reward tickets, I observe my students being driven to
complete tasks with great enthusiasm.

B However, from that point forward, I am forced to confront actuality. Teaching has
presented me with a highly demanding task. Despite having 35 battles to conquer, their
diversified personalities, cultures, beliefs and upbringings often leave me feeling disillusioned
and unwilling to continue as a teacher. The following day, I strategized on handling the
management of my classroom. My fellow student teachers inquire about the reason behind our
boisterousness and mirthful behavior during our afternoon gatherings, and on occasions when we
are not laughing, we engage in singing. I am aware that they perceived me to be insane, and I
derive pleasure from such a label. I started to understand my students, how they learn and what
motivate them to learn. But my approach for them is not just based on my perspective as some
experts claim that children who don’t have enough play will less likely to learn. I enjoyed testing
what I learned from books such as what John Dewey believe that learning is by doing. In my
Grade 8 class where we have laboratory works, I strictly don’t allow any students to teach their
classmates especially in operating the machine. I want to see if it is true, and yes, they learn by
doing as they realized it in a real-life situation.

During my journey, I came to the realization that making an effort to recall the names of
students cultivates a sense of appreciation and acknowledgement among learners. Rather than
criticizing their actions, analyze the factors involved and utilize them to devise strategies for
imparting knowledge. Ensure that your student remains engaged and stimulated during their
learning journey, as young individuals are motivated by enthusiasm and energy. A further point is
to establish oneself as a trustworthy source of support for their psychological and emotional
wellbeing. Finally, don't opt for teaching just because it is considered an effortless option, as
your mother might have suggested. Instead, select this profession if you possess a generous
nature that is both capable of extending love and accepting it in return. It is disheartening to
witness many teachers becoming irate over minor issues and resorting to belittling their pupils.
Some of my students fear their adviser and avoid contact with them. If we are not passionate
about our work, we tend to harbor resentful feelings towards our colleagues for imposing
"adverse stress" upon us. When we have a genuine passion for our work, we are able to operate
in a constructive manner, and our efforts generate purely positive stress. Neither anger nor
hatred. The realization that certain educators express their frustration towards pupils struck me as
disheartening, particularly considering that some of these pupils hold personal narratives that
instructors are unaware of. My experience as an intern at DEPeD reminded me to stay humble
each day. I had the belief that by enforcing my principles and standards upon these students, I
could offer them excellent education. In some way, they were able to impart education in a
manner that was both enjoyable and unpretentious. Their humility and sincerity are so genuine
that even when I reprimand them for their negative actions, I cannot help but forgive them.

May 12, 2023 was a day I'll always cherish, as my co-teacher and students presented me
with a lovely surprise of flowers and cake, celebrating my final day at school. My anticipation of
a delightful experience is now overshadowed by the sight of their tears as I prepare to depart,
leading me to question my actions over the past three months. When I reflect on our past
experiences, a torrent of vivid memories rush through my mind like bolts of lightning. We enjoy
ourselves, acquire knowledge, move to the rhythm, melodiously express our voices, I become
displeased by their actions, they receive a sermon, exchange sagacity, and offer salutations. I
perceived it as an ordinary situation, nevertheless, these students evoked a sense of restraint and
yearning for an affectionate mentor. It's gratifying to witness how my departure elicits emotional
responses from my students. Their teary eyes serve as validation that I have succeeded in my
teaching internship. Leaving the school on my last day of duty was a truly wonderful experience,
as I depart with a willingness to embrace diversity and regard it with an open heart. In a brief
period, I managed to leave a significant impression and affect their existence. I consider this to
be a lasting memory in my life that I will always treasure, and I earnestly desire that my pupils
will realize their aspirations at some point. There’s a teacher from LVHS who said, “if you
wanted to be on DEpED, you need a big heart to love, to understand and accept whoever your
student is, as you cannot choose them. They are given to you like you give them birth.”