A Single Step as I Entered another Chapter of My Life

(A Narrative of Teaching Experience) Ruthciel Cortez Araez I trust Him because He loves and blesses me all day. His unconditional love never fades nor withers. And thats Im thanking to Him. The blessings and the health that He showered and will shower to me, my family and to the people around me are just few of the things I cannot live without. They are my treasures more than any other precious stones here in this world. My inspirations in pursuing the higher level of my life are them. And the flame that is burning in my heart is telling meTEACH! April 24, 2011, I got up very early for that day I will be facing an interview and I will be having a demonstration at Holy Cross Davao College. I was very nervous even the days prior from that I could feel the tension. I prepared my visual aids, lesson plan, and my application letter. I practiced several times to familiarize my lessons. Even before sleeping I thought of the order of my lesson so that I wont be lost in the middle of my presentation. And honestly, I was not yet able to overcome my shyness. But I tried to face it since it can affect my future. And I might lose the opportunity. And together with my father we went to HCDC. Apparently, I asked him to accompany me because Im not that very familiar to the places in downtown. Im afraid I might be lost. There I and my father met Sr. Paz, the principal of Assumption Academy of Monkayo. She interviewed me, asked me questions and luckily she accepted me. She said that my demonstration will be on the actual teaching there at AAM. I looked at my father and smiled at him. I was very lucky then. May 28 and 29, I prepared my things and packed everything that I need. I was excited to go to Monkayo. On the other hand, I was feeling lonely too since I will be leaving home. And its my first time to be far from my family and love ones. But I have to do it even if I will be missing home and everything and everyone I will be leaving. However, as I anticipated things, I chose not to worry anymore since my father let my brother go with me so that I will not be alone and lonely there. With it I was relieved. May 30, I got all my requirements needed because the next day will be my trip to Monkayo. As much as possible I should be able to submit it to our principal. Then at that very day I received a text message from Sr. Paz, asking if I can report tomorrow. I answered her back that I cant because I wasnt able to get my requirements. And while I was falling in line in front of the District hall to get my Cedula my classmate approached me. She will also get her Cedula. Through out our conversation she mentioned that our school, HCCC is closed and all teachers were having a retreat. Then, we cant get our TOR. So I texted my father to bring all my things because I will be going to Monkayo. I hadnt formally bid goodbye to my friends and relatives because I suddenly made up my mind. Hours later, my younger brother arrived with our pieces of baggage. My father then paid the driver and helped him unload our luggage. Then, we went to the L3 terminal bound to downtown. While traveling I kept silent since I felt so dizzy. When we arrived at the bus terminal my father told us to wait for a while for he will find a bus that is bound to Monkayo but he did not

find any so we rode in a bus bound for Tagum. It was my very first time to reach the place. Several times we stopped when we reached different bus terminals. And I chose to sleep while traveling because Im not used in traveling such far distance. Around five oclock in the afternoon, my father woke us up. He said we were already in Monkayo. The next thing we did after getting off from the bus was to eat our lunch. And after that I communicated with my auntie since we got no relatives living here. But she, my aunt knows someone and who can help us sleep just for a night and look for a boarding house the next day. But when we got there, at the house of that friend of hers I noticed that we cant sleep there since the space is not enough and that we are three. The room was too small and full of things they own. I communicated with Gen, my friend and classmate since she came before that day. And she had already a boarding house. Then we went to her boarding house and bid goodbye and said thank you to my aunts friend. That night suddenly, had a black out. There was no light at all. It was very dark and it was hard for my father to look for a tricycle. He had walked going to the wet market to find any and there was. We reached the house. It was a nice house but expensive. Temporarily we will live there. We will try to look for another house which is not very expensive. The dawn was breaking. I woke up and I got a thought. My father too had awakened. I talked to him. I told him that the house is very expensive and I dont know if I can afford it with my salary. I was thinking that my salary is low besides what I was after of is the experience. I became sad because my father decided to bring my brother back home. I feared being left and alone. And even though its hard for me chose to let go. We are poor I know it. And because of our condition I have to sacrifice myself and accept pain. I love them and I dont want them to suffer. And my father just borrowed money to be spent for my trip and everything for me to get the job. With those thoughts, I burst into tears and cried silently. My father lifted his hand and touched my face. He kissed me saying that I will no longer feel alone for I will be very busy especially when the classes start. But for me, how I wish not to be left. I wanted to go home with them but I have no choice since I was already there. That day they went home. I kissed my brother and father without knowing when I will be home again. But Papa told me they will just visit me. I dont know when but I tried not to cry again. I have to be strong. I have to be mature and take the challenge and the responsibility. The next day I was in school, my first time to see the place. I met some of my co-teachers. I met again the teachers I first met during our retreat in Gensan. We talked and shared for a while and we made some syllabi, our first assignment as the school year is about to begin. We also took charge of the enrolment wherein we first saw some of the parents and students. As the days passed by, the first day of school had been moved to June 13. Then, I was very hay because our principal told us to get our requirements and together with Genilyn we went home. I was so excited for I will be home again. Yet the clock spin like a top we got few hours to be with our families. Days later we traveled back to Monkayo. First day of school, June 13, 2011 our students arrived in school. All teachers were there. A few hours later, we all gathered at the social hall for a short orientation. The teachers were introduced to he students. When my

turn came, my heart beat so fast, again I was feeling very nervous. But I carried my shyness as I spoke in front. I have to gain confidence since this job requires it. After that I came to encounter my students from First year, Second year and Third year. I met my advisory class, II St. Martin. Theyre nice and they I guess found me funny for the first day. They laughed and we introduced our names even our addresses. My first day was fine and I became excited for the next meeting. I had fun with them. And even if they were naughty sometimes I believed theyre nice and funny too. Bu not all the time I had fun and happy moments with them because some of them are hard-headed. Naturally as adolescents they have this mood swings and I understand that. Weeks later the news came and Sr. Paz declared that there is a change of advisory. I will be transferred to I-St. Rose, and my friend Ms. Gen will be the new adviser of II- St. Martin. She was the adviser of III- St. Vincent but because Sr. Lilybeth will not be the adviser of St. Rose the switching of advisory is needed. Within how many days St. Martin became special to me. I told them that I will be still their second adviser. I will also reprimand them if necessary. I liked the latter since I already established a rapport with them. And another adjustment should be taken for my new assignment. I accepted it heartily for I know God has a plan. I was thankful because of the reaction of St. Rose, theyre happy. Theyre happy with their former adviser and they accepted me gladly. As days went by there were many activities being celebrated. Each took part and everyone participated. And what was hard for me is that there were some activities which are not familiar to me. And my students would ask me what they should do and how will they perform it. First its hard for me to explain it to them but because the facilitators of the activities explained it to me, I got an idea and I came to understand it. Activities were not very hard because if you will just ask then youll know it. The hardest part of being a teacher is noticing, reminding, reprimanding and even scolding the students because of their terrible, awful, dreadful behaviors. Every morning I must begin my day with peace in mind, good mood and a happy pure smile. I might be facing tribulations for that particular day so I prepare my mind and open it as wide as I could to understand them. I put on my contact lenses to see the beauty in each student I will be encountering even if theyre hard headed and stubborn. I color my lips to keep a beautiful smile in order to bring light and happiness every time. But not all students would behave like what you tell them to do neither expect nor answer the questions correctly as the other one did. This will make you upset but that is their nature. I did behave like them when I was at their age so I must keep my patience fastened around my wrist and in my head. So I could not hurt them physically and emotionally. But its hard, knowing that youre right and you want them to realize their not doing well. Setting a very high standard will just upset you. Theyre not perfect and so do we. You must let them commit mistakes and help them realize that theyre wrong. And love every mistake for with that, they may learn. Each of them is unique and special that is why in my case I love them as they are as who they are in front of me. I treated them equally as much as I could for being bias is not right for you may show them prejudice. And as a teacher you are not a portrait or a model of prejudice. You must be the JUSTICE because whatever you teach them will be marked in them, will be carved in themHEART, MIND and SOUL. In every decision, consideration and agreement as a teacher you must of course think about it many times to avoid hurting them. Yeah,

we need to set agreement with them and we should abide it. And we must explain the essence of having it. I must not just tell them this and that, and that and this for I must put it in actions too. In every agreement I expect them to be mature although theyre not that old. But I must teach them how to become more responsible in every action theyll make. But I am not perfect. I have lots of lapses and imperfections. And Im sad because some people did not understand. However, I realized that I must accept it because of the fact that we cannot please all people. But what made me sad is that there are people who could just tolerate the wrong doings of their child. My parents are not perfect too but how I wish that as parents they should as much as possible listen to both sides so that theyll know the truth. Parents must not be very overprotective to their children for soon parents will leave their children. Too much tolerance will make children stubborn. Yes, I know that I have many mistakes too but this is just a part of my training as a teacher. But because of this I learned many things. I learned how to stand for my rights and if another case like this will happen again next year or so Ill better know what to do and how to deal with it. Besides, I my family who will comfort me when times like this happen. Reflectively, I got two Fs, one M, and one G in my life. I have them, Fs in my right and left. M is in me and G who is always there for me. My family and friends trust me. And I have me, who never quit. Most especially I have God, who never leaves me. I prayed to Him everything for without Him, Im nothing! In addition with Gods goodness and infinite love I indeed experienced many things which I never imagined nor dreamed it could happen. I reached the places which I never dreamed to be with. But God planned everything before me. And that was a very wonderful experience even if its hard and tedious because of the long trip which made me dizzy. And Im sad for my brothers envy that trip to Luzon. How I wish we could go there together. Ride the plane together. See the Rizal shrine, Tagaytay, Baguio and the huge malls in Manila that were ones just a scene in televisions and pictures in magazines. God is really great! He gives me things and let me experience places that are new and far from my home land. I will never forget that wild trip. Before, I really dream to reach Cotabato, since in our family when my parents and brothers went there I was not able to go with them because of my studies. But now, even though I still never reached that place Im still happy because of that tri to Manila. All first time were tasted there including the ride in the plane. I was a little bit scared for the thought of a plane crash or something. But God is good. We arrived safe and sleepy. I had not taken any picture for I dont have any gadgets to catch the beautiful scenes but in my mind and heart it is already painted! And every experience here will lasts forever, treasured and kept in my HEART. Thanks to God!sss