Life as a Teacher

 1. MAY--JUNE 2009; After graduating in March 2009, I wanted a job right away. Since review for NLE will start in September, I made use of my time and started gaining experience as a nurse from May to June and stopped because I went to the US for Kuya's wedding. I volunteered as a pediatric nurse under Tita Laarni who was very kind and patient in teaching me the basics of being a graduate nurse. I taught piano to 4 kids also to earn a little. =)

Dealing with them, especially in hospital setting is difficult but I just love kids so much!

2. DECEMBER 2009-JANUARY 2010; I decided to stay and find a job in Pinas while waiting for the NLE results. Many of us, Klement, were accepted to teach English to Korean students at the Seventh-day Adventist Language Center in Silang, Cavite. It felt good to receive our first pay which was P13,000, which was good enough already considering we had free meals, lodging, tours & memorable experiences.

Teachers with Sam Yook University Students at Chateau Royale, Batangas

3. JANUARY--FEBRUARY 2010; We had to look for another job in Cavite since SYU students only stayed for 6 weeks. We ended up as English teachers to Korean students privately managed by a pastor. There was actually no vacancy for Jean Grace and I but we were accepted upon knowing that we graduated from MVC and we spoke good English. Just to give us work, we baby-sited in the morning and taught bigger children in the afternoon. Baby-siting the most challenging job, ever! hehehe

I love this kid despite the challenge of dealing with tantrums

It was an emotional & painful good-bye.
Her Mom had to forcefully carry her away from me. 

We had to walk 1 km away from this gate to reach the house where we worked.

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4. MARCH 2010--to PRESENT (AUG.2012); 

Teaching at Marshall Islands High School

After the December NLE Passers' Oath-taking in February, I was hired in March 2010 to teach Life Science to 5 sections of 10th graders for the 4th quarter of the school year 2010-2011 .

March--June 2010; 10J was my homeroom advisory class

       

School year 2010-2011; 10G was my homeroom advisory class

School year 2011-2012; 10E was my homeroom advisory class

      For the school year 2011-2012, I was given a heavier task. I took charge of Health Academy 1 (11th grade) and Health Academy 2 (12th grade). Health Academy 2 is just like Health Care 1 in nursing schools in the Philippines. Here, when they graduate from high school, they may be able to work already. That's why vocational subjects like Health Academy in 11th and 12th grade prepare them to work even as high school graduates only. Health Academy 2 exposes students to hospital work during the 4th quarter. They stay there for the whole morning and come back to school in the afternoon. They were rotated every week to different clinical areas in the hospital. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters were very stressful since it was my first time to teach Health Academy 1 and 2. Health Academy 2 was especially stressful because I had to teach 2 hours everyday. Imagine, 1 teacher (clinical instructor in Philippine setting) to 30 students and I had to train all of them to do basic nursing skills. 

End of the year party at the back of our house

THE HEALTH CLUB

I'm extra proud of these students for joining the Health Club. We do community service!

           Before I fell in love with nursing, I wanted the easier way out and thought of being a teacher. I took education subjects before internship. But the call to be a nurse was much stronger so I graduated as a BSN. However, I think teaching really runs in my blood since both my parents are educators. For 3 years now, I have been teaching. Soon, I will have to leave this profession to practice my nursing career. But I love teaching and I'm sure I'd go back to this profession someday. 

       I am very impatient and intolerant of imperfection. Teaching has taught me to be patient, more understanding and to truly care for others. It is true that teaching is the noblest profession. A teacher's influence is eternal. I have been teaching Life Science and Health but I'm sure my students will remember more of the practical lessons of reality and the importance of values. It is true that teaching is very draining emotionally and psychologically. We deal with approximately 120 students with different family background, financial status, religion, beliefs, behaviors and attitudes. I'm thankful for my strong background in normal and abnormal human behavior. I'm thankful for my strong background in growth and development. I'm thankful for my strong background in teaching strategies. Teaching is a sacred calling. You not only instill knowledge, but you shape them to what they will become. Teaching isn't just mere imparting of lessons. The heavier responsibility is to inspire them to learn. Anybody can be a teacher but the best teachers inspire students to become better persons.

           God knows I gave my all. It is very rewarding to see students change for the better. It is very inspiring to hear students saying they're lives have changed because of you. It is such great joy to know that your care and love to them is reciprocated. I have been trying to build walls and distance myself from them because I don't want to be emotionally attached and be hurt when it's time to separate ways. But still, I have learned to love and care for each one of them that giving up my dreams and ambitions and putting my life at a halt for 2 years and a half (running for 3?) to be in this Island seems easy. 

MIHS FACULTY

         

           This has been what I have been doing since I graduated. It hasn't made me rich. It hasn't given me a master's or doctor's degree. But I know I have been doing God's work. I am self-actualized because I know I have made a difference in this world. I am certain that my influence to some, if not all students, is eternal.