Live, Love, and Learn!

When there is a will, there is a way.

It was on May 16, 2006, the first day of our batch's calculus workshop.

When we were told of having a calculus workshop, I felt nervous because I do not know if I will be able to understand the different concepts, formulas, or anything about this "dreadful" subject.

Honestly, it is hard for me to deal on subjects that needs problem solving or subjects which deals with numbers. In other words, I hate mathematics. I hate it not just because it deals with numbers of different kind but because I can not understand this subject no matter how I try.

Don't you know that during my elementary life I used to be one of the bests in math in our section. Yes, it is true. But the moment I entered the gates of the university I experienced difficulties in understanding the different concepts in the subject Math. Do you know why? It is because in my elementary life our discussion were late compared to the other schools. We have not been taught any Algebra problems. This is really the problems faced by students entering high school without enough knowledge, student that came from public schools, students like me.

During the first day of our workshop, my nervousness lengthen. We were told if what section do each one of us belongs. And guess what? I was on the list of students belonging to Section C. I made a conclusion that the section where I belong was the section for the weakest in MATH. Well, I am already expecting it because I know that I am one of the weakest.

We were told that the person that will handle our section were Ranyah, the valedictorian, and Marlou, one of the Math whiz of their Batch. They have one similarity, they were both known for being two of the leading personalities when it comes to numbers.

At first, I thought Ranyah was a harsh teacher, but no, she was perfect! She knows calculus very much. We were able to understand her discussions clearly and systematically. She also jams with us. She laughs at our jokes and in return she gives jokes which can really tickle us deep to our bones. She had changed me. She made me become a better person. Because of her I became willing to study the most difficult subject on earth, calculus. That is why everytime we were given assignment I was able to do it on my own without getting help from the more knowledgeable. My classmates approaches me for some corrections. Everytime we had test I was to be one of the top scorers.

Despite all these achievements, I stayed humble. Sometimes my student teachers acknowledge me and appreciate me for being one of their best student. I felt flattered and proud of myself. That was the first time I was admired and appreciated by someone better than I. I realized that living, accepting and loving the subject you once hated is one way a person can learn.

That was a summer experience I will never, ever forget. Because of that experience I was able to improve myself disposition on a difficult subject, calculus. So I advice everyone that to be able to learn what you want to learn, live and love it first and after that I am sure you will learn that thing more than you are expecting.

TeAChing MY FellOW CLaSsmAtes.....

Teachers are really needed in our society. They are important in our society because they are the only one authorized to give education to every child. Being educated is important in this world of chaos. It give you knowledge of some things that are hard to understand. It makes you understand the different process around you, the secret behind all that is happening in your surroundings. Why the sky is blue, what is the real shape of the earth, etceters, etcetera.

Just imagine the world without teachers. Maybe the people would end up hurting each other because of misunderstandings. Maybe everyone's life would be confusing and chaotic because of so many questions entering their minds without sure answers.

Though teachers are widely needed all over the globe. I noticed that as time goes by, students entering college do not want to take up the education course. Do you know why? It is because being a teacher is tiresome and stressful. Teachers also do not receive good salaries especially if they are teaching in a public school. I can say that teachers do not have good salaries because my auntie, who happened to be a teacher in our province, told me.

Honestly, when I was still a little child, I really wanted to become a teacher someday. But because of what my auntie told me, my interest to become one fade away. I decided to just take up the nursing cource because I want it to be a ticket for me to go abroad just like my father. And also, as we all know Philippine nurses are in demand in other countries. They are also being offered a good salary.

Every end of January, our school celebrates the know your school day. This program give students a chance to teach and a chance to share their knowledge to their fellow classmates and a chance for the teachers to rest. A chance that happens only once a year. I took the oppurtunity to be a teacher for once in my high school life in UP.

I immediately applied for a SOCSCI teacher. The application was just easy. You will just approach the teacher and "bang", finished. Many applied for the SOCSCI subject because maybe our teacher does not really come to class regularly. Our social teacher to just prepare a test for our fellow classmates. Honestly, I like giving test so I prepared as many questions as I can. In the end the test was successful and I think my classmates did really learned many things from the test we gave.

I really agree that being a teacher is stressful especially if you are handling a noisy section like my section were I became a teacher for one day.

ThE ArrIvaL

My father arrived from Dubai where he is working last February 21, 2007. He returned for a short vacation suggested by the owner of the company he is working at.

It was almost 2 years after he left us, his family, to work abroad as an office clerk. It was not his first time to work abroad that is why I am already used to it, not having a father for 2 or 3 years. Even if I am already used to it there is still the feeling of sadness. Sadness brought by longing and missing a father.

I was not really expecting him to arrive that day because all I thought he will arrive on my sister's 12th birthday which is on February 24.

The day my father arrived, I was so busy in school practicing for the coming dramafest. We have to have an overtime so I called our house to inform my mother that I will be coming home late. When I dialled our number, a man's loud voice answered the phone. The voice was familiar but it was hard for me to recognize it. After how many seconds I found out that that voice belongs to my father. I was so overjoyed and overwhelmed knowing that he already arrived. I told him that I was not expecting him. He laughed and asked me where am I. I told him that I will be coming home late because of some important practices. He said "OK". I bid him goodbye and I hung the phone. I was so excited to go home that night. Because of so much happiness I informed all my friends that my father had already arrived. Do you know what they said? They asked for chocolates. What can I do they are my friends so I promised to bring chocolates the next day. When I arrived home it was past 8, maybe. I knocked the door and after it opened I saw my father. He was still the same. I mean, his face did not changed. I kissed him. And after that.. do you know what I did? I looked for chocolates. I told my father that my classmates were asking for chocolates.

I was so overjoyed that night because I got my cellular phone again. It was confiscated from me because my mother believe that it was the cause why I failed on one of my subjects during my third year in the university. Maybe she was right. But past is past. What is important was that I got my phone again. Thanks to my father.