On BEiNg TaUghT By StuDenTS.....

The best teachers are the teachers themselves. For me, I will learn more if teachers or the professionals will be the one to teach me. They know more about different things happening in our society and surroundings. They are more knowledgable because it is their passion and responsibility to teach us. They are more experienced on how to make their students understand their lessons well. They know different teaching techniques on how to make the topics they are going to discuss interesting so that students will really listen carefully on what are being discuss and really learn from A-Z so that during exams they will not get a failing grade.

Last February, the University of the Philippines had its own "Know Your School Day". It is the day where the students who are deserving, worthy, and responsible will have the chance to handle things which are just meant to be done by their teachers. Students had the chance to be the principal, assistant principal, guidance counselor, clerk, and subject teachers. Students had the chance to experience how it felt to be a teacher for a short period of time. They had the oppurtunity to be respected by their classmates which are now their students. A chance to experience how tiring it is to handle a class of more than 32 personalities. A chance to experince how stress a teacher is.

I am one of the students who applied for a subject student teacher. I applied for a SOCSCI teacher together with my 3 fellow claassmates namely, Sunshine, Eldee, and Christine N. As what I have experienced, being a teacher is really tiresome but at the same time fun. We exchange jokes with my fellow classmates which were already my students.

Even if I applied for a student teacher I had also experienced on how it feels to be taught by someone like you, a student. I experienced being taught by Michael and Jann. They applied for the subject Calculus. And I bet, they were really good, I understand them very well. But I cannot deny that it was so unusual to be taught by your fellow classmate even for just a short period of time. I felt that I missed my teachers, teachers who used to teach me those lessons. But in the end, all I can say that being taught by students is not that boring as what I have thought. Instead, the experience on being taught by students was fun and exciting.

HOw I Want To BE rEMembERed aFTEr I LEave HIgh ScHOol

I am Shydel Raya of the University of the Philippines Visayas Cebu College. I am currently in my 4th year high school. I am about to graduate this coming April 18, 2007. At this time we, the 4th years, are already busy practicing for "the day". We had already come up with our graduation song and our schedule for practices. Singing our graduation song is really difficult for me because the people in our batch are really close to each other. And it is also hard for us to think that we will soon be parting our ways to open a new chapter in our life where we will be meeting again new faces and new personalities, just the same as what we experience when we entered High School.


Our batch is really the "bulabog" type. It is a mixture of different and complex personalities. For me, our batch is the most "happy-go-lucky". The deadliners and the crammers belong to our batch. But I think these are the reasons why our batch is the most loved and closest to the teachers. I am really happy and blessed that I belong in this "bulabog" batch. It was not hard for me to cope with them when I entered high school because I am exactly like them. I am noisy, happy-go-lucky, a deadliner, and a crammer.


Don't you know that I am the noisiest person in our batch. An ordinary person and student with the loudest voice. The girl with the ticklish laugh. Some of my classmates says that my laugh made them laugh too even without any reasons. They just get caught away with my laugh.


I know that my classmates get irritated of my loud voice sometimes and I am so sorry, I just cannot help talking with a soft voice. What can I do this is me, the Shydel they have known for a long period of time. Maybe some of my classmates were already used in hearing my loud voice that is why they do not feel irritated the moment they would hear my loud voice.


According to my classmates, I am frank and the "maldita" type. I am the kind of person who would really fight on what I believe in. I think they were right. But despite all these, I gained many friends, friends who are always their for me, friends who understands me, friends which I will really treasure even the days after our graduation day, friends that I will never forget. I hope that my batchmates, classmates, and friends will never forget me too. I want them to remember a noisy, frank, strong, "maldita", happy, and friendly Shydel because I promise them that I will never ever change. I would still be the same "Shydel" they have known for four years in UP High.

WHy So EArLy?

In this age of modernization, many teenagers have already engaging in relationships, specifically, boy-to-girl relationships. Old men or adults might ask why these teenagers enter relationships at their young age. Because according to them, teenagers are not that matured yet to handle relaionships because adults think that teenagers' minds are still young an dseems to be limited only in playing games. They also think that early relationships may just result to heartaches in the end. These are just some of the reasons why some parents would not allow their teenager children to engage in early relationships not until they finish schooling. But do these parents know why nowadays, many teenagers have already engaged in relationships.


According to my survey, the reasons why teenagers engage in early relationships are curiosity, trend, inspiration, and LOVE.


Why curosity? Based on my experience, my parents used to tell me not to enter or engage in early relationships. According to them it may just ruin my life and schooling because relationship at my age seems to be careless and may later result to early pregnancy. But for me, their reasons are not enough to convince me. This became the reason for me to be curious. It pushed me to try what is really wrong in entering early relationship. After trying, I do not think I was doing the wrong thing.


Trend is also one of the reasons why teenagers nowadays are so hot in entering relationships. They tend to follow the trend. For example, in a clique of friends all your friends have already their boyfriends and girlfriends, because of this you become out of place sometimes so the thing you would possibly do is to find your own and partner so that you can also go with the flow.


Inspiration is also a reason for teenagers to engage in early relationships. For me this is true. I believe that the moment you would get a partner, a boyfriend, or a girlfriend you would really pursue yourself to be a better person. You would be limited only in doing good things. You could be good in your class. You could be an honor student if you want. All these you can do as long as you know how to handle a relationship. Because I know that each one in this world should have inspirations in life whom you can offer you success and earnings in life, who can pursue you to do your best for you to succeed.


LOVE is the major reason why people not only teenagers engage in relationship with the opposite sex. They tend to long people special to them. They can not stand the feeling of not seeing that person for just even a short period of time. They seem to care to that person. They long to see them everyday. This feeling is what you call love. But so much love, for me, may result to early responsibilities like pregnancy because I believe that in proving your love to a person you must have sex with him or her. I do not know if what others believe but these is my own perception.


Engaging in early relationship may come from different reasons but I hope that yuor reason would really be love.

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.

.....Falling in Love.....at the Wrong Time.....

2007 was a new year for me and my boyfriend. When January entered I felt that our love for each other have already fade away. Maybe because he is always admiring a certain classmate of him and a friend of mine. I felt that he do not love me anymore. I felt that he long love from that girl rather than seeking love from me, his girlfriend. I seek for advices from my friends. Some told me to cut the strings attached between us while some says that it is better to talk to him and tell him my problem and on what I really feel.

One day, I was busy talking about this thing with my friend Kim while the my boyfriend was busy practicing for the legacy of our fast approaching Junior and Senior promenade. While we were talking tears run down my face. I can not believe it, I cried for just a guy. I wiped out the tears but my watery eyes was still obvious and noticeable that is why a guy friend approach me. This guy happened to be the hatest guy of my boyfriend. This guy asked me why am I sad. I told him the whole story. After hearing my side, he told me that what my boyfriend did was wrong, he was not supposed to admire other girl in front of me. He comforted me by saying many things, words of wisdom. He told me his problem regarding his family, on what happened to his mother. He made me laugh with his jokes. I felt comfort with him. Our closeness began that day.

One time while we were talking, he told me that it is possible that he might fall in love with me. I took his words seriously. Knowing this did not affect our closeness. It even strengthen our relationship. I am happy with him and maybe I will always be happy with him. We always talk even during classes. We eat together at breaktime. I spent much time with him than with my boyfriend. My boyfriend noticed our closeness and asked me if I can stop befriending that boy because he do not like this boy. It was hard for me to stop talking with this boy but I know that I should to protect the relationship between my boyfriend and me. I confronted the guy and I asked him if what he really feels for me. He answered me:"I do not know, I am not yet sure". After hearing this, I told him to prevent his feeling before its to late. But he misunderstood what I said. He thought that I was telling him to keep distance from me. But I really did not. After we talked he did not talked to me anymore. Everytime he sees me he always pretended that he did not see me. I am like a ghost to him. I do not like what is already happening. I felt that I am missing him. I felt that I long for him.

Maybe.... maybe I am already falling out of love. Falling in love at the wrong time.

WhEn I aM JeAlOuS.......

Are you a jealous person? Me? Ofcourse, I am. I do not know why and I hate it when I am. But maybe being jealous is natural for me especially that I am a girl and the eldest child in our family.

Honestly, I do not want to be jealous. When I am jealous, everything about me change. My attitude changes. When I am jealous I become bad. I become hot tempered and "isnabera". Jealousy makes me silent and being silent is not me because I am a noisy person.

I believe that jealousy is a shows insecurity and distrust. I am jealous in many ways. In the family, I felt jealous when my parents give the things my other siblings asked from them while they do not do this to me when I was at their age. Jealousy enters in me when my parents compare me to my sister and brother saying that my sibling are much better than me when it comes to drawing, writing, penmanship, etc.

In school, when my teachers shows favoritism to my other classmate I end up cursing that certain classmate of mine. I spread bad things about her/him. I become impulsive, not thinking on what will be the effect of what I am doing to other people.

In a relationship with friends, jelousy is also present. I do not want my friends to befriend others. I just want them to be friends with me, just me. I know this is selfishness but I do not know how to minimize this jealousy in me, I do not know why am I like this, I do not know why I am selfish. Because of this, I end up being left behind by others, being left alone. And I hate to be alone.

In a boy to girl relationship, I am dreadfully jealous. Honestly, I have a boyfriend. That boyfriend of mine is not my classmate but we were in the same school. I will not just mention his name. Because we were not classsmates I do not know what is happening to him when we both have classes. I do not know who is he talking with or who is he with. One day, when heading to Ayala terminal, I noticed that in our conversation he is always mentioning the name of my friend which a girl and a classmate of him. He always admire this certain girl in front of me saying this girl is beautiful, kind, etcetera, etcetera. I admit that this girl is truly beautiful and pleasant. Everytime he admire this girl, I feel jealous and I feel something cutting my heart apart. I feel angry. Even if deep inside I am bursting in tears and anger I do not want to tell him or even let him to notice it because I do not want him to feel being distrusted. So what I always do is, I smile everytime he admire this girl. This admiration did not just happened for once but it repeated until I can not take the heartaches anymore, until it came to a point that I already wanted to cut the strings attached between us. I do not want to hate my bestfriend because I believe that friend are more important than guys. I seek for advices from my friends. Some told me to talk to him first and tell him what I really feel and talk about it so that things would settled. Some also said that it is better to have a break-up because what he did was wrong. He was not supposed to to do that thing especially in front of me. Because my friends' decisions were different I became confused on what will I really do. Confusions pushed me to do other things like reading books and quotations. While I was reading my quotation book I found one quote which I think hit me so much , It says: "In jealousy there is more self-love than love". In reading this I decided to just go on with our relationship and tell him that I do not want to hear him admiring other girl in front of me.

The quotation did not really changed my disposition regarding being jealous. I am still a jealous person but not to a point of hurting others.

Why Go to School?

Education is the most important gift that parents can give to their children. Education may mean going to school. In going to school I learned many things. I learned how to count, like one, two, three, and so on. School is also where I learned to speak words using different languages like English and of course my own dialect. It is also where I learned how to sing, like singing the alphabet from A-Z.

For me school is not just for learning these things, but also I learned how to love. I learned how to love my seatmates, classmates, friends, teachers and parents.

As a friendly person, aside from studying, I go to school to meet new friends and to strengthen existing friendships. I would be nothing withouy my friends. I admit, I usually depend on my friends' decisions because I believe that they are the one who know me very much. They know what is best for me. I am really thankful I have many friends. I have special friends that are really important in my High School life. I will really cherish our friendship forever because I know that we need each other in our journey towards maturity. Honestly, my friends made me a better person. Since I enter UP I have changed a lot. A change for a better me. A better me will not come into being without my friends, they made me standing still after every problem I meet in my journey in life. My friends helped me in many ways. In exchange of the help they did for me I offer them my encouragements when they have problems. I share my secrets to them to show them that I trust them. I point out the wrong things they do, not to hurt them but to encourage them to do better for the next time.

In school, I experienced having several mothers and fathers. I am referring to my teachers. Teachers are mentors. They are the one who taught me what is wrong and what is right. Thet taught me how to solve math problems, how to use the correct grammar, and how to answer a question correctly. I respect my teachers so much. They are my second parents and guides. Despite the examinations they give I can still say that schooling is fun and wholesome.

In schooling I become involve in the lives and the activities of other people.

"Haunted"

February 2, 2007 was set as the day where the CWTS of the University of the Philippines is expected to visit the "Gasa sa Gugma" in Mabolo, Cebu City.

We were once told by our CWTS officers what are inside this home. "Gasa sa Gugma", as what the officers told us, is a home for the aged and the dying individuals. The moment I heard the word "aged" from the officers' mouth, I already thought of what will be my reaction in seeing this old and dying people. I also remembered my grandmother.

Honestly, I am a dramatic person. I am easily touched. I cry easily especially if I pity someone. Believe me! Even in watching television shows like "Wish ko Lang" of GMA-7, I still cry. I do not really know why I can not help crying.

When we arrived at the place I can feel every hair of my skin standing. The place was so quiet, seems like their were no people living in the place. We walked by the corridor of the wards. I saw people lying in their beds inside their wards. I felt my hard beating fastly. I was actually nervous that time. I do not want to see the faces of these old people because I can see my grandmother's face in their person. I do not want to talk to them because I do not want to hear their voices. Their voices seems like my grandmother's voice.

After all the strollings in the corridor, we were told by our CWTS adviser, Miss Rodel, to take all the lolos and lolas to the chapel because a mass is to be held. When I heard this I felt my bones trembling and quaking. I do not know what to do. How can I take these old fellows to the chapel if I myself does not want to see their faces or touch their old and bony body. But I did it, thank God I did. I took some of the lolas and lolos to the chapel with all my heart. I talked to them but in the end all I saw was tears falling from my eyes. I can not stop the tears from falling. I can really remember my dead grandmother in their person. My grandmother whom I failed to say "I love you" and "Thank you" before she died. But despite all the crying I still went on what I was doing and what I am supposed to do.

In talking with these old fellows, I found out that some of them were just being left by their sons and daughters. I meet an old guy who claimed that he is a retired soldier. He even showed me a scar on his right leg, which according to him, brought by a speeding bullet during the World War II. I do not know if I will believe him or not, all I care was to listen on his stories. He also said that he have children which are currently living in the United States of America where they have permanent jobs. They (children) left him in the "Gasa sa Gugma" because no one can take care with him if they will bring him in the States. After we talked, I was not bored I actually enjoyed talking to him. He was very open and does not really mind on the things I asked on him. He answered my questions briefly and eagerly.

For me, that day was so dramatic at the same time enjoyable. I was able to interact and communicate with the old people which I found then boring....but ohh! It is not. I find our conversations enjoyable and exciting. Talking to them made me remember the past. The time when my grandmother was still alive and strong. And I love it!