MAP: Mother of All Professions

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." - Nelson Mandela

To be honest, I never imagined myself taking education as a major when I was younger. It was always my dream as a child to be an astronaut or an airline pilot. However, as I get older, I start to notice the roots of everything I see and encounter. First it was the etymology of uncommon words. Then it was the names of people I met, the names of places I stayed in, and sometimes, those I read about. I became intrigued by their histories. Looking into the pasts of those I find interesting inspired me to learn more about the world. And I fell in love with it.

I did not have the courage at first to pursue what I really wanted because I was afraid that the career opportunities with that degree would be limited. And boy, have I ever been so wrong. When you graduate from this program, you will have a plethora of opportunities. For the time being, I am focusing on igniting interest in Social Studies (also known as Araling Panlipunan in schools) by using entertaining and innovative teaching techniques based on what I am taught at Philippine Christian University - Dasmarinas.

"Teachers who love teaching, teach children to love learning" - Robert John Meehan

This is something I can attest to as a student. There are those who are in the teaching profession due to the constant demand. As a teacher, there is no shortage of job opportunities, making it easier to find work. They are the ones who are in it for the money and, at times, for the fame. These are all reasonable explanations, as everyone requires a job in order to survive. However, the teachers I remember and those who had the greatest influence on my life were the ones who genuinely enjoy teaching.

Being an educator is not for the faint of heart. During our observation period, I became aware of the difficulties of teaching. Every day, you must muster the energy and mental fortitude to teach the students what they should know. Students are frequently sensitive as well. They will know if you are in the right state of mind because they will often show little to no respect if they sense you aren’t. Teachers must have a firm sense of self and boundaries when dealing with the students to form a positive teacher-student relationship. A correct combination of chalk and challenge is required.

Despite this, I became even more determined to achieve my goals. Inspire and ignite students' enthusiasm for learning. As an incoming practice teacher, there will be times when I am lacking in many areas, but this is something that I can use to improve. While I'm typing the final sentence for this blog entry, all I can think about is how could I become a positive role model for the students that I'm about to teach.