“It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expressions in knowledge”- Albert Einstein. Just like this famous quotation from a very famous personality I learned from my off campus teaching that a teacher must serve as a nurturer to the garden of young minds. They must make raw fruits ripe and the flowers bloom.

 

Enrolling in my present course wasn’t really my plan upon graduating my secondary level. I have able to take several entrance examinations unto different schools including my dream school, the famous University of the Philippines. But, I entered this school, CBSUA and became part of the educator’s family for numerous reasons too. The school is accessible from our home, my mother wants me to be a real teacher, I have scholarships to choose from, the school fees are just fair enough for my family’s income and my father is working in this institution, he can check me whenever he wants, wherever corner of this school I am. I am guarded and I am therefore safe from whatever unnecessary scenarios, situations or actions from other people and from my possible unnecessary actions too.

 

For my past few years dwelling in this school, I just learned how to love my chosen degree. It is true that loving can be learned as viewed on my situation. I know teaching isn’t an easy thing. Before I can impart knowledge to my students I must take several considerations with regards to myself prior to the process. As a teacher, I myself must be fully equipped with the subject matter that I’m going to deal with because I can’t give which I couldn’t have. Furthermore, my students must also be well prepared before anything else happened. I must take bigger consideration unto them, looking unto my students’ way of learning things and accepting information.

 

As I became older into my chosen path, my desires to teach become more immense. I’m getting nearer and nearer on my way to achieving my goal where my blood and perspirations goes. Moreover, when I became a student-teacher on Eusebia Paz Arroyo Memorial National High School, I become more prompt in finishing my selected field. At first, I get surprised when my students call me ma’am. It sounds elegant and sophisticated. I feel more like a teacher by then! From my arrival to my retreat, students use to see and follow my every crusade.  It feels like I’m a ramp model upon there watch to my steps. Since then, I became more conscious on my way of making myself every day, on how I dress, act and speak because I’m no longer a typical student; I’m already a teacher on route.

 

During my pre-service to my cooperating school I had experienced how it is like to be in a real world of teaching. To interact with students, be their instructor and friend as well. To blend with the faculty, build healthy repoire among them. To cope with the lacking teaching facilities, create another plan and be resourceful. To handle unexpected scenarios, like being called instantly to assist a school event or assist an immediate person.

 

DepEd designs school events that will help the students to showcase not only their wit but also their talents. During my stay at my cooperating school, my first week was cool. I said it so because I have able to coach my students for their choral, solo speech and dance presentations for their Book week celebration that was held on the 11th day of November 2014. With those regards, I have able to state my capability to establish authority with my students as well as anticipate their varied outlook.  Last December 15-17, 2014 our institutions also become one of the billeting schools for the delegates coming from Sorsogon City, division of Sorsogon and province of Camarines Sur on the 4th Regional Bicol Patiribayan. The school, with the assistance of CBSUA student teachers become busy and hospitable for all the participants. We served food for their everyday affairs and prepare their rooms when the night comes. After the big event, everyone become eager for the year’s most awaited yuletide season and for the Christmas vacation. For that reason, on the 19th day of December, every class with the school faculty in separate made our simple but fun Christmas party. When 2015 came, our school hosted the yearly’s arts and cultural contests in Baao Social Hall on the 9th of January. The said activity was participated by the different public and private schools bounding the municipality like the school of Bicol Rosary Incorporated, Baao National High School, Agdangan National High School and the hosting school, Eusebia Paz Arroyo Memorial National High School.

 

Being engaged with such activities were tiring yet fulfilling because I know on myself that I have undergone to those various events for a reason, and it’s to have my practice teaching to be worthwhile. Practising my chosen degree is not only about tying myself inside the four corners of my classroom but also by exposing myself to social regards of meeting people to the extent of my vocation.

 

Apart from the activities on my cooperating school, I have also able to participate to my mother school’s events designed for us like the Seminar-Workshop on Surat Bicol 2015 and Pinaggikanan Festival  that was held on February 5-7, 2015 at Ciriaco N. Divinagracia Hall. The said event has brilliant speakers like the very well-known Bicol writer Mr. Francisco V. Penones; literature instructor, Mr. Jose Jayson I. Chancoco; teacher-facilitaor from Ragay, Eilyn L. Nidea and; another famous Bicolano writer as well as director, Mr. Bernardo Miguel O. Aguay. The said seminar was followed by a contest based from the seminar-worshop on the 13th of February but unfortunately our school don’t have the capacity to send students due to lack of school funds. The next activity was the 2015 Regional Forum on Education and Research with the theme “Nurturing Quality Teachers: Strengthening Regional Linkages and Research Collaoration in Teacher Education was held on the 19-21st of February, 2015 at Naga Regent Hotel. Another gathering was held on the 20th of February, 2015. It was the 2015 Student Congress held at the Unibersidad de Sta. Isabel in which the Top Outstanding student of the year was identified.

 

My paper wouldn’t be complete without telling how my final demonstration happened. It goes this way. My last hit was scheduled on the 11th day of February and my topic was out of my curricula, it was about the Basic table manners which was suggested to me by my cooperating teacher. At first, I was not really comfortable with my topic, and so I presented different topics to my critique adviser Mrs. Janeth Bance. I have able to choose from oxymoron, object complement, the story on Bread of Salt and the Baby in the bottle but she didn’t like it. And so after a long time of convincing myself to make with suggested topic of my cooperating teacher, I already made a draft of my Lesson plan. After which, she make several additions on the blueprint and finalized it. Two days before my demo teaching I have already able to start my instructional material. I prepared a downloaded video for my activity and rest can be visualized through the use of the traditional materials such as manila paper which will be posted on the board one by one.

On the day of my final demonstration, I really prayed for my final demonstration teaching to have a smooth and good flow and it does happened on the beginning of my delivery but when the activity came, when I’m about to use the video that I’ve downloaded, the computer I will be using was locked. I don’t know its password because the computer was not mine, I just borrowed it form my co-student teacher. At first I feel disappointed about it but gain my drive after a while because I have my alternative plan which printed pictures are taken from the video that I will be presenting. Besides, the show must go on and as a teacher I must always be prepared to those unnecessary scenarios that might took place inside my class including this kind of situation. That scene doesn’t stop me upon the delivery of my topic. It’s just that it’s not only me who got disappointed to failure of my laptop used, my panellists as well as my students also felt the loss. Deep in myself I was really sorry for that. If I will be given the chance to deliver my activity process, I will choose not to use a video, I will just do some sort of parading pictures or use my own laptop either. I make little regrets after that demo teaching. Though my panellist mentioned so many great point with, and though my weak point seemed or sounds boastful because of fast speaking of English and the use of high  English, still I can’t get off my mind how does my video presentation become a mistake on my teaching. After which, I don’t mind looking at my grades because I don’t want to become more frustrated with it.

 

Those are my experiences for almost three months of stay at Eusebia Paz Arroyo Memorial National High School. Things wasn’t really easy, i handled classes of grade 7. They are so cute. They look like sisters and brothers to me. Sometimes it’s hard to get mad at them. Their noise irritates me so much but their corny jokes makes me laugh so much at times. I can say that I have able to find new friendship to the persona of these youngsters. I will really miss those gals. It makes me more glad when they said that they will also miss me, that I am a good teacher and I can already replace their subject teacher and pleased me not to leave them. My stay became worthwhile because of them, they get my number before I left the school and every day every night they used to text me still calling me ma’am. It makes my heart bloated. Even outside the school, when they see me walking down the street they scream and shout just to call me and get my attention and say hi. My pre-service wouldn’t be successful without the person behind me, my friends, my students, my teachers, my parents and especially God who gave me talents to share. My journey to success is really a success because of them and I will be forever thankful to those. No words can express my gratitude. I’m undeniably fulfilled to my off campus journey because of their given inspiration.

 

 

Cortez, Evelyn Rose B.