Behind The Teacher’s Desk

Tonight, I was lucky enough to feel how it is “behind the teacher’s desk.”

Earlier today, my former Marketing professor, Mr. Anthony Aguelo, called me up to ask me to be a part of the panel for his Mktg310 classes for tonight. I was hesitant at first because really, what do I know about being a panelist? I just graduated last year and I still don’t have that much background in the field. But I eventually gave in so after work, I found myself sitting in one of my old armchairs in school – this time not a student, but as a guest of my former professors. I paneled along with one of my favorite teachers in college, Mrs. Lynith Marte. YES. I LOVE MRS. MARTE. NO SARCASM HERE. I REALLY LEARNED A LOT FROM HER. MAGIS! (I had a chat with her tonight and I’d like to say more but that’s for another post really)

What was weird about it was that I was schoolmates in high school with one of the presenters. She’s a really close friend of my PBF, and though we don’t really talk, we do know each other by affinity. And for the second group I paneled for tonight, one of the presenters was a “friend” of mine from waaaay back as we were playmates when we were kids, we were carpool-mates, and most of all, his house is just a house away from mine. Also, one of the students from the second class who came to observe the first group was a childhood friend of mine from the province – our dads works in the same company, and our families often see each other. HOW CRAZY IS THAT?!

While I was only supposed to panel for Sir Anton, I found myself going with him and a couple other teachers to the “final presentation” of 2 groups from Mrs. Marte’s class. For their retailing final grade, the have to do an actual promotional event for their chosen product/service. HOW AWESOME IS THAT?! I was bummed coz we didn’t have it back then – Mrs. Marte made us do a paper instead. That was the end of her comprehensive exams, and the beginning of her innovative final presentations. So going back, the first two groups held their “exams” at a bar in Jacinto Ext. YAY FOR FREE DINNER! The food was really great, and desserts from Anniepie!

I hope these students realize how  lucky they are to have experienced this kind of practical learning. I’m sure I’d have loved it during my time.

As a panelist, I’ve learned a lot. I used to think that it was only us students who learn from the comments and guidance of our mentors, but it’s really a two-way learning. From this experience, I’ve come to appreciate the role of my teachers more, and the roles of a student. My experiences in college are still fresh, and while doing the deliberation and all the interactions I had with the students and teachers alike, I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s really not easy for teachers to fail the students – but if they don’t deserving a passing mark, then what choice is there left for the teachers. Honestly, I love how objective and technical Mrs. Marte approaches things. On the other hand, I also love how Sir Anton mothers (for the lack of a better word) his students and encourage then. Today, I sat beside two different sides of a coin and it’s a very informative place to be.

So yeah, cheers to MAGIS, and cheers to AWESOME TEACHERS! I met two other professors tonight, Ma’am Rhea (who I heard is a terror prof) and Ma’am Michelle (who, I learned only on our way home, is a teacher of my brother Karl.) And even more awesome, they invited me for another “defense” this weekend. CHEERS!

 

okthxbye

 

P.S.

I’ve also learned how much we’ve done right (and wrong) during our time as students. We as in me and my groupmates of course. Having been trained under the terrorizing hands of Mrs. Marte, and the “fly-little-bird-fly” technique of Mr. Aguelo, really takes its toll. There is really no excuse to mediocrity. And yeah, BEING CHARMING is a great weapon. *bow*

The Quarter Life Crisis

by: Unknown

It is when you stop going along with the crowd and start realizing that there are a lot of things about yourself that you didn’t know and may or may not like. You start feeling insecure and wonder where you will be in a year or two, but then get scared because you barely know where you are now.

You start realizing that people are selfish and that, maybe, those friends that you thought you were so close to aren’t exactly the greatest people you have ever met and the people you have lost touch with are some of the most important ones. What you do not realize is that they are realizing that too and are not really cold or catty or mean or insincere, but that they are as confused as you.

You look at your job. It is not even close to what you thought you would be doing or maybe you are looking for one and realizing that you are going to have to start at the bottom and are scared.

You miss the comforts of college, of groups, of socializing with the same people on a constant basis. But then you realize that maybe they weren’t so great after all.

You are beginning to understand yourself and what you want and do not want. Your opinions have gotten stronger. You see what others are doing and find yourself judging a bit more than usual because suddenly you realize that you have certain boundaries in your life and add things to your list of what is acceptable and what is not. You are insecure and then secure. You laugh and cry with the greatest force of your life. You feel alone and scared and confused. Suddenly change is the enemy and you try and cling on to the past with dear life but soon realize that the past is drifting further and further away and there is nothing to do but stay where you are or move forward.

You get your heart broken and wonder how someone you loved could do such damage to you or you lay in bed and wonder why you can’t meet anyone decent enough to get to know better. You love someone but maybe love someone else too and cannot figure out why you are doing this because you are not a bad person.

One night stands and random hook ups start to look cheap and getting wasted and acting like an idiot starts to look pathetic. You go through the same emotions and questions over and over and talk with your friends about the same topics because you cannot seem to make a decision.

You worry about loans and money and the future and making a life for yourself and while wining the race would be great, right now you’d just like to be a contender!

What you may not realize is that everyone reading this relates to it. We are in our best of times and our worst of times, trying as hard as we can to figure this whole thing out.

Source: Patricia Ticzon

Mom Fail

I told mom about my concerns regarding my future career over dinner, and as expected, my efforts failed.

Me: I don’t want to work here. I want to work in Manila.

MOM: GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY HERE!!!! GO TO MANILA AFTER! NOT NOW.

I’m crying inside.

Between Dreams and Reality

Yesterday, a person from a certain company called me for a meeting with my would-be boss to welcome me to the team. They said that from among the applicants, they have chosen me to work for them as the Department Store Account Specialist. However, I am not directly hired by the company, rather I’d be under an agency. But nonetheless I’d be working for a multi-national company. We were supposed to meet today and discuss my benefits, but the would-be boss has to postpone it until tomorrow. That’s the reality.

After years and years of preparation and anticipation, it has always been my dream to work in Manila.  I love the challenge of living there.

So what am I doing in Davao? My dilemma now is whether to accept the job offer here or go to Manila at the end of the month to look for a job. Two of my mentors gave me conflicted feedbacks. My director told me to go for the job here because it will give me good training. On the other hand, my fabulous professor told me to go to Manila because I won’t grow here in Davao. I haven’t really talked with my parents yet. I avoid it because they tend to nag. And I’m sure that they prefer that I work here for the mean time because of financial reasons.

The truth is, I applied for the company here in Davao to fill my time. I know my credentials are good and all that, but since Janine was there, I wasn’t really expecting much. Though I’ve been trying to apply the law of attraction. I had a feeling that I was going to get accepted but I was still hoping otherwise because I’ve made a decision to stay here for a while to get some experience before I go to Manila. But now that an offer to me is already being arranged, I’m having panic attacks.

I remember a conversation I had with my friend RB a few weeks ago. He said that I do well with deviance. In this case, the most unfavorable move for me (in my eyes of my parents, at least) is to ditch the job here and go to Manila. But practicality-wise, it’s SAFER to stay here. Damn.

God. Decisions. I have to think them over right now. Time is running out.

Wake Up Call

"Others are going to start doing the things you talk about doing. The right time to start, is right now."

Talk about a slap in the face. I’ve decided to just get up there and get things going. It’s time that I find my new place in this world.

I have to stop thinking like Meredith Grey:

"I just need something to happen, I need a sign that things are going to change. I need a reason to go on. I need some hope! And in the absence of hope, I need to stay in bed and feel like I’m going to die today."

Like what they always say:

Keywords are HOPE and PREPARE.

"Do you remember what you told me once? That every passing minute is another chance to turn it all around." (Vanilla Sky)

What a quote-filled morning. Off to get my butt out here and start working!

To end things, I share: “It’s the busy people who make things happen.” (Manching, 2009) Flashback to college, smiles at memory, and exclaims INDEED..

Close Call with Fire

I am absolutely terrified of fire and earthquakes.  I have complete respect for Mother Nature and I understand how big a chaos she can create.

A few minutes ago, I had a close call with Mother Nature’s retaliation to technology.  One of the electricity sockets downstairs burst into flames for a while.  Thank God my brother Klyde was still using the computer and was thus, awake.  And also, thank God that he had enough sense to move the wooden piano away from the socket before it completely went on fire.

Travel Plans

Summer!  

I have almost always travelled during summer.  This year, unfortunately, my summer plans are going to be limited because of job opportunities.  I had originally decided to plunge into the work force directly after graduation.  However, a week before classes had ended, I have decided to join my brothers in vacation to the Visayas for two weeks.  We’ll be going to Cebu, Bohol, Dumaguete, and hopefully, Boracay.  

Yesterday though, I got an email from Kraft Corporation (you know, Eden Cheese, Pringles, etc.) inviting me to take their qualifying examination in Manila this Monday.  I was supposed to go start my two-week vacation this Sunday but I have to give way for my future. And so I will be going to Manila on Monday and be back again the same day, airfare paid for by the company.  

The reality of being among the growing number of unemployed individuals in the country made me rethink my plans of a no-worrying-about-the-future vacation.  A couple of hours ago, I have decided to start working on my applications tonight, instead of waiting to do it after I get back from the Visayas Islands. 

Travel Plans are on a halt right now, except for the Cebu trip.  That’s all the hiatus that I am going to have after spending 16 something years in academic institutions.  

Wheew. Life. Welcome to the Real World.