A Step to Make a Difference (I Hope)

I make the difference. I teach.

I can't believe I still have this "sticker" which bears that tag line. Striking as it is, the line moves me to create change through teaching. You don't have to be an Education Major to teach. There are other opportunities where you can teach, and one of that would be facilitating a recollection.

Just this day, I facilitated a recollection for a newly organized youth organization in our barangay. This is my first involvement outside the school, so this event is really a big thing to me. I saw the need to expand my horizons and not just be confined in my school. Well, of course, thanks to my school, I was able to realize the need to reach out.

It all started when my mother asked me if I could help facilitate a recollection. I saw this as an opportunity to share my ideas on leadership, youth and making a positive change. I wanted to help or influence them create that positive change. Aside from this being my first involvement outside school, this is also my first time to facilitate a recollection and also my first time to produce my flow of the recollection. It was really difficult to create a flow for a recollection. I still have to ask for help from a number of people, especially Bro. Jody Magtoto, SJ. But I was so proud of what I made. It really had what I wanted to inculcate in the people joining the recollection. The flow basically talked about three things: Teams, Trust and Self. I chose these points for the organization is still starting. I borrowed activities that I experience in the LC Camps, BOLTS 08, MBMYC meetings and the Year-End Evaluation at Camiguin.

But the really fulfilling part in my producing a reflection guide. I really had a hard time looking for good reflective guide questions the topic of self. I can say it was really God's grace the made me make that reflection guide. I was only able to create a reflective guide on April 6, 2009 at about 12-1am. I was just so happy I did that.

Now for the actual recoolection. I was really hesitant that I would be able to handle the recollection well. My experience as a facilitator during my third year was really not good. I was not good in relaying my ideas well to other people. And to think also that I was very lazy during that time. That's why ever since, I've been aprehensive to facilitate ever since.

But I was happy that they responded well to my instructions. The activities I expected to be fun really came out very fun! And the activities I wanted them to reflect, they really looked within themselves.

I was just a little disappointed (i think this is not the right word, too negative) about the people in the org. I was expecting them to be like the leaders at XU. I thought that they know what they were doing, joining that kind of organization. But, they were still very young, too immature. I don't know if they know why they joined. I came to me that my flow for the recollection was inapproriate for them.

But I'm still not losing my hope. They may not yet know it, but I know that deep within them, they have a passion for service and leadership. It just needs more experience. Now, I am challenged on how can I help them find themselves and that passion. It entails much time and effort. I don't know if I can do it.

The Extra Mile - Laura Pausini

After looking for years, finally found songs at imeem! and here's one really great song!

Countless eyes are watching
in this our finest hour
It’s time to realise the dream
And who we really are

I’m gonna freeze this space and time
Rise to meet the call
Seize the moment, make it mine
And through it all

Straight as the arrows flies
I will run towards the finish line
With all the strength I’ve found
My feet won’t touch the ground
I will scale the heights if I believe
Your wings of faith will carry me
I’ll go the distance just to reach
The arms I’m running to
I’ll go the extra mile for you

I know it won’t be easy
To make you understand
I wanna take the glory
And put it in your hands

Cause you’re the light that makes me shine
You’re the hero in my eyes
Win or lose, do or die
I’m aiming high

Straight as the arrows flies
I will run towards the finish line
With all the strength I’ve found
My feet won’t touch the ground
I will scale the heights if I believe
Your wings of faith will carry me
I’ll go the distance just to reach
The arms I’m running to
I’ll go the extra mile for you

(Go the extra mile) in the end
(Go the extra mile) I wanna be able to say
I gave all of me for the world to see
And I would do it all again
I’d go the extra mile for you
Knowing it would be worthwhile
I would go the extra mile for you

Need Help to Help

I've been bothered recently. This is due to the fact that one friend of mine is having a problem. As much as I want to help, I can't. For the problem of that friend lies more within the self. It is more on the search for motivation to continue.

Honestly, I've also been in that situation where I looked for the purpose of what I'm doing. Indeed, it was a difficult search. But I can say it wasn't as hard as what my friend is facing right now for I have self-awareness. Thanks to my parents and my mentors in the past, I was able to know myself more. I know my rootedness, my priorities, my strengths and weaknesses. I also rediscovered the thing of value to me: my family.

But what bothers me is that how can I integrate what I "know" (don't think this is the right word to use) to this certain friend. How can I help this person know his/herself better? I've presented this friend the option to look within his/herself fo what is of value to him/her. This friend recognized the proposal but he/she also told me of the proper allocation of time. "Imbes na mag-reflect, mas maayo pa nga magstudy nalang." Which made me remember what I learned from my Philo of Man on Calculative Thinking and Meditative Thinking. Indeed it is true that Meditative gives no "profit", as I may say. Yet, Meditative Thinking is also essential for man is a thinking, meditative being.

People have been bounded by standards made by society. But there is more to life than just those standards. I don't know if I make sense here. All I want is to know how to be of help to my friend so he/she can make the best decision.

Help.

25 random things about me.

Maam Shal tagged me! Took me along time to complete this, due to my seemingly "tight" sked. Here it goes!

RULES: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. One thing I can be proud of is that I have been a scholar in my whole stay at Xavier University. Different scholarships though. One during my grade school years, one in high school and another this college.

2. In my first overnight at a friend's house, I broke one of their wine glasses. (Just charge it to my breakage! hahahaha!)

3. Two of my showbiz crushes are Toni Gonzaga and Lia Cruz.

4. I am not closing my doors to the priesthood. I'm joining the open houses of Haggerty House.

5. I never reached a 2nd job in Philippine Ragnarok Online (pRO).

6. I rode two taxis on my way to the prom. The fist one got a flat tire.

7. No classmate, friend, or org mate had ever entered my house. The closest was two friends. They were only up to the front of our store.

8. I once wrote a poem about the tragedy of someone I'm not close to. It just so happened I was there when the tragedy happened.

9. I can survive a week without TV. But I can't stand a day without the radio on.

10. I've never been cofined in a hospital. Never experienced being injected by dextrose yet.

11. Longest time I was awake was 30 hours.

12. I rarely give gifts that aren't handmade. And handmade for me would be made by my own hands.

13. Only got Beyond-GODLIKE three times. Twice using Goblin Techies and once using Lucifer.

14. I want to be appreiated. I want that, in one way or another, my efforts are recognized by people. A simple thank you matters much to me.

15. I plan to be in the academe after I pass the CPA board exam.

16. I believe in the potentials and ideas of each individual. That's why in a group, I always ask for people's oppinions and suggestions.

17. On January 29, 2006, my father got stroked. It was also the same day of that depressing interview for those interested in running for office in XUHS.

18. I just recently discovered that I am most effective formulating concepts and ideas rather than doing the dirty job or influencing people.

19. One of the people I hate the most are those people jumping into conclusions and making judgements without knowing the whole story.

20. My current phone(Nokia 1112) is a fruit of my labor.

21. I once treated two of my classmates to Ice Castle. The funny thing is that I almost forgot to pay the bill. Thank God I remembered it when I took my first step on the jeepney. (I'm still wondering what happened if I completely forgot!)

22. I'm a fan of Pokemon. I once made my own Pokemons.

23. I'm a lousy blogger. I have lots of ideas in mind but I don't find time to update.

24. One of my dreams/hopes/fantasies is to sing in my own gig.

25. Vyrnuhrd is Bernard, Russian-inspired! (Agree?)

My Mathematician Self

Recently I've been depressed due to my unsatisfactory performance in my Math class. More to add that this perfomance started even from the previous semester. It really depresses me for I consider myself as a "Math Wizard", so to say. And it's really disappointing that my performance is poor here in college.

And fianlly, I recovered my "mathematicain self" just today. While we were discussing deferred anuities in our Math 13, I was confused with the equation given at the book. So I tried to find if it would be equal to the equation I thought. I ended up making another equation shorter than the original one and easy to memorize. This is a big fulfillment for me for this is the first tme I've done it since I graduated in high school. It rewally boosted my morale towards Math and also other subjects. Hope this "brilliance" will continue.

Accounting 4: An Evaluation

The past semester had been a hard time for me especially on my major subject, Accounting 4: Financial Accounting 1. I really don't consider the subject difficult, that's why I was really wondering why I had a hard time. And as I looked for reasons, I found these answers.

Myself
Well, I should say, the fault is always with me why I had a hard time. Given the fact I performed well in th past three Accounting subjects, I became too complacent. I took things too lightly. Lumaki ang ulo ko. I thought the fourth will just be a piece of cake.This complacency made my mind close to receiving information. Unconsciously, I'm acting as if "I-know-all". This made my learning difficult, especially with the new ones. I wasn't able to grasp the lessons the way I used to.

Teacher
Mr. Jessie Salon is a nice teacher. He isn't strict. He's friendly. He's approachable. He's brilliant. He knows what he's talking about.But he's not the teacher suited for my learning style. His teaching style has a presumption that the students had read the book in advance. And here's a fact: I DON'T READ much. It's not in my system to read lessons in advance. But I DO listen to the teacher. I can easily grasp ideas if they are explained thoroughly first than reading it first. Given that presumption, some concepts (the very important once), were not explained anymore. In effect, I wasn't able to have a full understanding of the lessons.

Classmates (one classmate lng pala...)
Let me tell you something. Part of my learning style is to keenly listen to my clasmmates when they ask questions, discuss lessons, dictate matters orally, etsetera. One of the reason's why I love Taegon (Pignatelli, Ricci, and Loyola) is I can really learn more with them. They are so fund of Q&A's, especially before exams. Whenever I lacked reviewing the night before exams, I just listen to their discussions, I can do better in my exams. In one way or another, I've encorporated that style in college. But sadly, that style wasn't of help. It even bothered me. There is one classmate who's so fond of asking questions. But what's bothering is that most of this person's questions are so out-of-the-blue, even nonsense. This person's questions are explicitly expounded in the book, or even anwerable by plain common sense. The questions hindered my learning.

And to conclude....
I wanted to be challenged, to change my old habits, that's why I chose Accountancy. I must learn to adopt in new situations. I should start to go out of my comfort zones. And I can say, I'm starting to develop a good study habit. Slowly, it will be in my system. Read. Practice. Study.

Accounting 4: An Evaluation

The past semester had been a hard time for me especially on my major subject, Accounting 4: Financial Accounting 1. I really don't consider the subject difficult, that's why I was really wondering why I had a hard time. And as I looked for reasons, I found these answers.

Myself
Well, I should say, the fault is always with me why I had a hard time. Given the fact I performed well in th past three Accounting subjects, I became too complacent. I took things too lightly. Lumaki ang ulo ko. I thought the fourth will just be a piece of cake.This complacency made my mind close to receiving information. Unconsciously, I'm acting as if "I-know-all". This made my learning difficult, especially with the new ones. I wasn't able to grasp the lessons the way I used to.

Teacher
Mr. Jessie Salon is a nice teacher. He isn't strict. He's friendly. He's approachable. He's brilliant. He knows what he's talking about.But he's not the teacher suited for my learning style. His teaching style has a presumption that the students had read the book in advance. And here's a fact: I DON'T READ much. It's not in my system to read lessons in advance. But I DO listen to the teacher. I can easily grasp ideas if they are explained thoroughly first than reading it first. Given that presumption, some concepts (the very important once), were not explained anymore. In effect, I wasn't able to have a full understanding of the lessons.

Classmates (one classmate lng pala...)
Let me tell you something. Part of my learning style is to keenly listen to my clasmmates when they ask questions, discuss lessons, dictate matters orally, etsetera. One of the reason's why I love Taegon (Pignatelli, Ricci, and Loyola) is I can really learn more with them. They are so fund of Q&A's, especially before exams. Whenever I lacked reviewing the night before exams, I just listen to their discussions, I can do better in my exams. In one way or another, I've encorporated that style in college. But sadly, that style wasn't of help. It even bothered me. There is one classmate who's so fond of asking questions. But what's bothering is that most of this person's questions are so out-of-the-blue, even nonsense. This person's questions are explicitly expounded in the book, or even anwerable by plain common sense. The questions hindered my learning.

And to conclude....
I wanted to be challenged, to change my old habits, that's why I chose Accountancy. I must learn to adopt in new situations. I should start to go out of my comfort zones. And I can say, I'm starting to develop a good study habit. Slowly, it will be in my system. Read. Practice. Study.