FOR MY VE011 STUDENTS

Hello! Here is a copy of the thoughts for reflection and the guide questions for your journal... God bless!
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Fourth Meeting
Self Respect / Respect for Others

Thoughts
Many generations have been taught that self-appreciation is arrogant - that somehow it is not fitting (SelfAppreciation.htm). For many of us, self-appreciation can be challenging. We have been trained to beat ourselves up, to be self-deprecating, and many of us simply haven’t been encouraged to genuinely focus on what we like and admire about ourselves (Robbins, 2006).
Self-Appreciation is about accepting yourself exactly as you are. It is about loving and honoring ourselves for all that we do, and more importantly, for all that we are. It is also about acknowledging your unique gifts. Within everyone is a highly creative, highly skilled being, just waiting to be discovered. Many of us catch glimpses of this in moments of inspiration, but then most immediately begin to compare ourselves to others, telling ourselves that their work or creation is more valuable than our own.
In the midst of our busy lives, our daily activities, our successes, and even our struggles, it is important for us to stop and truly appreciate ourselves. It must be said however, that without self appreciation, all the other things that you are striving for, will either elude you, or simply remain a struggle. Self-appreciation is the key to true success and fulfillment. The great news is that we have access to appreciating ourselves in every moment…it is simply a choice (Robbins, 2006).
To know one’s own worth and to honor the worth of others is the true way to earn respect. Respect is an acknowledgement of the inherent worth and innate rights of the individual and the collective. These must be recognized as the central focus to draw from people a commitment to a higher purpose in life.
Respect for others is based on self-respect and is summed up in the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. It is the value that makes the world a more decent and civilized place. (www.pearsall.k12.tx.us/Character Education/virtue_RESPECT.htm)
Self-respect means taking satisfaction in appropriate behavior and hard—won accomplishments. People with self-respect also respect others.

HOW TO APPRECIATE YOURSELF (Source: www.goodcharacter.com)
• Be careful about comparing yourself to other people. Sometimes that can make you feel good or even inspire you to improve in some way. But sometimes it can make you overlook what's truly good about yourself and cause you to feel bad.
• Think about times when you've done something good. Include those times when you've made a difference to somebody else by being helpful, kind, or thoughtful.
• Take part in activities that make you feel good such as hobbies, reading, sports, or spending time with good friends.
• Don’t be so afraid of failing that you're not willing to try something new. New experiences can help you grow and discover wonderful new things about yourself.
• When you do fail at something, don't put yourself down Think about what you can learn from the experience and how you can do better next time.
• Think about things you do well. Take pride in your successes.
• Remember, the most important thing about people is what we're like inside, not what we own or what we've accomplished.
HOW TO TREAT OTHERS WITH RESPECT (www.goodcharacter.com)

Treating people with respect makes your world a nicer place to live in, whether it's at home, at school, or out in your community. And it's easy - all you have to do is treat people the way you like to have them treat you. Here are a few ideas.
• Don't insult people or make fun of them.• Listen to others when they speak.• Value other people's opinions.• Be considerate of people's likes and dislikes.• Don't mock or tease people.• Don't talk about people behind their backs.• Be sensitive to other people's feelings.• Don't pressure someone to do something he or she doesn't want to do.
We live in a diverse nation made up of many different cultures, languages, races, and backgrounds. That kind of variety can make all our lives a lot more fun and interesting, but only if we get along with each other. And to do that we have to respect each other. In addition to the list above, here are some ways we can respect people who are different from us.
• Try to learn something from the other person.• Never stereotype people.• Show interest and appreciation for other people's cultures and backgrounds.• Don't go along with prejudices and racist attitudes.

Self Evaluation Do this in your journal.
1. Looking back at the list of your positive characteristics and qualities, what do you feel and realize about it?

2. The Golden Rule says “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.”
a. Given the following situations, how would you like to be treated by your teachers and schoolmates:
- when you have given wrong answers to the questions during recitation,
- when you are expressing your opinion during class or group discussion;
- when you are giving suggestions during group work or presentation;
- when you commit mistake;
- when you don’t like doing what they ask you to do and
- when they want to give you their comments or suggestions?
b. Considering the given ideas on how to treat others with respect, what can you commit to yourself in terms of dealing with the MCL community: teachers, students, employees, security, maintenance/janitors and canteen personnel?

3. For the 6th meeting “Competence & excellence”, prepare a 30- second individual talent, skill or accomplishment presentation. You may show your talent in singing, dancing, playing musical instrument, etc. You may also show and tell something about your masterpiece: painting, poem, essay, drawing, and project. Certificates, medals, trophy, sports jersey and anything recognizing your excellence and accomplishment may be presented also.

Values Education1 / Center for Student Development

FOR MY VALUES EDUCATION STUDENTS

Sorry class if I just posted this now... Anyway, here is a copy of the questions that you're supposed to answer in your journal. God bless.


Values Education 1 / Third Meeting

“1 + 1= 1” “My Personal Values” + “MCL MVV = Our Values”

Thoughts

Personal values are the desirable qualities, standards or principles which serve as persons’ driving force that influence their actions and reactions. Knowing ones values offers so many advantages. It helps us follow a clear set of rules and guidelines for our actions. It guides us in making good decisions. Through this, we can find compatible people, places, and things that support our way of living. It motivates us to be true to ourselves. Living our values is one of the most powerful tools available to help us become the person we want to be, accomplish our goals, and influence others. (best-of-time –management.com/values.htm)

Just as individuals give importance to values, so do organizations and institutions like MCL. Mission, Vision and Core Values define the organizations’ culture or way of life of its members. At the core of organizational culture are values. These values shape the quality of life and structure of an organization. The organization is successful to the degree to which all the members have shared values expressed through their goals and beliefs. There has to be an alignment between one's personal values and the values of an organization he belongs to. This will help us journey on the same boat towards a common vision. (Adapted from Hall-Tonna Values Framework and Technology)

MCL encourages every Malayans to practice the value of competence, truth/wisdom, knowledge, research, problem solving, excellence, punctuality, teamwork, quality service, integrity, accountability and sense of ownership (all for one, one for all). Make these the cornerstone of your life.


Challenge yourself

After this session, for two days in school, you are going to practice/implement/actualize your top two values. You have the options to practice one or both values in a day. On your journal, write your reflections (for day one and day two) separately using the outline below. Hope you will enjoy and learn meaningfully from this challenge.

Outline
- the date/time of experience
- the values you have practiced
- the story/experience (details: people, location, event, situations, ways the values have been practiced and the reactions of the involved people)
- your feelings during the experience
- the learning from your experience

Assignment for next meeting

Choose one and do it in your journal.

A. Write your thoughts/reflection about the Freshmen Night using the guide questions below.

1. What were the things, scenes and events you have seen during the Freshmen Night?
2. What were your feelings/emotions during the event?
3. What did you like most about the event?
4. What did you dislike during the event?
5. What have you realized/learned from this experience?
6. Any remarks for MCL administrators.

B. Write a reflection about one of your significant classroom experiences during the past few days at MCL. This could be something positive or negative. Use the outline below.

- the date/time of experience
- details of the story/experience (people, location, event/situation, reactions of the people around)
- your feelings and reactions during the experience
- your learning/realization from the experience

Center for Student Development

FOR MY ENG011 STUDENTS

Here is a link to the UMC LIBRARY WEBSITE where you can access an explanation on how to do an annotated bibliography following the APA format of citation. A sample annotated bibliography is also included there. http://library.umcrookston.edu/annotate.htm

God bless.

FOR MY VALUES EDUCATION STUDENTS

Hello! As promised, here is the checklist I showed to you during our class. You may copy this in a sheet of paper or copy and paste it in MS Word, print it out, and check the appropriate skill that you believe you already have. God bless!!!

It's fun to have a blog and it's really very easy. You can google "how to start a blog" and there will be a number of sites that will appear on your screen and you can chose which you prefer more. You can also create a blog in Friendster, or you can go to http://www.blogger.com/start to create a blog with Blogger. The steps to create a blog are really very simple. Anyway, that's all for now. See yah next meeting.

Name:____________________________________ Date:________________________
Degree program:_________________________________

Making the Transition from High School to College

A college student must have an array of skills to help meet the many academic, social, and emotional demands of campus life. To assess your readiness for college (or that of someone close to you), check each skill that you believe you have.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO…
____ analyze course demands and plan your study time accordingly?
____ take accurate and clear notes on a lecture in your own words?
____ read actively so that you remember what you read?
____ study on your own for at least 15-20 hours per week?
____ express yourself clearly on paper?
____ take a multiple-choice test successfully?
____ think critically about a topic and express your opinions in writing?
IF SO, YOU’RE READY FOR THE ACADEMIC DEMANDS OF COLLEGE.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO…
____ get yourself out of bed and to class on your own?
____ balance study time with socializing and time alone?
____ stay calm and focused during an exam?
____ cope effectively when you’re anxious or depressed?
____ stay motivated when you are frustrated or have failed?
____ find ways to relax when you’re stressed?
IF SO, YOU‘RE READY TO MANAGE YOURSELF IN COLLEGE.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO…
____ keep your own biases in check so that you can interact with
someone who is different than you in race, gender, age, religion, culture, or
sexual orientation?
____ stay open to and respectful of someone who has different values or ideas or
lifestyle than yours?
____ acknowledge your biases and prejudices and work to reduce them?
IF SO, YOU‘RE READY FOR THE MULTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE OF COLLEGE.

WILL YOU BE ABLE TO…
____ ask questions when you don’t know or understand something?
____ introduce yourself to someone and initiate a conversation?
____ disagree with someone and negotiate a compromise?
____ say no when you don’t want to do something? (e.g., drugs)
____ get close to someone without becoming too dependent or losing yourself?
IF SO, YOU’RE READY FOR THE INTERPERSONAL DEMANDS OF COLLEGE.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO…
____ identify your own reasons for attending college?
____ list things that you like and things that you’re good at?
____ recognize what is important to you in life?
IF SO, YOU’RE READY TO SET GOALS IN COLLEGE AND CHOOSE A MAJOR.
WILL YOU BE ABLE TO…
____ recognize when you have a problem?
____ ask for help?
____ make mistakes without losing confidence in yourself?
____ identify resources where you can get assistance?
IF SO, YOU’RE READY TO TACKLE THE PROBLEMS OF COLLEGE.


If you identify areas where your skills are not as highly developed, consider using the services of Center for Student Development. This office will help you manage the transition to college.

Plunging headlong

It feels comforting that at least some of my fellow teachers, who have years of experience to their names, are feeling a little anxious to start our jobs and fall short of the expectations thrown at us... Yes. I have started with my job as a teacher and it's been almost two weeks since I started. I still get bouts of anxiety every now and then since this is entirely new to me and I am afraid to fall down splat to my face... I want to think though that I can do this and that our Lord thinks the same way for He won 't be giving me this job if I wouldn't be able to handle it, right? Of course. Yeah, that's the spirit. Ajah! One of my stressors for now is being one of the emcees for the freshman orientation. I mean I've stayed out of the spotlight for so long that I am not sure how I'll adjust now. I used to do a lot of extemporaneous and impromptu speaking when I was in highschool and some radio and TV performance back in college but I've aways kept a low profile ever since. I didn't want others to think like I'm flaunting my talents. You can imagine what I feel now. I mean I applied for this teaching job and made myself think that this is really what I want because I feel like I wasn't really cultivating the capabilities God has given me when I was still with Pagcor. I know it won't be easy and I'm sure I'll be facing problems and committing mistakes along the way. I'm just praying that I'll be able to go through all of that, scathed but at least without my head between my toes.

Oh God, You know how I am feeling riight now. I hope I don't fail You or my students or myself... And I am raising my hands in praise to You for all the blessings You have bestowed upon us. Thank you so much Lord. I surrender everything to You.

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Nobody said it would be easy
Nobody said it won't break you
All you gotta do is have faith
Faith is all that matters
You gotta have some faith child

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When things fall apart
When the center no longer holds
When the maze seems to lead you to doors
without exits
When the web you've created
feels like a hand pressing too gently and then
too hard around your neck
When tears stream down your face like
water gushing out of broken pipelines
When the air from your lungs struggles to
break free but fails
When the words you utter start to dry your
already parched lips
When the thousand sobs that you're holding
back suddenly shake your body like crazy
When there's no single tear left to shed
When there's no single pain left in your head
When life has escaped your convulsing body
That's when
I'll be there.

Developments

There have been changes since my last post here. First, I haven't actually started on my job. Until now, I don't know if it'll push through or when it will. So I'm keeping my fingers crossed, my options open, and my palms together in prayer. I could consider that a bad news although they did apologize for the postponement of dates and that they will be informing us this coming week when the contract signing will push through. However, its more of a blessing in disguise since a lot of blessings did come from the postponement of that employment. I was able to get a student's permit and take up driving lessons. Yipee!!! I still have two hours of training left which I shall take this Sunday. Although that has already resulted with palpitations, arguments and a minor scratch in my sister's car (for which I'm sure I'll get a word or two, but we'll work on polishing off that scratch this week;)). I have also secured the required papers for my wedding. I was able to accompany my bebi angel to the hospital where he had a minor operation on his left knee for miniscus tear. We just got out of the hospital today. It had to be done in Batangas because the doctor and the equipment is there aside from being the accredited hospital of his health card. And since I think I still have next week to get a jumpstart on my thesis, I will be going to DLSU tomorrow to have my request for permission to conduct research on different libraries signed. That way, come tuesday, I can proceed to UP and Ateneo to do research and at the same time meet my friend who lives in Antipolo with her two sons. Then I shall go to UST the next day, again to do more research, and to the National Library, and then drop by my previous office, check some pending documents and meet some officemates. I'll also be working on the other requirements for our PAG-Ibig loan next week. I'll also be looking at a possible venue for our wedding and consult with possible caterer or wedding planner who can work on a limited budget;) So I guess it is indeed a blessing that I haven't started yet on my "job". I was also interviewed recently by Benilde for a possible part-time teaching position. They just advised me to come back when I have grown tired of a full-time teaching job since I confessed to them that I am already waiting for the schedule of our contract signing. I'll stop here for now to get a beauty rest. Nytnyt!;) God Bless!

Staying alive

I haven't actually been paying much attention on you lately... Haven't been quite up to talking about the latest developments in my life... Well, I have been blessed to have been given a chance to work as a teacher in Malayan College. I'll start training this April 16. I hope I don't disappoint them and myself... That's the major breakthrough of my life as of now... Quitting my job for five years and venturing into the unknown. My thesis has to take a backseat for now... I have to concentrate first on reading stuff and getting ready for this "extra challenge" of my life.

I'm quite tired actually and my mind is crowded with other thoughts like our house loan, wedding preparations ( actually, we haven't really started on this...), taking driving lessons??? ( if I don't freak out), and the fact that I haven't read and studied enough to actually teach literature and I'm trying to do all of these at the same time that it's like I don't actually get anything done... I am afraid to fail... I know it's when I let my faith waver that all these fears and stress set in. I just hope I'll be able to pull this off. Make that a we. Because I, alone, can't pull this off. I really need Him and my loved ones to help me through this. We can all do this together...

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Anxiety

Light from the lone, yellow bulb
Twinkling darkness from the busted lamps on the street
Radiance from a terminal of data
Shadows from the moon of tomorrow

Fingers pressing on the letters
Feet threading murky roads
Not getting quite there
Not quite seeing past here

Stepping out of the bedsheet
Descending down the stairs
Unlocking the frontdoor
Flinging open the gate

Placing one foot into the cold pavement
Retracting from the sudden heat
Putting it back again
The hiss of passion and surrender

With hope in her eyes
And fear in her pocket