Experiences=Learnings

this was my reaction paper for my NSTP 2 class. i just want share my uhm...learnings. doing charity works...is PRICELESS. SELF-FULFILLING. HAHAHAHA

ps: pagpasensyahan ang grammar. hahahaha. how informal of me to pass it to our professor.

Manila North Cemetery – May 26, 2008

The day before was our orientation, though I had an idea what we’ll going to do, I find it exciting and nerve-wracking .

Exciting because I want to do some charity works. Help the needy, teach kids. And when I knew that we’ll be doing tree planting, I got really excited.

First stop was the Manila North Cemetery, I was assigned to teach English together with April to a group of 12-13 yrs old. When I heard that we’ll be teaching 12-13 years old, I don’t know how I felt. Those age brackets are those who can show you a sign of disrespect, in tagalong mga batang kaya kang sagut-sagutin. I’ve experienced it once, kids at the age of 8 above, especially if they don’t like you. So I was scared, plus I’m not really good in English. It is one of my least favorite subjects.

That night, I didn’t do any lesson plan, come what may.

The day came and I still did not know what to teach. I just brought a dictionary, because maybe I can teach them spelling.

We arrived at the place. Mirachael Sanosa introduced them to us. We taught various kids. Nagkahalo-halo na sila. We had a 7yrs old, 13yrs old and even a 15 yr old who’s going to college this June. Naloka ako. How are we going teach these kids uniformly? Of course, some already new the four basic math, some don’t. What we did was to teach them one by one. First subject was Mathematics. I don’t like math. Mahina ako diyan. That why, I find it hard to teach them, but I tried. We gave those exercises, multiplication and division for the adults and addition and subtraction for the kids, for them to answer and for us to check. And if they find it hard to answer we taught them some techniques. Some we’re good, some we’re not so good. We played a game after, pahaba ng linya. They enjoyed playing. Came snacks and lunch. We went back around 1:30 and we played a game first, the boat is sinking. After playing we taught them spelling. The words I let them spell was:

1. Expulsion 9. Ambition

2. Flash 10. Family

3. Lime

4. Period

5. Quiet

6. Diamond

7. Caterpillar

8. Sacrifice

Out of, at least 15 students, only 2 got the perfect answers. To think, these are simple words. I don’t know if it was my problem that I mispronounced it or what. So I just taught them the correct spelling and gave its meaning. April taught them reading comprehension. And I did a special tutoring on one child. He doesn’t know the alphabet and he was I think 7 yrs old. I pity the child so taught him the alphabet and let him wrote it one by one. Though his distracted by the surroundings and he just wants to play, I told him that he need at least to learn a little. After teaching them, we gave them some goodies/rewards. And Ms. Sanosa evaluated out team. My bad, I didn’t teach them to spell Mississippi.

After the day, I was tired and hungry. But I learned something. I learned to be thankful for what I have. I pity those families who lived in a cemetery. No lights, no water, though there happy, but imagining my family lived there, I can’t. I’m really thankful to God, to my parents.

Feeding Program and East River Side – May 27, 2008

At around 8:30 am we went first to a school near the Cosmos. We heard mass, after the mass was our feeding program, wherein each kid was given a soup. They performed a dance number. I enjoyed watching the kids. They’re so carefree. We went back to school to have our lunch.

At 1:30 pm we went to the East River Side, to teach kids. Ranging from an infant to 13 yrs old. And this time, it’s a one on one situation. But I thought 3 kids. Nakakaloka. Two of them don’t know how to right. Three of them don’t know the alphabet. One of them can right the alphabet but doesn’t know what it is or how to pronounce it. I find it really hard to teach them one by one, plus it was hot in the venue. But I tried teaching them. I enjoyed teaching them. It’s like teaching in a pre-school.

I realized that again, I am lucky. I am lucky that I went to school, all private. I learned a lot of things. I am in college. And I am really thankful about it. I thank God before I go to sleep, thank Him for everything. Thank Him that my life was okay.

Tree Planting (Salikneta Farm) – May 28, 2008

By far, this was my favorite part. Nature tripping. I’ve always wanted to do a tree planting activity. But I lack time because of school. This would help reduce global warming and help preserve our tress, our forest for the future generations.

Orphanage – May 29, 2008

When we arrived at the place, I wasn’t expecting what I saw. I thought that we will see full of life kids. We even prepared some games, giveaways and others prepared a dance number. But instead we saw differently able kids in strollers and wheelchairs, little kids playing around, and babies. I was saddened with what I saw. I couldn’t believe that they’re parents abandoned them. All they need is a happy family, unfortunately they’ve abandoned them. So I tried my best to show them some love. I’ve met Bocari and Jonalyn. The others I don’t know their name. I walked Bocari around the park and I can see he was happy. I also fed him. We only stayed for awhile.

I’ve learned to give love to these kids. I can’t give those material things but showing some love is, I guess, enough for them to feel important and special.

To sum it up, I’ve learned a lot in these activities. I’ve realized I am lucky in many ways. I also realized that being a teacher is hard. It will take a lot of patience to teach children. It should be passion to teach children. And I wasn’t meant to be a teacher. I learned to share what I have and to give love. These activities opened my mind to what I can do and what I can share.