angel's blog

by Angel Janel Baluntang

Different lives, different realities, different perspectives in life. One thing that makes someone different from everyone else is their experiences.

Cultivating the path towards my future is a gamble. My future depends on what I do and what I decide now—whatever side of the coin I choose is what I’ll become someday.

“Being a teacher is not for everyone”, as one of my college instructors said. They might have chosen to pursue education because their parents encouraged them, the programs were available, it was practical, or even due to peer pressure.

There are a lot of contributing factors why someone might have chosen this line of work. Oftentimes if it’s really not for them, it just wouldn’t work out. And you’re faced with the decision on whether or not to quit, which not everyone has the privilege to do.I had met some teachers who, in their words, didn’t want to be one. But twice the number of them are also the teachers I’ve met who truly have their heart in education.

I, myself, am a product of two dedicated teachers. I’ve seen the stress, the pressure, and the hassle the teaching profession demands. But above all else, their dedication shone through.

During my elementary to high school days, I’ve been under many great teachers. One of them influenced my love for English literature, another changed my attitude towards the Math subject, another uplifted my confidence in public speaking, and another helped grow my love for science.

As an Education student majoring in Science, I can firmly say that it is far from easy. In my case, teaching was not my childhood dream. Instead, I wanted to be a housekeeper. I loved to clean every corner until it was spotless. I loved organizing, arranging, and seeing a perfectly clean space.

I loved doing chores at home, but it was not as easy living with two messy brothers who just don’t give as much care to tidiness as I do.

But since then, I’ve grown and I’ve matured. Admittedly, a lot of things influenced me to take up Education, and one of those reasons is my teachers. It was not the expectations or the pressure—it was the decision I made on my own. In every decision, I always ask myself, “Do I have what it takes?”, “Am I capable enough?”.

Although I do still have my setbacks, I believe here I can grow, expand, and develop as an individual. I can build compassion, not pride, and empathy, not indifference.

That is why I could never say I’ve had regrets. Regardless of the adversities, if you show dedication, perseverance, and positivity inside your classroom, your students will follow you. Personally, I think the teachers’ attitude towards teaching partially influences the students’ motivation to learn. That is why I aspire to be one of those teachers who encourage, inspire, and motivate their students.

We live different lives and that means we don’t have the same opportunities, privileges, and dreams. We lead different realities. Our reality might not be the same compared to others—you might be living someone else’s dream or they are living yours. So expand your perspective. Maybe now you don’t think something is for you, but never narrow your perspective. Choose what makes you happy, where you are happy. And these choices are what make someone unique from everyone else.

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