Story Number 1: My being a program chair wasn't something I readily accepted. One reason is that I had preconceived notions about AA students. What I am about to share here are 3 short stories: During the first community building I had last year, I said to myself.."Gosh, aren't these students totally makukulit, KSP's...can't wait to get rid of these kids". Then later on in the semester..Aren't these AA kids a bunch of plagiarisers/ cheaters/ simplidores...am I here to behave like an investigator....can't wait for this semester to be over! That was story 1  Story Number 2: Mid sem, when finally TMA's were pouring in, I started reading student works, mainly Life Stories as part of KAS 1 requirement. Now, I was beginning to understand the whys' behind the what's of the AA's. I think 3/4's of my AA section had a pretty tough life. While I had a totally mababaw undergrad life...Back then, my troubles were limited to drama issues w/ my mom or boyfriend, nail polish and mini skirts. I was never placed in a position to choose between studies or supporting a family. But my AA students were taking risks, embracing major responsibilities and making tough choices here and there. Story Number 3:
I finally met a range of AA applicants during the UGAT. It was literally like a panoramic view of my virtual classroom--a range of people, outfits, age, shoes and gadgets. All of a sudden, the applicants looked familiar. I said to myself, wait a minute, this is like my grade school classroom but only bigger. have been teaching grade schoolers for more than 15 years and one thing I can say for sure is that in every group of 10 kids, you will most certainly get 2-3 who learn differently, or are gifted in many ways or either LD or ADHD. AA Program Matters What I have here are just stories to help me understand who you are as people and as learners. I can go on compiling more stories but I should be able to help you through your program at the soonest possible time. So I have 1 HW for you, please fill up this google online form. Why? Only because I am about to plan ways to make your lives meaningful here at UPOU...so by the time you graduate and continue on with your jobs and careers you will always look back to fond memories of what it means to be in U.P.  Closing Remarks
Story
4: I had a recent conversation with my niece..P sci grad now in U.P.
who is totally bored with her classes.. she has a list of things to do,
projects she wants to undertake but just couldn't start right away as
she is you know like the usual undergrad...thinking, wondering about
her future... worried about her classmate's future, a little afraid
that she might end up like her firends who already dropped out...I said
to her that's what it means to be an undergrad...you are intelligent
enough to float and swim if you care at all to finish. also that I
never cared about academics during my time...i really just went to
school to get active in orgs and do something worthwhile in my
tambayan, be with boyfriends, pass the time...get my classes over and
done with. It is the same piece of advice I intend to give you today as
your program chair...just get your classes over and done with so you
can get on with your lives. The kind of grades you choose to make will
not necessarily be predictive of the kind of job you will get....but
completing your classes and finishing school are predictive of how
you will handle bigger obstacles and major responsibilities in life
beyond the walls of your classroom.So are you AA students like puzzles to figure out or problems to be solved or will you be a future work of art or superheroes.....  
|     My plans are quite
simple...I am actually just building on Prof Hidalgo's wish lists....my
part here is to think of strategies to make these plans work. But it's
not going to work without your engagement. In other words, I need your
profile... I am not even telling you to pour your hearts out to me,
that will be too much. What I am asking you to do is to just click and
click and answer with all honesty. 
or will you be able to transform yourselves into people who strive to do service for others...I am not even thinking of major service or papakamatay kayo para sa bayan natin...it can be as simple as this.... Any one of you AA's, 10 years from now, having your turn to pay it forward---as students you need to do your part: the AA program has to survive if not flourish for a good number of years and wouldn't it be nice if someday one of you become part of the OU faculty and teach my kid? |
