Words of Gratitude

Freshmen-Sophomore -Junior-Senior Years:
What I Am Thankful All These Years

I could have never imagined myself to be at the last year of my college this academics year. I've had a lot of experience, heartbroken, and breakdowns as a college student. Before I say my words of gratitude let me first take this moment to show my reflections and insights of what I am really thankful all these years in college.

I remember the days, like a school boy I rush to school everyday because the school bell is about to go on. Though my residence is very near to the school I can only count the days when I was on time or even early to class. Well that's way back in my freshmen years. Through continuous growth, learning, and development I manage to arrive early at regular school days. I remember one of our teachers always reminding us that as teachers we should always remember to be on time or at least arrive before the students do. Hence, as a first year student, I always listen and take the teacher's advice to the heart and practice. So I develop a habit of being on time and always being a little earlier than students. In these year, I was thankful that as I transition from Senior High School to College I have friends and teachers who are well fond of guiding and supervising me. Furthermore, I develop a sense of awareness and actualization that I'm really now in college. My freshmen years was really the most fresh years I've been through.

Sophomore year comes next, I've spent many late night studying and working on activities that are required for the next day's discussion. The non stop of possibilities and chances in this year were incomparable. Though I started to become a student leader in my freshmen year, sophomore year was my year of leadership. Student leadership and my engagement to the school was at its peak this year. Hence, I developed a sense of Leadership awakening in this year. So, in this year, I only not have my profession alike friends, but also my Co organization friends. I have since then expanded my friends but I remain close with my inner friends. In relation to this, as a teacher in the future, I had a good sense and grasp of how to improve and heighten personal growth and professional development.

Junior years came in and the burning desire to learn and inspire continues to run in me. Unfortunately the Pandemic hits this year really hard. The lockdowns and discontinued learning for days became weeks, weeks turned into months. But eventually modular and self learning was introduced. It's hard at first because as students training to be teachers, experiential learning is what most drives us to learn and develop more. But what else can we do but to go along it's flow. Later experiments and breakthroughs with utilizing the internet came into the public's notice and had since then develop ways to make use of it. Then online or distant learning came more rampant and used. But aside from the many challenges brought about by the Pandemic, mental health, stress, and anxiety were made more common as well. Hence I start to learn how to improve myself mentally and physically. Trust me, taking care of the self in these aspects is not as easy as it sounds. Because I believe the intangible aspects of the self are more difficult to manage compared to those that are tangible like physically. But this year had taught me to take good care of myself meanwhile improving myself as a person. I was thankful that my department was lenient in student activities and requirements and I've had a lot of open dialogue and communication with personnel that had since then helped me self improve and take good care of myself.

My journey as a teaching intern came in differently as I've expected it would be. But above everything else, I am still thankful that I’ve had an experiential learning that had made me capable to develop many things that can help me practice the teaching profession even better. Extended to this gratitude is my deep respect and gratitude to my college supervisors, RT, and colleagues who had journey with me in this ever roller coaster ride. Above everyone else I would also like to thank my Parents and Family for always providing me with the support and motivation to study even harder. Also, to the Almighty who's always there to show me guidance in the shadow during rough times. No words can define and suffice how lucky and thankful I am to around these people. The many hours I’ve spent on my preparation to many academic endeavors had made me capable of acquiring such extensive knowledge on the practice of the teaching profession. All I can say is that it is worth it! In the lenses of the domains under the Philippine Professional Standards for Teachers (PPST), found at the learning manuals, I had given a plentiful of reflections and insights of how I have developed and grew under the Vincentian care and Institution. To the future FS students or aspiring teachers like me, we can do this! The time may be a little challenging than before, but time itself will make us stronger and more capable as teachers.

I hope this electronic portfolio serves it's purpose right. Showcasing my personal growth and professional development at once. I also hope, that this e-portfolio may serve as an inspiration and a resource for incoming teaching intern. To God be the Glory!

Acknowledgement

The teaching internship journey was one of the peak experiential learning a practice teacher can experience in the journey into fully realizing the teaching profession. Hence, I was able to fully realize and experience this course with the help of my peers, parents, cooperating teachers, college supervisors, department/ program and everyone who helped me in their simple ways. Specially acknowledging the following persons and departments, but is not limited to:

USI- Higher Education Department (HED) and USI- Basic Education Department – the USI departments which have nurtured me throughout my teaching internship journey and for giving me the opportunity to grow and develop my skills in the profession.

Ms. Simonet A. Barrosa and Mrs. Raquel L. Rosero – USI-BED department principal and vice-principal, for going the extra mile and accepting my internship application and for allowing me to be a part of one of the Science teachers interns.

Mrs. Jann Nuarina L. De la Cruz and Mr. Rodolfo M. Buena, Jr. – the Cooperating teachers who unwillingly and relentlessly guided me with their time, knowledge, and skills in the teaching profession during the time I was under their supervision.

Mrs. Maria Luisa P. Vale, MA Chem Educ – the Program Chairperson of the Teacher Education Program that helped me journey this profession and her guidance and encouragement in my whole college journey.

Ms. Anna Marie T. Ensano, MME and Ms. Kristine Frances A. Muni, MAED – the College Supervisors that helped me finish the teaching internship journey with their guidance and encouragement and in carrying out the extra load and burden for checking on my development as a professional teacher to be.

Internship Buddies, Friends, and Classmates – the persons who journeyed with me and for giving time and support in my academic and personal development and endeavors.

To my Parents and Family – the persons who took care and comforted me in my down times and for constantly showing their support for me and for being considerate to my needs while doing the internship.

Most of all, to the God Almighty – for enlightening my mind in the entire duration of my internship and for giving me the strength, courage, and wisdom to complete this endeavor. Without Him I will not be able to accomplish the study.

Without these people I could have not been able to finish and be at the finish line of my internship journey. Thank you and I hope they continue their support in my future endeavors.