About Me

I am part of the Empowerment Component with the main goal of encouraging PWDs and their family members to make their own decisions and take responsibility for changing their lives and improving their communities. Our group was then paired with the education component to implement their program. In planning and implementation of the stakeholder’s analysis, I was designated to identify and create the problem tree regarding the stakeholder’s reported concerns. Initially, I was also assigned to generalize the overall meeting with the stakeholder’s but unfortunately, we didn’t have the time. For our stakeholder’s meeting, I believe we had a difficult time in organizing the event considering that it was our first meeting and that it was conducted online. We didn’t know what to expect and I believe that the time and the relaying of information during planning weren’t managed well. Nonetheless, everyone involved was able to still carry the program smoothly despite the lack in preparation.

In designing a CBHR program for the empowerment component, I was assigned with the monitoring and evaluation of the informants and information needed. I also voted for the programs that I thought were best for the stakeholders, which was a webinar inviting a government official discussing their rights; however, the programs that our group has proposed were not chosen and we were paired with the education component. In designing a program, we were able to collaborate and think as a group of the plausible and most effective programs to help the stakeholders and address their concerns regarding empowerment. Honestly, I wasn’t able to contribute much with the planning since I wasn’t comfortable speaking my mind and had little knowledge compared to my group mates. In implementing the education component’s program entitled “Play to Cope, Learn to Hope”, I was assigned under the financial committee where we were in charge of planning and documenting the expenses as well as collecting the funds needed. Also, I was assigned to make a feedback form for the parents and the speakers to be answered after the program. The overall experience was really rewarding. Seeing our plans come to fruition and seeing how the children and parents have appreciated the activity really makes all the difference. Although I didn’t have any role at time of implementation, seeing the outcome of a successful CBR program is quite a nice experience.

This course was really one of the most difficult considering that it was held online and communicating with the whole class was done without physically seeing one another or having a specific time to meet and plan. Honestly, this has been a source of considerable stress since I am not really fond of brainstorming or collaborating within a group, especially done virtually. This has been one of my weaknesses during the online classes but I am willing to work on it. Despite this, witnessing the success of the CBR program and the smiles and appreciation of the stakeholders really brightens up your soul and reminds me of the heart of Occupational Therapy. With this, I am really thankful to the instructors, leaders, program heads, speakers, organizers, hosts, and the technical team who made this program a success.

Overall, my college experience thus far seemed like a blur but the 2-year pandemic also taught me a lot of valuable lessons about myself. Since I was pulled out of my usual routine, my inability to adapt, manage my own time, communicate, and my problems in finding productive ways of coping were really highlighted and I never thought I’d say this but I’m still thankful that I got to experience this. Most importantly, my relationship with Christ also had its twists and turns this pandemic but ultimately, He has been with me even at my worst of worsts. There are a lot of uncertainties in life but one thing’s for sure, I am nothing without Christ. It’s quite a messy and bumpy journey but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’m excited about what the path ahead has instored for me.