Selamat Siang, Semuanya!

I am Rojeal M. Castro, also known as Teacher/Umi RC, 22 years old and a 4th year college student at Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology (ISUFST) - Dumangas Campus, taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English. I am one of the delegates of the SEA-Teacher Exchange Program, alongside with me in this program were my fellow SEA-Teacher: Kathleen Hope Marte-ISUFST-Main Tiwi Site  taking up Bachelor of Physical Education and Warren Villazana-ISUFST Dingle Campus taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Mathematics. We departed from Iloilo, Philippines on July 13, 2025 and arrived in Medan, Indonesia on July 14, 2025. Our program lasted for 25 days. We were welcomed by the Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara and were assigned at Perguruan Islam Al-Amjad, Indonesia. This SEA-Teacher program is a life-changing opportunity for me, it helped me look into a different perspective of education in a diverse school community, it also helped me to grow personally and a soon-to-be teacher. As a person, it allowed me to step out of my comfort zone, immerse myself in a different culture, and learn how to adapt with humility and an open heart. I gained not only friendships and meaningful connections but also a deeper understanding of empathy, patience, and respect for diversity. As a future teacher, the program honed my skills in classroom management, creative teaching strategies, and cross-cultural communication. It inspired me to become more resourceful, reflective, and student-centered, preparing me to guide learners not just academically, but also in building character and embracing the world with curiosity and kindness.