Kevin Paul P. Untalan is a fourth-year college student at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He found himself amused by music and songwriting. Although he is far from a virtuoso, dedication and burning passion are what keep his dreams alive. Hopefully, he will make a path for the career he wants to be part of. For now, he is one step closer to getting a degree in Business Technology and Livelihood Education, majoring in Information and Communication Technology.

After the conclusion of my practice teaching, teaching and learning have various definitions that I garnered along the way. They are lifelong partners we should have. It is a continuous process we sometimes overlook, but a crucial part of life.

From a perspective of an educator, I believe teaching means being an adaptive, strategic, imaginative, and social butterfly. These traits are not the conventional factors of a teacher that I learned about from the textbook. However, those have fundamental effects on being an effective teacher as a result of my experienced. Not all the time do we have the essential tools or materials to deliver our lessons, but I learned we just need to think out of the box and use the resources in the best possible ways to create instructional materials. I handled six sections, a total of one hundred eleven students. Each of them has different backgrounds, attitudes, and behaviors, which a challenging for me, especially since I am an introvert. I pushed myself to become a social butterfly because that's I needed to break the dense barrier in the classroom and make my learners more open to their learning process. As an educator, letting students communicate and be comfortable inside the class is pivotal. After all, the goal is to create an inclusive and safe environment while fostering a better version of themselves.

Learning comes in many forms-- we learn subconsciously from time to time. While my students learned from me, I also learned from them. As an educator, it is essential to deliver wisdom in different ways that students can absorb naturally. In reality, we can learn without goals, but in my opinion, having a reason makes learning fun and meaningful. I subtly induced my class that it is hard to absorb knowledge if we force ourselves or are not willing to learn. In order to learn, you have to accept that the mind needs it.  It is a core foundation for growth. Indeed, we should always thirst for learning.

If I pursue teaching, these beliefs could amplify and become my philosophy in the profession. 

Looking back, I have gained abundant experiences, skills, and wisdom that I couldn't imagine for. I discovered how kind of a teacher I was, and I learned more about myself. Spending time with my students and my critic teacher for almost four months allowed me to master delivering new knowledge and imparting skills. It widens my perspective on the field, for instance, no one-size-fits-all. Tailoring pedagogy must always practice as it is an efficient and effective way to cater to all types of learners. 

Through the months, I learned how to learn things in a convenient way, not just as a teacher but also as a student. With the guidance of my cooperating teacher, I learned techniques and became more creative in designing instructional materials. I understood how morally rewarding this profession is every time the learners learn and appreciate my efforts.

Calling me sir and greetings from my learners are such fulfilling feelings. When we concluded our internship at Victorino Mapa High School, I was glad, no question about that. But, as I made genuine relationships with my students, it was bitter and hurt to leave. I did not prepare myself for that. Letting go is such a difficult thing to do. 

Educators' roles are broad. We absorb different viewpoints of our students, motivate, facilitate, mold, and lead them to the path they deserve. We also become creators and innovators each day. The teaching profession is a noble job. It is not an easy job, not for all. It is a challenging position with less financial fulfillment but fruitful for self-development. I really hope teachers will be well compensated someday.

Contemplating, I gained confidence and satisfaction in my journey. Spiritually, I felt contentment as I help young generations. Although I still have lots to improve, I am proud of my development. I don't know how to describe the feeling, but knowing I help individuals and part of their growth is something I will be thankful for the rest of my life.