THE CHALLENGES OF PRACTICUM

1. Achieving expectations. Most of the people consider expectation as a motivation, but being placed in a circumstance where mistakes are perceived to be unexpected will definitely drive one away from considering it as a motivation. Before I left my country, I knew how much expectations are going to be placed on my shoulders. It was a struggle, a challenge to every aspect of my being. Everything felt real when I arrived and started doing the tasks. It was like I’m in the middle of a maze, not knowing what might happen for every step and every moment that I’ll make. But when I learned to embrace the fact that I am destined for this and that the expectations that was afraid of were made for my own benefit, I was more confident to take every chance served and make the all those who held the highest level of expectation proud and grateful.

2. Catering the differentiated needs of the students. Every student who walked through the doors of my classrooms is different. Some of them may share the same interests and possess physical characteristics that are identical but the fact that a lot of differences lie beneath is one of the greatest challenges a teacher always faces. Sometimes, even if how much determination you hold, their differences will always come out and knowing that it is my responsibility to cater and consider those differences at the same time makes me think twice of pursuing the task. They speak different from me, their ways are different from mine too, as well as the things that they are used to. It was difficult for me to find my own pathway towards each of them, for me to be able to help and give them the assistance that they deserve. I’ve always wanted to reach out but I couldn’t think of more ways of doing it. Then I learned that it was about flexibility and courage. Flexibility to be able to make changes in a click in order to give them what they need and the courage to the risk of trying new things and exposing them to various experiences for the purpose of giving them authentic learning based on the persona that they have and the kind person that they are.

3. International understanding. Interaction appears difficult but understanding and appreciation are way more than that. My love for my country is genuine and I’ve never experienced to get along with people who’s nationality, customs, and beliefs are exactly in contrast to mine. Adjustment remained a word for some time for it was too difficult to adapt and get away from something that you love and you’re used to in a very short period of time. But the journey taught me more differences mean a greater a need for understanding and appreciation. Everything that we figure out between us and other people might be overwhelming and probably take us high up that we no could no longer look down and see beauty in diversity.

4. Emotional stability. Nostalgia will never stop hunting an individual until one finds the purpose of oneself. I’m used of being away from my family since I was living in a province in the Philippines, miles away from the city where my university is, but as I left for another country it felt like half of my persona wasn’t with me. It was never easy to fight against homesickness, to fight against the feeling of being alone and sad, to fight against the fear of being forgotten, to fight against the idea that my efforts will be wasted, and to fight against the idea that the journey was nothing but a curse. It was a burden that I wanted to take off but seemed to be not capable of being detached. I spent most of my nights crying, wanting to get into the plane and be home. For every complaint that I had, there was something keeping me alive inside. I’ve realized that we can never run away from our fate and this ill-like journey was never a curse but a blessing.

5. Living the ideals of a genuine SEAMEO SEA-Teacher Exchange Student. The privilege of being called as a SEA-Teacher always gives me an overwhelming feeling. The task of bearing the ideal of high intellectual capacity, upholding vision of morality and integrity dedicated to the formation of holistic learners and being of service to local and global community is task of a lifetime. The strong influence of the destructive side of this technologically inclined society, massive inhumane attacks, selfish ulterior motives, and the decreasing belief in the power of education might take us to another side of the road but the hope that we’re still seeing in the eyes of the youth continue to give us hope. This challenge will forever be taken and I firmly believe that this challenge will continue to transform educators, bringing hope to the country, saving the world from what we fear to be.