I entered college at a time when most high school graduates were lured into the medical professions as Physical Therapists and Nursing. I always remembered one of my teachers who asked me why I did not also take up Physical Therapy or Nursing.
Looking back, I have several reasons for taking up Teaching though it was not my first love until the last months of my fourth year class in high school.
First, I came from a “hand-to-mouth” family with my mom as the only one fending for us. Without a dad to help my mom in raising us and with seven children in the family, we learned to help our mom in all ways we can. Of course, one thing is always to consider our financial situation and to look after our means in making decisions. I enjoyed a scholarship when I was in college but all the expenses a “pensionada” incurs will greatly bury my mom in debt if I would have chosen courses out of my mom’s financial economic range.
At first, I enrolled at a private school where I needed a ride or two to reach. I computed how much I am spending and so for the second semester of my first year in college, I transferred to Benguet State University and opted to stay at the dormitory. At that time, the dormitory was not a first rate choice to us who came from Sagada since they would rather prefer to stay at boarding houses. I think with all those who stayed in the dormitory, I was the only one who came from our town who was able to endure for three years. But, I considered it as my way of helping my mom.
Moreover, when I came to the city, I entered it with guts. I did not ask my mom to come with me for I know that it will mean more spending for her yet she could use the money for more useful things like buying my other brother and sisters’ needs. So, I employed the help of one senior student of the private school where I first enrolled to help me. I did not even know what course I am really to take, if it is Elementary or Secondary Education. It makes me laugh to recall that we enrolled in Elementary Education without me taking its full implication. But, when I transferred, I had to fend for myself again and single-handedly worked on all necessary papers for my transfer. Sometimes, when my classmates asked me how I transferred, I cannot even tell them in detail since when I did it, I was so engrossed with all the necessary papers that I did not even have time to reflect on what I was doing. I also shifted from Elementary Education to Secondary when I transferred to BSU.
Secondly, I found out that teaching is one way of molding the younger generation. I started teaching Sunday School for Children when I was in high school. And, I am so thrilled to see their reactions to whatever we are discussing. Moreover, I had smaller brothers and sisters (I am the third of the seven brood.) whom I always teach.
Thirdly, I have a goal. The goal was to finish my studies at the appointed time and help my mom with my brothers and sisters. I know she is hard-up but I never heard or saw her complain. That goal to finish in time drove me to take teaching since I believe that I can finish it in time unlike when I take other courses such as Accounting.
Fourthly, I came to admire the potentials of each person. I found out that each one has his own potentials and the teacher is always the one who is able to bring out such potential in any person. He/she has the power which he/she does not even know of. Proof? I had some teachers in high school and elementary who were able to influence me without even telling me to take up education. I remember one batch of graduates we had. I always admonish them in jest never to take up teaching if they believe that “what they are doing will come back to them.” They were not really a “naughty” batch but they were full of pranks. I considered them my “sons and daughters” for most of them had belonged to my advisory class from first to third year and all them in fourth year. However, I found out that many of them took teaching. And, to top it all, two of them came back to our school to teach. So, I asked them in jest why they took teaching after all that I told them, and they said, “Well, there was somebody who told us not to take teaching in high school but unknowingly, that somebody did the other way around for she inspired us to take it.”
Fifth, I never really understood why they always say that teaching is such a noble profession until I entered it but at that time I knew no other way to be noble (He He). However, I could say that those words did their magic before so I enrolled and learned to love the noblest profession of all – teaching.
There are more reasons, but as of now, I can say that those are the most influential reasons to me.
