shouting and teens

from google images

I was watching the news last night and I came across this noodle commercial with a teen slowly drifting away while the father shouts at him as they have their dinner.  I was almost in tears but I didn’t not want others to see me cry over a commercial.  But in my mind, fresh are the memories when I experienced the same period of my life where I really do not want to be inside our house.  I can feel the pain in the child’s commercial as the father shouts at him.  The only difference is that it wasn’t my dad who battered me with shouts.

I remembered the times where I would just want to stay out of our house.  I do not want to linger, much more step my feet on our house.  I didn’t actually felt I was home during those times.  Why?  Because I didn’t feel loved, understood or welcomed inside my own house.  Whenever I look at my family members, they look so indifferent and cold.  We do not even have time for one another to eat a meal together.  I was always alone. 

I never grew up with my parents.  I grew up with my brothers and sisters who already have their own families.  I admit, I was a difficult child.  Who wouldn’t be when you’re a product of broken home, physical, mental and emotional abuse?  I was lucky to have graduated college and be where I am now in spite of all the torments I experienced when I was young.  I didn’t even have a strong spiritual figure in my life that time.  So I really grew up to be a difficult, secretive, teen with a lot of masks and skeletons in my closet.

Watching that TV ad made me reminisce the times when people around me couldn’t understand my struggles.  I know it was my fault on occasions that I lied and got caught, but I never lied back.  So, it was really unfair for me to be doubted when I was already telling the truth.  I felt, I should have been given a chance to redeem myself.  But I wasn't.   

Now that I am a parent and experiencing the same situation with my older daughter, I was ashamed of myself whenever I scold and shout at her whenever she goes home late.  It dawned on me that she was me some years ago.  I felt cold like I was poured with a bucket full of ice on my head and thought that maybe, my daughter too doesn't want to be at the house because instead of me, asking whether she had her meal or what can I do for her to help her with her school work, there I was shouting frantically as if she eloped with a man she just met.  I reasoned to myself to justify my shouting and being mad that I am just protecting her from the evil ones lurking on the streets and that her always coming home late is my way to keep her away from those people.  But I didn't think that she also has a life and that her school works is just one of the things that she has to accomplish.

I cannot speak for all parents, but this I will surely do to my daughter.  I would be smart and logical in dealing with her late coming and thinking of many other preventive things like knowing who she is with or whose classmate’s house she will work her projects with including talking to her open mindedly that I will understand her but she can’t lie to me.  I will think of many other things before I end up shouting at her, because for me, still the safest place for my daughter is right where I am… Inside our house.  I have to make sure; she stays in the house and loves our house.  

Solving Philippine's traffic problem

A lot of news had been flashed on TV and published on the paper about the problems regarding road traffic.  LTRFB vs MMDA, Municipal mayors against BoC and many other things.  They put so much issue on the congested ports and truck bans causing traffic in the metro side (actually not only the metro side but the majority of Philippine roads)  but the real issue is, many car owners use the roads that are supposed to be used by motorists as their personal parking spaces!

Just look at the volume of cars parked along the LRT1 area, many jeepneys parked everywhere! Municipal mayors should look into the bigger picture that many of their residents are using the roads for parking space.  And barangay officials can’t contain the situation because they’d lose votes or maybe even they are one of the residents who park their cars on the streets thus making the roads narrow and a few accessible roads for motorists to use.

LTRFB should also put “own garage” as a factor before they give license plates to car owners.  Mind you, many people have two cars without even having their own garage.  MMDA, Metro mayors and LTRFB should work hand in hand to fix these problems.  It’s quite simple.  Widen the roads by getting rid of cars parked along the road.  There’d be no need for truck bans because roads would be enough for all motorists to use.

Congestion in the ports is just a result of these heavy traffic problems.  And alongside these traffic problem is corruption problem. Congestion is not only about truck bans, it also include the “red tape” system in the BoC.  Accept it or not, containers vans pile up when “red tape money” is insufficient.  Businessmen with more money to pay some corrupt BoC personnel don’t experience their container vans being piled at the ports but those small to medium enterprise owners who don’t have money to “hasten” the release of their vans at the ports will wait for their turn until they have been put at the bottom of the list.

Every Filipino motorist knows the problem but we can’t accept the reason because maybe we are among those people who use Philippine roads for personal parking space.  Then we’d blame everything to the government, rising prices of goods, business dying, heavy traffic problems, but we can’t blame ourselves for contributing to the problem.  If we want to buy a car, prepare a garage first.  Then we’ll see, traffic problems will ease up.

Poverty

Many people complain about poverty, about being poor, about not having much.  They turn their eyes to the government for being “poor”.  What have I seen from looking and observing at the lives of the many people I have met with gave me a glimpse of why people especially Filipinos consider themselves as poor or getting poorer each day.

A student just graduated from college.  From being a non-earner to an earner, immediately that newly hired person will think of what can he do with this first paycheck.  He will think of dating his girlfriend, or maybe buying a new mobile phone, or laptop or running shoes.  Very rare that you will encounter an newly hired person who will think of where to save his first paycheck or giving a tenth to his church.  This is a newly hired individual with excited mentality.  Because he will be overwhelmed by his salary, he will buy and buy the things he wasn’t able to buy when he was just a “student” with limited allowance.  He will not be thinking of giving a portion of his salary to his parents.  Later his parents will complain about poverty, without realizing that his child is already earning but is not contributing to the family’s expenses.

Then comes a worker with minimum wage.  All his accounts are properly budgeted, from his transportation to even his “me time”.  Everything seems okay.  Suddenly he gets a promotion and an increased salary.  He will start buying the things he wanted to buy not realizing that he starting to spend more than what he earns.  This is an overseas worker's heir mentality.  Because there is an increase in salary, there will be an increase in expenditure.  Families left behind by overseas worker act this way.  Because their breadwinner is abroad, they will have a mentality that they can spend and spend because they know money will come anytime soon.  Most of the time, people with this mentality will start buying what others have, what is in and trendy rather than spending the hard earned money for what they need.  Before what they buy is an ordinary brand of corned beef, but when their salary increased, they will start buying imported brand of corned beef.  Before, "Divisoria" brand of clothes iare like the BOMB to them, when they taste the feeling of big brand clothing line, they will never look at Divisoria clothes again.  As a result, most of the people with this mentality will lend money.  They have the guts to do so because they know money will come soon.  That is why many overseas workers with families with this mentality often are not able to save nor improve their lives.  After years and years of working abroad, they will complain that their lives didn't get better.

Poverty is only a state of mind.  You can’t be poor if your body can still work or your mind can still properly function.  I have no offense meant to beggars, but hey instead of begging money why can’t you use your selling skill to atleast sell something so you can earn.  I have seen an old lady in Singapore.  Very old infact that I think no other company will hire her.  She is not begging! She is selling tissue papers and candies.  The small earning she gets from selling those is enough to make her live for a day.  But here, beggars on the streets have broader shoulders than I have if not have a good mental skill to even answer you "philosophically". Yes, some maybe crippled, but you can still earn if you really want to put your back into it.  I salute the blind singers down the LRT Central Station singing all day long.  Yes, it’s still begging to some, but at least they equal the amount of change you give with entertainment.  It’s good enough than posing yourself with very dirty clothes and pouty lips and nearly crying eyes to beg for money.

We will not be poor if we know how to prioritize.  Buy what we need not what we want.  It’s not because there is a new release of mobile phone you’d lend money just to buy it.  If you still have a phone with good signal, clear screen and a long lasting battery never mind about the latest mobile phone! 

We won’t be poor if we look at our own lifestyle instead of other people’s lifestyles.  It’s not because others can afford to change gadgets every other payday, you can also do that or force yourself to do that.  It’s not because other people can afford to watch the movies every week, you’d do that too.  And it’s not because your salary increased, your expenses will also increase.  When that happens, you must save the extra and spend your usual budget.  In that way in a year or two, you’d be able to have more money to level up your lifestyle, say buy yourself a new house if you’re still renting or buy your family a car if you’re still commuting.

So who ever say they are poor, maybe just have poor budgeting skills or maybe just maybe is still living in a world where saving and wise spending is alien and comparing their lives to others is common.

Kawawang pangulo!

Katatapos lamang ng ika-limang SONA ng pangulong Noynoy Aquino Kabi-kabila ang mga puna at batikos sa kanya.  May mga nagsasabing hindi sila kuntento sa performance ng pangulo, may mga nagsasabing dinaan na lang ni PNoy sa “acting” ang pagtatakip nya sa pagkadismaya ng mga tao sa kanyang pamumuno.  Ngunit para sa kin, pasintabi sa iba diyan, ito lang ang masasabi ko:

Mahirap mamuno ng isang bansa, ako nga isang maliit na private school lamang ang pinamumunuan ko, nahirapan din ako lalo na noong unang taon ko sa pagiging principal.  Napaka hirap bakbakin ng mga nakagawian na ng mga guro, studyante at mismong mga parents para isulong ang aking mga nais na pagbabago para sa school.  Napakahirap alisin ang “katamaran” at pagiging tradisyunal ng mga teachers sa kanilang pagtuturo.  Napakahirap din namang pasunurin ang mga magulang sa bagong patakan na ipinapanukala ng namumuno.  Napaka hirap talaga maisulong ang pagbabago, lalo na kung ang mga dinatnan mong mga tao ay hirap umalis sa kaning mga comfort zones at talaga naming ayaw na sa iyo sa simula’t simula pa man.

Ganun din ang nangyari kay PNoy, napakarami nyang plataporma para sa bayan, subalit, may mga tauhan sa gobyerno, lalo na ang mga dinatnan na niya ang hindi sumusunod.  And I say, hindi talaga sila susunod dahil una pa man, ayaw na nila kay PNoy, napilitan na lamang sila sa kanilang mga trabaho dahil “permanent” ang posisyon nila sa gobyerno.  RESULTA: napakabagal ng progreso ng pagbabago.  Hindi naman sila pwedeng ipatanggal agad agad ni PNoy dahil may security of tenure sila at tiyak na kakampihan ng DOLE o CHR kung papaalisin sila sa tungkulin dahil sa kanilang inefficiency or insubordination.  Pero pupunahin naman ng taong bayan ang mabagal na pagsulong ng mga proyekto ng gobyerno, nang hindi tinitignan ang mga government employees na papetiks petiks lang sa kanilang mga opisina.  Napakahirap para kay PNoy na isulong ang pagbabago dahil sa ilan sa kanyang mga gabinete, “napipilitan’ lang naman syang sundin dahil sa pagkapit sa posisyon, wala talaga sa loob nila ang sumunod.  RESULTA: napapabayaang trabaho na nagiging dahilan ng mabagal na pag unlad ng bayan. 

Napakahirap para kay PNoy na pasunurin ang mga taong ang tanging nais ay kontrahin sya.  Aba sige nga, ikaw ang pangulo, paano mo mapapasunod ang mga taong walang alam gawin kundi hanapin ang mali ng pangulo?  Paano mo mapapasunod ang mga taong ang hinihintay ay magkamali ka para maibato ang sisi sa iyo?  Paano mo mapapasunod ang mga taong may pansariling interes na kapag sinunod ka ay mangangahulugan na mawawala ang kanilang mga “racket o sideline”?

Nakaka siguro akong ginagawa ng pangulo ang lahat para mapaunlad ang ating bayan, subalit napakahirap humanap ng mga taong talagang tapat na magsusulong ng kanyang mga adhikain para sa ating lahat.  Napakahirap masiguro na ang lahat ng mga naisin niya ay nasusunod dahil aminin natin at sa hindi, madami pa ding tao sa gobyerno na buwitre na pag kaharap ang pangulo feeling masipag pero pag talikod ng pangulo feeling boss na walang nang dapat gawin.

Naiintindihan ko ang pangulo, dahil minsan din akong nahirapan magpasunod ng isang buong school community.  Muntik na akong sumuko kundi lamang sa aking pinanghahawakang salita ng Panginoon na may plano Siya sa akin (Jer. 29:11).  Wala akong ginawa kundi ang kumunsulta sa Kanya salita, patuloy na ipinaglaban ang pagsawata sa kasamaan at gawa ng kadiliman tulad ng katamaran, di pagsunod, pagiging makasaili at inggit.  Unti-unti, naipaglaban ko ang aking adhikain.  Nakita ko ang pag ayon ng pagkakataon sa akin.  Nakakabilib pa nga ang pangulo dahil hindi sya sumusuko sa kabila ng kapal ng maling gawi ng mga Pilipino na dapat niyang bakbakin.  Dahil jan, napapabayaan na niya ang kaniyang sariling kalusugan, ipupusta ko, mas lumakas ang paninigarilyo ng pangulo.  Wala naman kasi siyang magagawa kundi mag isip ng mga dapat niyang gawin.  Pero may nag tanong bas a kanya na kumaen ka na ba po Mr. President?  Or may nagsabi ba naman sa kaniya ng ‘matatapos din po iyan, dasal lang po.”? Meron ba?  Mas madami diyan tiyak, mamasamain pa ang malabis na paninigarilyo niya kahit hindi nalalaman ang dahilan kung bakit.  AKo nga, 592 students lang meron ako sa school, 45 staff at 1184 parents pero minsan masuka suka ako sa stress lalo kung mabigat ang kinakaharap ko, minsan hindi ako makakaen kasi ang mga trabaho ng mga “pasaway’ kong staff, ako na gumagawa, umusad lang ang trabaho at huwag mabinbin.  Kaya naman, pumapasok sa isip ko, gaano kadaming sama ng pakiramdam na kaya ang pinipilit kayanin ng pangulo masiguro lamang na uusad ang maghapon ng mga Pilipino?

Isa lamang ang susi para umunlad tayo.  Hindi ang pangulo, kundi tayong mga Pilipino!  Matuto tayong sumunod.  Hindi yung, pinapanukala pa lamang, andami na nating batikos, hindi pa nga natin sinusubukan, sinusukuan na natin.  Kahit sino pa ang maging pangulo natin ay baliwala kung hindi tayo matututong sumunod.  Igalang natin an gating mga pangulo, dahil sinabi ng Diyos sa aklat ng Roma 13:1-3 na “Ang bawa't kaluluwa ay pasakop sa matataas na kapangyarihan: sapagka't walang kapangyarihan na hindi mula sa Dios; at ang mga kapangyarihang yao'y hinirang ng Dios. 2Kaya nga't ang sumasalangsang sa kapangyarihan, ay sa utos ng Dios sumasalangsang: at ang mga nagsisalangsang ay magsisitanggap ng kahatulan sa kanilang sarili. 3Sapagka't ang mga pinuno ay hindi kilabot sa gawang mabuti, kundi sa masama. At ibig mo bagang mawalaan ng takot sa may kapangyarihan? gawin mo ang mabuti, at magkakamit ka ng kapurihan sa kaniya:” 

Mas pagpapalain ang ating bayan kung ang sinumang maluluklok sa atin ay ating igagalang at susundin.  Subalit kahit na anong galling ng pangulo na mailuklok kung mas marami pa din sa ating mga kababayan ang imbes na sumunod ay puro pagpapahirap at pagpapatagal sa pagpatupad ng adhikain ang gagawin ay wala ring magyayari sa ating bansa. Lahat ng iluluklok ay ipapatanggal natin via “impeachment” na para na lamang natin ginagawang panakot sa pangulo, ay kawawa naman ang ating pangulo.  Anong dignidad ang gusto nating ipakita ng ating pangulo sa ibang bansa kung mismong mga kababayan niya ay binabastos siya at binabalewala?

May pag asa pa ang Pilipinas!  Ipagpatuloy natin ang paglaban sa korupsyon sa pamamagitan ng pagsunod natin sa mga utos ng nakatataas sa atin. Maging open nawa ang ating mga isip na tanggapin ng maluwag ang naluklok na pinuno at makiisa sa kanyang mga adhikain dahil wala naming pangulo na nagnanais na mas maging mahirap ang kanyang bansa.  Pagtuunan nawa natin ng pansin ang mabubuting nagagawa at tulungan ang gobyerno na maitama ang mali sa pamamagitan ng forum at hindi ng mga rally.  Sabi nga sa isang patalastas noon “wala namang hindi nalulutas ang mabuting usapan” diba?  At higit sa lahat, mas maging madasalin tayo, ipanalangin natin ang ating pangulo na biyayaan siya ng karunungan na nagmumula sa Panginoon upang mas mapamahalaan niya tayo ng may takot sa Diyos at naayon sa Salitang Diyos.  Ipagdasal natin na magkaroon tayo ng masunuring puso upang matutong sumunod.  Ilagay natin sa sentro ng ating mga buhay ang Panginoon at totoong totoo, maibabalik natin ang dating ningnging ng Pilipinas, Makakabangon tayo ang muli sa ating kahirapan.  Huwang nating gawng kawawa ang pangulo sa ating mga pagsuway, sapagkat sa isang pagsuway natin, samu’t sari ang magiging resulta nito na ang karamihan ay patungo sa pagbagsak ng ating bayan.  Sabi nga ni Don Shula "the inferior man blames others; the superior man blames himself."  Pakita nating superior tayo, bago tayo manisi ng iba, tignan muna naten ang partisipasyon natin kung baket hindi pa din umuunlad at wala pa ding pagbabago ang Pilipinas.

Teacher VS Cheater

Me with the entire school staff together with our International Academic Director

TEACHER is an anagram of CHEATER.

I met this teacher ones, he seemed dedicated and seemed to be really have a lot of improvements in mind.  However, as days go by, I realised that he has this certain characteristic of gaining the students approval and popularity for letting the students do what they want, even if it is wrong and against school rules.  Several times I called his attention about his wrong teaching practice.  However, he didn't seem to bother.  Then I realised that he is cheating from his calling as a teacher.  He is just after the benefits of being "popular and cool" among students.

I also observed in him that he really doesn't care whether some other teachers would look like "monsters" in the sight of the students because these teachings are trying to correct students mistakes.  What he would do is to affirm students' thoughts that those teachers are "uncool" or being so "strict" by telling them he agrees to their woes.

Double standards among students arouse.  Students started hating TEACHERS and liking the CHEATER.

Being a teacher of 15 years, I have come to a realisation about being a teacher and good teaching.  I wish that this could help aspiring teachers.

Good teaching practice is telling your students what they did wrong even if it will hurt them, not neglecting to tell them what they did wrong so that they will not be hurt.  Real teachers are are the ones who are not afraid even if students dislike them as  long they do what is right.  Only people pretending to be real teachers are afraid when students dislike them for doing the right thing.

Cheating practice is when you see students doing the wrong thing yet, you don't call their attention or give them any punishment because you think that you will not look "COOL" in their sight.  With this, you are creating wayward citizens in the future.  Cheating is also when you just want popularity among students even if will make you denounce your sworn duty to be just and fair.

What does the Bible said about correcting mistakes? "Do not hold back discipline from the child, Although you strike him with the rod, he will not die." (Pr. 23:13)

Students wouldn't die if you tell them to be quiet because someone is reporting in front.  Students wouldn't die if you ask them to throw their chewing gums on the bin because it is against school rules. Correcting students' mistakes won't lead to their deaths.  What could lead to death is when you allow them to do bad things thus in turn will develop a habit of wrong doing.  How?  Let us say you caught a student stealing his classmates's pen.  You knew that the student saw you saw him and you didn't correct him nor talk to him and ask him to return the pen.  certainly after quite sometime, that student will repeat that action even when people saw him because in his mind, "it is ok because a teacher didn't tell him that it is wrong."  When he reaches maturity, he might opt to stealing just to get what he wants, might lead to him being caught by the police and he may die trying to escape from them.

If you are an aspiring teacher, think about what you really want to be in the future:  a teacher or a cheater.  Do not be afraid to be unpopular on uncool, but be afraid to be wrongfully cool and unrighteous popular. Remember that what is popular is not always right and what is
right is not always popular.

OBEDIENCE: A message to the parents

What do you think is reason of extremely high unemployment rate in the Philippines?  Or why are there many successful, powerful and famous people who commit suicide? Do you think it is because our graduates are not good enough?  Do you think the corruption in our system is too much? Or do you think because they have had enough suffering in this world?

The fact is unemployment is high not because our graduates are not good enough nor our system is corrupt, or many people commit suicide because they have had enough. The fact is these are the people who did not answer god’s call. These are the people who lean on their own understanding.

Many parents tell their kids, “anak i want you to be a doctor, because we are family of doctors.”  Or ask their kids “anak what do you want to be when you grow up?  It is very rare that parents would tell their kids “anak, let us pray for god’s wisdom to reveal to us his will in your life.”

The key to success is obedience.  Abraham became the father of all nations because he obeyed god with all his heart and did not hesitate to sacrifice his son Isaac when he asked him to offer his only son to him.  God saw Abraham’s willingness to obey his word that is why, he not only made him father of all nations, He gave him riches.

In Mathew 6:33 it is written, seek ye first the kingdom of god and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you.

So dear parents, instead of telling our kids “be what you want to be, or be what we want you to be’ let us tell our kids “anak, ask god what he wants you to be.”  And surely dear parents our kids will not only be successful, they will also be happy.  Because it is also written, where your heart is, there you’re treasure be.

Yes, it is indeed good to plan for our kids’ future, but today, god wants us to plan with him.  Proverbs 16:9 says in their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps. Let us learn to teach our kids the value of obedience not only to god but to us as well.  Let us teach them that in obedience, there is blessing.  In obedience, there is success.  In obedience, there is joy.

Tailor's Rule.

I have been guilty of one of most common mistakes a man can ever do:  Speaking out of emotions, and the feeling of regret in the end.

A lot of people can agree with me that people most of the time do not think twice before they speak.  They give in to their emotions that they do not realize the outcome of their words.  They speak and speak and speak without them noticing how rude their words have gone, or how much pain they have inflicted to other people.

But why is it really too hard to hold our tongues whenever we are angry?  Why is it too hard to keep our mouth shut and keep our minds open whenever we we feel we are threatened/

The answer is, it is our human nature to defend ourselves.  It is one of the instincts that our "being with the world" taught us.  It is human nature to defend themselves whenever they are faced with criticisms or accusations.  Instead of listening and being rational about the criticisms, people tend to defend their "honor".  So it all ends up in a word fight which no one ever wins.  It all ends up in both parties are hurt by a series of words thrown to each other that penetrates the soul and sticks to the mind.  The worst part is, this could ruin a relationship.  This could even ruin lives and confidence and all the goodness in everything.

How do we correct this?  people should follow one simple rule:  the tailor's rule.  Measure twice, cut only once.  Let us think twice before we speak.  Let us learn to hold our tongues, close our mouths and open our minds.  For all we know, we really are doing something wrong that we don't see for ourselves.  We need to be open to criticisms and look at every comment to us as positive, a way to improve ourselves.  All criticisms, good are bad are not meant to destroy us, they are meant to make us better, wiser and stronger if we stay positive and if we just learn to control our mouths and open our minds.

If we follow the tailor's rule, we won't be making mistakes, we won't be wasting our time and efforts over a petty fight, and we won't be ruining relationships.  Let us remember that words are far greater to inflict pain than physical pains.  Why?  Physical injuries heal fast, but the injury caused by hurtful words can last a lifetime.

The BIBLE also tells us in James 1:19 "My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,"  It only means that we really ought to practice holding our tongues before we release words out of our mouths.  Learning how to practice the tailor's rule will do us better things than none.  Remember, measure twice, cut once and we will go a long way.

A year of being a school principal

While I was delivering my welcome remarks during the school's foundation day.

I was really very excited the first time I read the email that I got the position of being a school principal.  My heart was really filled with joy that finally I was able to get a job before I leave my work as a Secondary Science teacher in an International School in Indonesia.  I didn't really spoke of the good news to anyone else yet not until the very last minute that I have to leave.

June 21, 2013.  My first day to report at the school were I will work.  I arrived there around 10.15 in the morning, early for my call time of 11 am.  I didn't know what to feel, I was having mix emotions asking myself did I do the right thing of moving back to the Philippines to work in a very far place or not and a feeling of how will they accept me.

I saw the guard, he told me "yes ma'am what do you need?"  I told him "I'm Ms. Racquel, your new principal." he immediately opened the gate for me.  I saw a homey atmosphere, slowly, I felt like I did the right thing.  I met Mr. John Proctor, the acting principal at the time.  He was so elated upon seeing me which puzzled me.  He gave me a quick tour of the school.  There I saw students looking at me as I pass by their classrooms.  Then he took me to his office and had me sign my contract.  I couldn't question him though there were questions I'd like to ask, I was too pre-occupied by the idea that I am now a school principal.

I was enjoying my initial time as a school principal, I enjoyed the admiration from the students and the parents that I am a very young principal.  In my country, everyone is used to having an old, old-fashioned looking principal.  I am an exception.  I'm young and fashionable.  At least that is what people  told me.

Days go bye and the position finally sink in, not to mention the piling of work load.  I have unearthed too many long time illness of the school system:  disorganisation, poor service quality, and a lot more!  I was overwhelmed to the point that I got so short tempered that jeopardised my relationship with my subordinates.

I also had different low moments specially from parents who think they own the school and that they  have all the right to control school management.  This is the worst part of the illness of the school where I am working.  Every parent is a school principal!

Then after a year of being a principal, I reliased that this is not the one I want to do for the rest of my life.  This work is not what will make me happy.  I missed teaching.  being with students is what really makes me happy.  Teaching is what really empowers me as a person and as an educator.

When the school year ended, I took a day out for the very first time and pondered on what transpired for the year.  I reliased that being a principal is just a prestige that I enjoyed for a moment.  I reliased, that being a teacher is what will give me joy for a lifetime.

What is in a prom?

What is a prom?  Is it just a regular social event?  Is it just a regular school function that students have to attend?  Or is it something else?

In layman’s term, a promenade is a formal dance; a ball.  For your parents, prom night is just a dinner followed by a dance at school. For you, a prom is where you get to wear something formal, a night where you can flaunt your formal side.  For some, it is where they get to wear their first ever night dress or a formal suit.  For others, it is a night where they get to experience their first dance, it is where they get to meet their first love or experience their first heartbreak. But in the eyes of a visionary, a prom is something else.  A prom is a rite of passage; it is an event that no high school student should fail to experience.  It is where dreams of becoming somebody someday begin.

What is in our prom’s theme: red carpet night?  I did not choose the theme because of its glamour, its flamboyance, or its eccentricity.  I chose the red carpet night as a theme for each and every one of you to feel that for me, all of you are a star; stars in your rights worthy to be treated with class and with honor.  For me all of you are the starts that I look up to each night.  You are the stars that I aspire to reach out and hold in my hands.  I chose the theme because I want all of you to feel how it is to be a star so that when you finally able to feel the red carpet, you would aspire to dream bigger than what your dreams are at the moment.  I chose the theme in the hope that one day; you would once again walk on a red carpet with your dreams finally fulfilled.

The red carpet is a symbol of a successful journey, the symbol of triumph. However let us not forget the one true source of our victory, our Lord God almighty. Let us acknowledge him in our every step for it is written “for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.” (Ps. 1:6). Tonight, as you walk on the red carpet, begin your first step towards the realization of your dreams.  Juniors and seniors! Look up and claim your victories, for tonight, you are the stars blessed by the shiniest star in the universe.