OK, I must admit I miss Davao Christian. I miss my students. I miss teaching. I miss my wonderful colleagues. I miss Davao. I miss the hustle and bustle DCHS life.
What prompted me to leave Davao Christian was that I abused myself too much. Yes. It’s me. It’s not them. The problem is me. I wasn’t able to handle things well as they should have. To give you an idea about how I live my life back in the city: during weekdays time-in in school is 7:10 but usually I arrived past eight in the morning. I will facilitate classes in different subjects. Check papers, reading at the library, and prepare for my class. In the afternoon, I teach Philippine history to freshmen and economics to the seniors. At 5:00 PM time to have bonding moments with students at the basketball court/canteen/library or have some chit chat with my fellow teachers. 5:30 Math tutorials to sophomores until past 6 o’clock. 6:00 to 7:00 PM some rest and internet. In my last year in DCHS, I had special session at past 7:00 PM until 10:00 pm. At 10 PM, time go home and read some stuffs or simply fall asleep because I’m tired. By the way, one of my weaknesses is my health condition; I easily get tired and easily get sick. During weekends, I attend a graduate school. These somehow are mind boggling sessions but I love it. (It’s a struggle to have discussion with my professors and when I go back to my classroom, I just have a pint of the concept to teach because they are just high schoolers. I even find my econ class too technical. I should have had made it easier). After my classes at SAEc, I have to go home in Tagum to spend some time with my parents and siblings and nephews and niece. Monday early morning, go back to Davao and work. I wasn’t able to give time for my spiritual growth on weekends.
So that’s it. I just miss that lifestyle. I miss facilitating different subjects. My favorite is Desi’s Physics class. Had no chance to faci all subjects within my four-year stay in Davao Christian. I miss talking to students and having usual conversations especially when they confess to me their crushes at school (Thanks for the trust). Hmmnnn… kilig moments for typical high schoolers. Sometimes, students will approach you just to share something about their struggles at home; about on how biased (as they see it) their parents and guardian are towards them; about why people don’t understand the way they are and the worse thing is to compare them to other people; about their struggles in meeting the expectations of the people around them. High school years indeed are wandering years of one’s life. You start to question lots of things about yourself, about life as a whole.
I miss teaching. I think this is the one thing I want to do for the rest of my life; to share my knowledge, to teach them appreciate the beauty and richness of the Philippines and what can we do about it; to open their minds about the importance of economics and how challenging it is; to influence one’s life, to help other people appreciate the beauty of life, to mold young minds and help them realize about the complexities of life. I love to teach almost everything under the sun. (Hmmnn… I become an annoying know-it-all person already). I know I want to be a teacher. I reached four years teaching at Davao Christian partly because of the challenging students I had. It’s even more noteworthy to teach if you have brilliant students like Raphael Go, Marlu Te, Sharmaine Mamaed, Gio Yenco, Kristofer Li, Lian Sta. Maria, Gary Aquino and so many more (so sorry I cannot enumerate everyone… I have high regards to all of you). You have to be equipped when you get inside the classroom and face those 40 curious minds in front of you. Be prepared because out of nowhere they will ask you questions which you might not expect from 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16 years old students. But what’s more rewarding are those students who are very humble and kind. Respectful and obedient. Well-mannered students like Issa So, Justin Ng, Jan Robert Chua, Nathalie Vanya King, Karen Dalapo, Gabriel Tay, Gianelle Yenco and numerous others (again, so sorry I cannot enumerate everyone… I have high regards to all of you). I really appreciate your respect and kindness to me. May God will bless you more.
Bonus experience would be the times when we go out of the school and spend some quality time together. Staying overnight at the beach, or at their posh houses, swimming at their own wave pool, playing bowling, dining out together and my favorite: watching movies together. Thanks a lot also for the people who invited me to be part of their splendid birthday parties.
I miss my wonderful colleagues. It would be very difficult to find another group of people as real and as nice as the faculty of DCHS. The students should be thankful to have teachers like them. I’m thankful that I met Jocy So-Yeung, Desi Magnaye, Elizabeth Juezan, Brian Lopez, Leolyn Jugador, Glema Dizon, John Chavez, Relyn VillapaÑa, Dexter and Sashi, Grace & Mel Basilio, Mam Gina, at marami pang iba (again, so sorry I cannot enumerate everyone). They are very kind and supportive. I’m so thankful that Ma’am Jocy was my coordinator because she helped me a lot cope with my teaching strategies. She never fails to give appreciation and constructive criticisms with my work. One-of-a-kind Desi Magnaye for his generosity and a listening ear. Mam Glema for the trust and support. Mam Grace for the understanding and influence to work beyond my limits. Hahahaha… Mam Leo, a true Mommy. Mam J for believing in me and for her motherly insights about my life. Sir Brian for being a good teacher and company. (Baka magalit yung iba na hindi na-mention, on-the-spot po ito…no review and editing. Pasensya na kung nakalimutan mamention.) The trips together and the simple quality time at the faculty office and at the coffee shops made my stay in Davao Christian a positive experience.
I miss the school itself. The structures. The air-conditioned classrooms. The AVR and the Auditorium. The canteen. The basketball court. And my favorite: The LIBRARY.
But the best things in life are not meant to last forever so we must learn to live and let go.
