When I was in Grade school up until high school, I dreamt of becoming a lawyer. I would say that my father had the greatest influence in molding my early chosen career. When I was in high school, attending competitions that would present unique ideas and smart opinions and defending it before the crowd was ubiquitous. Back home, I always practiced that skill – the skill to rebut or to dispute. I tend to argue with my father, which was brilliant to him but an outrage to my mother.
When I entered college in a University, I ended up taking Education. Why I took Education? Well, it’s a long story and all I knew was I despised becoming a teacher. Though my Entrance Exam score was high that even the medical course could have accommodated me, I took the degree that those who failed the exam ended up enrolling. I felt embarrassed when friends asked me what degree I was taking. I neither had the nerve to roam around the Education building nor a part of any Education organization. I could even remember one time, a professor ,with a poker face, asked our class why we took education.
I had flame-less desire and low-powered motivation engine so my report card at the end of each semester would show a "not-so-good, not-so-bad grades.Suddenly, that flame just stopped and ended up undergraduate and set a foot in the BPO industry aka Call Center Industry. I started in the industry when there were just few call centers in the country and qualifications were above average. I would say that this industry let me tasted the abundance of life – I was able to fill my empty space with the things we never had back home. Back then, I thought of just getting this college thing go because by that point, I was already in. Getting paid and receiving my paychecks was like heaven as it was this little part of my life that I received then “huge” amount ,I wasn't use to hold such amount before. To me, it was satisfying when I got to visit the mall and had fine dine in once every pay period.
I was so delighted and my way of life was totally gratifying – until I received this one call from my customer. With his harsh insulting and totally truculent language, he told me that I never gone to higher education because the Philippines doesn't have a higher institute of learning. I've been in the industry for quite some time and though I received similar calls in the past, this specific call made me realize, it wasn't right. Good thing, the next day was our pay period. So After withdrawing money from my ATM the next day, I went to process my papers for re enrollment. Yes, I went back to school.
I was so delighted and my way of life was totally gratifying – until I received this one call from my customer. With his harsh insulting and totally truculent language, he told me that I never gone to higher education because the Philippines doesn't have a higher institute of learning. I've been in the industry for quite some time and though I received similar calls in the past, this specific call made me realize, it wasn't right. Good thing, the next day was our pay period. So After withdrawing money from my ATM the next day, I went to process my papers for re enrollment. Yes, I went back to school.
At first, I was worried because I lived independently and apart from my school fees, I had to settle my monthly dues.Putting on a new clothes, paying bills on time or even dining in to food chains became less easy. My cupboard would soon become empty than half filled. Seeing movie is even now a luxury. But that moment I sat down in that classroom, that moment I stepped back to college…it felt like I’m back home. It felt like breathing and it felt right. Suddenly, I came to realize that when you’re doing the work you are meant to do, it felt right and everyday is a bonus regardless of what you’re getting paid.
Today, I’m finishing my remaining units in Education. Believe it or not, I am desirous to teach my first lesson in class, to wear a faculty uniform and to scribble my first draft on the board. But above all the lesson plans, teacher's manual, faculty meetings etc I think, the reason why I regained the flame to become a teacher is to teach the true academic of life.My philosophy of education is formed through a combination of my life experiences as a student, my experience as a call center worker, my studies, and a handful of inspiring stories and quotations that have entered my life. Much more , I had realized that being a teacher is not just a career but it serves just like a platform to help other people lift their lives.
Perhaps that part of my life when I was working in a call center gave me the room to enjoy life's bounty, to live with the world and to explore life in different perspective.But there's always a lesson to everything we do and to every experience we have.Several times my mother would remind me about getting my degree and several times,I neglected. And there's always a scene in our life when we need to be reminded just like from that lost call I received. And I got the message - to move forward, to enrich my spirit because inner wisdom is more precious than wealth.So I'll get that document and I must get that diploma.
Perhaps that part of my life when I was working in a call center gave me the room to enjoy life's bounty, to live with the world and to explore life in different perspective.But there's always a lesson to everything we do and to every experience we have.Several times my mother would remind me about getting my degree and several times,I neglected. And there's always a scene in our life when we need to be reminded just like from that lost call I received. And I got the message - to move forward, to enrich my spirit because inner wisdom is more precious than wealth.So I'll get that document and I must get that diploma.
