Saturday, July 3, 2010
WHO AM I?
"I am a flower quickly fading, here today and gone tomorrow. A wave tossed in the ocean, a vapor in the wind. Still You hear me when I'm calling. Lord You catch me when I'm falling. And You told me who I am... I am Yours."
These lines from a Christian song never fails to stir my heartstrings. It pulls within me like a wound never fully healed and torn again. It's a deep void inside me which leads me to question my being. Who am I? I am a traveler, I've journeyed a lot of timelines and places. Roads are never-ending and stretched before me like million of doors waiting to be opened.
And yet I don't know where to begin. Where am I? I've lost myself countless times in this earth. I am in a road with no direction and now I want to go back home. I am in a chaos and imbalanced. Trudging along the lonely road ahead, I stumbled upon an open door that gave me an opportunity to be part of a team. They have given me a new start to rediscover myself, a chance to understand, a chance to heal, a chance to answer and a chance to prove my being. I call this team my family, my classmates are my brothers and sisters and my mentors are what I consider my parents. I felt somehow that I belonged and that I wanted to stay. We all live here by the same creed: Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship, Caring Leadership, God-centeredness, Trustworthiness, Humility, Fairness and Integrity. In this place, we all look out for each other. Days unfold and one by one I've learned to understand these things which were so vague to me before. I know now the purpose of my personal journey and where I should begin. Challenges are always around but why fight it? Accept it. For my family are just behind my back no matter what. The greatest lesson I've discovered while travelling is that I was never alone. God was with me all throughout. And in this lifetime, He is my forever coach.
A new road led me to the house of our Lord, I went down on my knees and prayed; for my family all around and those people I have met along the way. I asked forgiveness for my shortcomings and lastly I smiled upon a startling revelation that crossed my mind. I now know who am I. Yes Lord, I am Yours.
Erica Tabaque (YMA 4 – Generation I)
Time is in my Hands
By: Jedaia Rose Doñoz (YMA 4 – Generation III)
Before, time was a thing that I’m both worried of and careless with. There were just days when I find myself void of matters to attend to and sometimes I am fine with it. Sometimes I was not. A relief spreads when, after hellish days at school, I’ll finally get the chance to lay on my back, stare at the stars and wonder, ‘Where did my ceiling go?’
Then, as if the free time didn’t happen at all, I’m back to the hectic world with thoughts filled of the projects that needed attention and those times were definitely the most dangerous time for me—I kept tripping and stumbling down even without a rock because I’m so engrossed with my thoughts.Time management and weighing down of priorities—those were concepts that I was aware of but smirk at. I never really realized its vitality, not until things came pressing and crashing down on me.
It wasn’t until YMA that I have come to fully realize how much of a disorganized mess I am. No schedule. No plans. Truth be told, I think a lot, think too much that I’m surprised that I never give much contemplation whenever I act or attempt to.
The whole YMA experience taught me to handle things rationally and to manage my time and after that, they really, really tested us if we learned something. Really, really, tested us. But YMA teachings and guidance wasn’t all about lectures. Some things were left for us to experience on our own. Well, a lot of things, actually.
Along with the other endeavors in my life, YMA led me to ponder about the complexity which is time. Currently, I can’t say that I’m a paragon when it comes to allocating the energy and time that I have but somehow, I know that I’ve gotten better in controlling over the things swirling around me.
Friday, July 2, 2010
WHAT YMA HAS MADE ME
Although sessions are only held every Saturday and sometimes on Sundays, it feels like the months have passed suddenly. I tend to forget that it wasn’t that too long ago that I first began my journey as a YMAer. I entered YMA thinking that I was already equipped with my academic mind. Well, I thought wrong. There were still a lot of things that I never knew. I realized that all along I had been living inside a boxed world and, despite my thinking that I knew a lot, I had never been into the real world. Most importantly, as my birth certificate states, I am not a Filipino.
Young Minds Academy is a youth development and citizenship program. It is similar to a school setting — there are tests, homework and discussions. Not only that, I get to travel around Cebu, face challenges, see the different faces of the community, feel the needs of my countrymen and awaken the Filipino inside of me. YMA has changed me. Just as how my alma mater has molded me into who I am today, YMA helps in sculpting my being.
Of the many lessons I have been given, let me emphasize the top 5 and what effect these lessons have on me.
1. Think outside the box.
I always hear this statement that I thought it was already cliché, but I never learned how to apply this proverb until my team and I had a serious brainstorming session on what our project proposal should be. We thought long and hard until we exhausted ourselves. Why were we stressed? It was because our thinking were too boxed in. After almost giving up, I had a strange and unconventional idea that was inspired by a recent TV series I finished watching. My concept seemed too far-fetched to pass as a project concept but my teammates, instead of shunning this weird idea right away, listened to me and from there we helped formulate the idea into a more feasible one.
2. Put God as the center of your life.
Just recently, I have been having difficulties coping up with pressure and fears as a college freshmen. I was apprehensive because I knew very well that college was going to be different. I may have been outstanding in high school but the thought of not excelling in college terrified me.
Then, I remembered one of our YMA sessions.
Have you heard of the joke that states, “When you talk to God you are praying, but when God talks back you are schizophrenic?” I laughed at this joke before, but now I figured that there’s actually no humor behind it. God does talk back, and even though he may not speak to you conversationally, he does talk to you. The speaker for the S-Leadership module, Ms. Celine Yu, taught me that prayer is a form of communicating with God. We all know that communication is a two-way process. I speak to God, He listens to me. In like manner, if God speaks to me then I should listen too. How is listening to God done? Simple. Open the Bible, read it and internalize God’s word. Back to my dilemma, I decided to do what Ms. Celine suggested. I picked up the Bible and it led me to this passage: ‘Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ (Mt. 11:29) This verse now serves as one of my daily reminders that if I have any problems, I should submit them to God.
3. Positivity.
YMA has also inspired me to shun the negativity with positive thoughts. Before I was a scholar, I was a pessimist. Even before an event happens, the first thing I considered are its negative implications. I usually let my fear get to me, as a result of which taking challenges incapacitated me to maximize my potentials. Things have changed though. From a pessimist, I initiated a campaign on positivity, inspiring my fellow YMAers, my friends and classmates to always think positively and believe in one’s capacity.
4. Love Your Country.
I was never a patriot person and I never had interest or love for my country and my countrymen. YMA changed all that. I became more nationalistic. I was drawn in having an interest to the current affairs of the country and I made an extensive research to update myself with the current status of the Philippines. The conversations I initiated with my friends was all about the Philippines. During that time, the issue was the upcoming elections and as a concern citizen I did my part to know the candidates well. I wasn’t capable yet of voting, but that didn’t mean I should not be involved. During the elections, I became a volunteer for C-CIMPEL to help tabulate the votes. In my own way, I was able to serve my country and my countrymen.
5. The Nine Pillars of Character and Leadership
Respect, Responsibility, Citizenship, Caring Leadership,God-centeredness,
Trustworthiness, Humility, Fairness and Integrity are the nine pillars of the Young Minds Academy. These values are integrated well in the series of programs, sessions and activities such as exposures, immersions, forums and opportunities YMA has provided. The Nine Pillars of Character and Leadership served now as my guideline in living my life as a student, a daughter and a Filipino citizen.
Trustworthiness, Humility, Fairness and Integrity are the nine pillars of the Young Minds Academy. These values are integrated well in the series of programs, sessions and activities such as exposures, immersions, forums and opportunities YMA has provided. The Nine Pillars of Character and Leadership served now as my guideline in living my life as a student, a daughter and a Filipino citizen.
Janelle Moran (YMA 4 – Generation III)
Thursday, July 1, 2010
WHY I AM A RELUCTANT LEADER
In all my lifetime, I have never realized that I have the potential to be a leader. Yes, I am a follower at heart but I have never envisioned myself as a leader. Maybe it has something to do with what I experienced during my high school years.
I would what you would consider as someone who had the brawns, someone who was more into sports than hitting the books and aiming for high grades. After all, I went to a school full with students from the crème de la crème – cream of the crop – as one teacher puts it. We had the Monoys, Erasquins, Englises and the Visitacions when it came to brains. The Alvarezes, the Capistranos, Padayhags and the Sasils when it came to leadership potentials. And I was glad to be considered as one of those who excelled in sports. I had no objections to it. But as a result, it made me feel small when I compare myself to the superstars of my generation. Even up to this day, I still have my insecurities.
It was only during my college years when I realized I might have a potential also when it came to the literary and the cultural arts. My first exposure to it was when I was thrust into being a debater for my college. I volunteered my time to be on the team for selfish and immature reasons – I wanted to be on the team because they were giving away free t-shirts (believe it or not). In fact, I volunteered to be a researcher of the five-manned team. However, when we were doing our discussions and readings on the topics for the debate, our advisor instead chose me to be the second speaker for our team. My stint as a debater was a pleasant one that from that time on, I entered a debating group, a choir group, and even a literary group. And this discovery went on even during my undergraduate years. I would never have imagined myself doing such things in high school.
Fast track to law school. I was thrust to be in a leadership capacity when, by a stroke of being friends with those active in school activities and being an active volunteer, they fielded me to be a candidate as president of the law student’s organization. This was actually my first time to run for an elective office as my usual positions in the leadership front was always by appointment. It was not an easy ride. There were a lot of times that I almost threw in the towel. I sacrificed a lot, including my time and expenses, and yet there were still others who were dissatisfied with my work. This was notwithstanding the fact that I was also working full-time to augment my tuition fees and expenses. I had my faults too. I was drunk with power, thinking that I did not need any advice nor help when it came to decision-making time. And I solely relied on my capabilities. Thus, there may have been projects that were successful but along the way I lost some friends and respect of my peers. Good thing it was all mended when I graduated. I personally said my apologies and went out of my way to reach out to those who I have hurt along the way.
I have learned my lesson: to be a good leader is not to show off your leadership potentials and capabilities with little regard for others’ opinions and suggestions. To be a good leader is also to emphasize and hear the voices of those around you. Pick up good advices and lessons along the way and admit it when you are wrong.
I must have matured now because even a good friend and teammate of mine, Maggie, has even commented on it. She says what I am now was a far cry of what she knew of me during our law school days.
Being in the YMA, I am a reluctant leader not because I do not want to be shouldered with responsibilities and additional tasks, but because I feel that there are still others that need to show what they can bring, that they have the talents and capabilities that will be of great value to the group. And that this program is also an avenue for them to correct their mistakes and gain valuable insights to their faults and shortcomings. I was given that opportune time before. I believe now is the time for others to shine, especially the younger generations. We will just be there to guide them on their way.
Faith Ruth Villanueva (YMA 4 – Generation I)