Anie Writes: Heck Yeah Teaching

To the HFLC Class of 2020: An Open Letter

Kids,

I would not even pretend to have a full understanding of what exactly it is to be like in your shoes. 18 years ago, in the most overrated place one could be in, I got to wear a cap and a gown, walked the stage, received my diploma and shared the moment with my family as my fellow seniors and I concluded our final year in high school. My behavior was very remiss seeing that I was a convoluted drama queen with more teenage angst than I could’ve ever handled. But even when I acted like I didn’t care about my high school graduation, the truth is, I cared... more than I care to admit to be honest. I’ve kept it in the farthest back of my brain, yes, but it was a red-letter moment nonetheless. And from my heart of hearts, it is something that I wish you got to experience as well. College could be an utter blur but high school stays with you indelibly. High school is after all the place you go to learn what sort of person you’d like to be. That’s why there’s no getting around the fact that things ended the way it did. Commencement is a monumental event, this much I know, and that, graduates of 2020 deserves this moment, even if some of you have winged through it without a care.

To our little kindergartens, sixth and tenth graders, understand that missing out on school and on these experiences is warranted. However, this unceremonious occurrence will not curtail your years in HFLC or the lessons you’ve learned inside and outside its classrooms. Know that this school year has been nothing short of esteemed learning and growing. In spite of the postponement and the ongoing wave of craziness, know that the HFLC faculty and the administration are proud of all of you. Right now, life kind of sucks. But the thing about being human is that we invariably hang onto hope, that sooner or later, things will turn out better. While the world seems so foreign to all of us right now, believe that this won’t be a wasted year…. because even in the midst of the unexpected, we all can learn something. Find joy, embrace the ‘slow’ and continue learning unique lessons in this social distancing and isolation season. Congratulations!

Stay inspired,

Miss Anie

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, by Anie Ordillo

Quarantine Life, Week 1

Perhaps I was way overconfident when I thought to myself, “that will never reach us,” the moment the news of Coronavirus first broke out in 2019. Then, sometime in January, China prepares for a lockdown. I was not so presumptuous as to say that for me, that won't just happen. I felt monumentally positive that Philippines would not get to that point. Now, I’m here, on self-quarantined in my home. The entire Luzon has been on an enhanced quarantine for a week now. Angeles City is still Covid-Free, thank God, but I’ve heard police now have the authority to question and even arrest people if they don’t abide by strict isolation and quarantine orders. A 24-hour checkpoints in all entry and exit points of my home city have been set up and just recently, some of the barangays even handed out a quarantine pass to every household in procuring necessities. How on Earth did we even get here?

Schools across the country have also announced short-term closures just as when we are about to finish the school year. It was a good call to say the least but when the announcement was read out, I can't help but feel a serious sense of trepidation. I thought about all the extra efforts our students and the rest of my colleagues have put in the hours of rehearsal the week before. We were a day away from our benefit performance that has already been postponed. I thought about the cancellation of the fourth quarter examination. I thought about our annual ball that the intermediate and junior high school students have been excitedly looking forward to. I thought about our kindergarteners, our sixth and tenth graders whose respective graduation and moving-up ceremonies are still up in the air and to know there is a slight chance that it may not happen is just absolutely heartbreaking. I also thought about the rest of our students who equally put in all the hard work and somehow lost the opportunities to finish out the school year strong... their lives are seemingly on hold after we were placed under an enhanced community quarantine as the government tries to contain this outbreak. I am not alone in this experience. Around the world, teachers still have responsibilities and even bigger worries. Some of us are navigating new technology and having to do training on online teaching during this crisis. We are worried. Our access to Internet might be unstable but we our doing our best to check in, to continue to carry on with the school programs and be a resource to parents the best we can from a distance.

Sab and I are still making handouts and assessment tests for our selected online classes via Edmodo. We finally got to use the facial mask sheets that we’ve been meaning to use from the Christmas holidays (don't worry, it hasn't expire yet). The laundry baskets are finally empty. I still read Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo because I have nothing but time now. I can even blog again, imagine that! Mostly though, I am counting down the days to when this whole quarantine period is over and this pandemic reach its end. I’m imagining my students setting foot in our classrooms again, bugging the crack out of me. I am hopeful.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Ahh Life, Heck Yeah Teaching

The Whirldwind Ride That Is Teaching

“Miss Anie is a bitter woman because she doesn’t have a love life!” said a ninth grader I reprimanded for concealing a note during a weekly quiz in 2015. And believe me, that even sound harsher in Filipino. It may have been nicer too if it was said to my face instead of lashing it out on other students who, quite frankly, have nothing to do with the entire shenanigan. I called her mom to discuss the incident and a week later, that student transferred to a public school.

I’ve been called a lot of things since I started this profession; it almost feels like I’m walking on eggshells in a watered-down field where everything I do would either be wrong or never enough. This is teaching, I tell myself. I make an uphill climb every day knowing full well that this is what I’ve signed up for. Sure, I teach small classes in a private school, it can't be that bad, right? Oh, how I wish that was the case. Teaching small classes sounds easy. It has its perks but it can also be surprisingly tricky. In a small class, I am presented the opportunity to teach my students as individuals and to see them progress and grow is incredibly rewarding but as soon as personality clashes, kids picking on each other and they simply don’t get along, a small class can be a nightmare too. When interpersonal problems are magnified, things can be downright frustrating – throw in parents’ involvement into the mix, then you'll have the perfect blend of drama on your plate!

For the most part of my career, I’ve met parents who are respectful and who wholly believed in my contribution to their child's school growth but there are also those who are not. Others would even have the audacity to tell how I should manage my class. I've been astounded to see how some parents would readily defend their child when I tell them about behavior incident in class and on certain occasions, some of them even see me as the enemy. I can't tell you how much this weakens the partnership between teacher and parent. If only parents would step back and get a good look at the whole landscape before challenging what we have to say about their child, the teaching world could be a slightly better field. Believe it or not, teachers also want the best for their students too, as parents do. We are on the same side. It wouldn't break a bone for you guys to partner with us.

Our job is hard enough without being immersed to constant scrutiny and being unfairly judged on our student’s performance. Teaching and all that it entails is amazing at best but I never thought I'd ever want a break from it every once in a while to maintain some sanity. I don’t want to push this passion over the edge and inadvertently turn what I love into something I don’t. If I’m going to teach, if I’m going to make teaching all that it can be, I want to do it right. I want to do it with a smile on my face. I want to always have that warm and fuzzy feeling I get every time a student understands a lesson I taught or when little boys remember to wash their hands after using the toilet. I don’t want teaching to be forced. That is what I promise to myself.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Ahh Life, Heck Yeah Teaching

Hello, World!

Morong, Bataan, December 2017

‘Hello, World!’ was actually a phrase used in a test run to make sure that a computer language is correctly installed, and that the operator (revered techies and geeks) understands how to use it. In seventh grade (first year high school, circa ’99), I briefly dabbled in the early days of web design (heck yeah, VBScript!) and found out about HTML marquee element that scrolls a piece of text displayed either horizontally across or vertically down on your webpage. Ahh, what a time to be alive!

Incidentally, ‘Hello, World!’ was also the phrase I posted on Sab’s Facebook and 200+ of her FB friends went crazy. As in ‘Sound the alarm! Sab posted something on Facebook!’ kind of deal. All the years I know her, she never uploads and/or posts anything because apparently, she’s too cool for social media. The truth is, ‘Hello, World!’ seems like a timeless (and also fitting) way to greet the blogosphere again, especially when you’re just picking back up from long hiatus. SO, HELLO, WORLD! How the fudge are you? Is BLOGGING still a thing in 2019? Yes? No? Just let me know!

Anyhow, last February, my senior high school niece sent interview questions about teaching that I can only answer in the most Anie-esque manner I could ever muster just because...

1. Do you feel overworked as a teacher? Why or why not?

No, I don’t feel overworked as a teacher because I’ve resolved myself to the fact that this profession entails the elephantine workload of always being present, ceaselessly giving and continually keeping all those balls in the air. Striking a balance is key, if you ask me.

2. Do you feel underpaid? Why or why not?

Surprisingly, even though my salary is a far cry from a six-figure payslips, I don’t feel I’m underpaid at all because my compensation is already better than adequate. Also, I try not to constantly measure my work’s worth in monetary aspect all the time, otherwise, I’ll just leave this profession and go for a job that would allow me to receive more than a minimum pay day.

3. How do you feel about other teachers who are overworked and underpaid?

Of course my heart aches for teachers who are working their butts off to make our education great as possible yet all they are getting is a minimum payday. But, then again, teaching is unlike any other profession. In addition, it is a difficult job that requires lots of energy and dedication. Certain sacrifices are to be made to be truly in this field and one of them, unfortunately, is the salary.

4. What do you think the government should do with this uprising and unsolved problem?

There is no doubt that the education system has its myriad flaws, but I do think the government needs to switch to a system of paying teachers in accordance to their ability and results. There are great teachers and bad ones, especially in some of the public schools and somehow all we have is a system where bad teachers seem to NEVER get fired.

5. As a fellow teacher, what is your suggestions and recommendations towards these problems?

Teachers, especially the ones from public schools, should be paid and given raises based on: 50% from student growth throughout the year on standardized tests, and 50% from evaluations. And when funds would allow it, give a yearly raise, if need be, for teacher’s excellent performance. As for the crummy teacher who pops in to work who does anything but teach, she/he should be replace by someone who can get results. And finally, to the teachers who think this profession would not allow them to meet their financial goals, throw caution to the wind because it may be time for a career change. Just saying.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Ahh Life, Heck Yeah Teaching

A Letter To My Crestfallen 10-Year Old Self. With All My Heart, Thirty-Two.

My dearest Ten,

Some mornings ago, I couldn’t thank all the stars in the heavens enough for finding a crisp twenty-peso bill inside my pocket just when I needed it most. As I handed it to one of my students who didn’t have a snack for recess, my first thought was you. When she stayed inside the classroom while the rest of her peers animatedly marched their way to the canteen, I am stung with an awful, familiar feeling.

“Take this, dear,” I urged but she shook her head, no.

It wasn’t much, really… just enough to buy her a decent merienda we normally have at the canteen. But still she refused. I tried to be insistent, so, I took her hand and placed the money on her palm. My student’s gaze dropped on the vinyl floor. It was rather an awkward task I took upon myself to convince her that there wasn’t anything embarrassing about accepting a bill of meager value in such a situation. After a moment or two, she straightened. Lifting her head to look up at me, she flashed a slim but genuine smile and finally said “thanks, Miss Anie,” much to my relief.

I started keeping extra twenty-peso bill in my pocket since then, crisp or not, in case any of my students need it – a courtesy I wish someone from grade school extend when the struggle of poverty first zing you. The age when you felt like the rest of your seemingly compact but colossal life has truly begun. I know about the long nights that kept you awake, or those mornings you weren’t quite sure if you can make it to grade school and those days in between that looks as though they’re never ending. It’s tough when your family’s financial security has been shaken, this I know. Your crestfallen state should have been the opposite but do not lose heart because this season in your life will pass. It will pass and things will never be the same for you. And though no one, not a single soul from that unfortunate place notice the apprehension and heaviness of your heart, nor the distress of not being your powerful, engaging little self, you will see how much resilience you’re made of. You do not know it yet because anxiety, at times, anger, gets the best of you, but in time you will. You internally told yourself, what you lack in money and in looks, your brain will have to make up for it. And that, my dear Ten, is strength in itself. This internal bar will become your very drive to flourish beyond academics.

“You’re a rebel,” they say and how this weighs you down, but the truth is, it should not. Because you know what, they are right. You are a rebel. You are a rebel when you refuse to consent to feel inferior whenever everyone looks down on you because you can only afford to buy yourself Pop (bottled carbonated drink) for recess… sometimes, a small bag of chips but never both at the same time. You are a rebel because you held your head high whenever you are met with an odd stare every time you’d bring out a can of tuna (in Afritada flavor, our fave!) that goes with the rice Mommy packed for you at lunch. You are a rebel because you chose to stand against prejudice and injustice when your supposed champions failed you. And within these arduous times, and these lengthy moments of rejection and pain, you will find your courage, your character and your passion. The process, tumultuous to all appearances it may be, will do you good. It may not make sense today but know that it will be full and rich with lessons and experiences.

Cry if must. Be sad if you can’t help it but only for a moment because even if the odds seem up, there will be a happy ending to one of the dreariest episodes of your life. And when it’s your turn to sit behind that teacher’s desk, you’ll be able to look at every child that enters your classroom with sincerest care, utmost respect and tell each and everyone of them how they truly matter. You will choose to be the champion they need regardless of what they have in life. You will guide them to see the good in everything and when they can’t find any, you will encourage them to create it.

In Nayirah Waheed’s words:

“There is peaceful.

There is wild.

I am both at the same time.”

And I am here to tell you that YOU ARE BOTH. Yes, AT THE SAME TIME. So, have faith and be a force to be reckoned with, in spite of. I'm rooting for you.

With all my heart,

Thirty-Two

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Heck Yeah Teaching,

'Woe Is Me' Moment: When Teaching Gets Tough

Almost 3 weeks on Addition and Student A just can't seem to keep up. Student B continues to struggle with number concepts. And Student C... well, Student C is very much a work in progress.

I went home one evening, walked straight to my bedroom, staggered to my bed and finally collapsed. My mattress felt like it cost three times as much as it does. I was tired. Not so much of physical exhaustion but I was overwhelmed with feeling of failure. Eight years in this field and not once have I ever felt so defeated. I was aware that I had signed up for the challenges, struggles if you will, that come along with a classroom of primary kids and the oft-repeated dramas and shenanigans of a classroom life. But, it came out of nowhere, you know, those days where you just feel like even your best laid plans seems to fall apart and everything seems to be so ineffective. A lesson had not worked out and my students look at me as if I hail from all too different galaxy, speaking in a language unknown to them. Eight years on this field and you would think, expect really, that I should have it all figured out. Yet, I haven't. Self doubt and lack of faith in your ability slowly crept up. And your mind begun to wonder that perhaps you're not as a good teacher as you were starting to think, not good enough for your current students, completely unable to give them the best possible learning experience they truly deserve. Sometimes, we really are our own worst critics.

I want to tell you that teaching is all rainbows and puppies all the time, but I'd be lying. Every single day is a constant challenge and while it can be truly fun at times, some days aren't and that's perfectly fine. There will be good and bad days. Teachers go through a slump at some point. Such is the nature of teaching. These slumps can be predicted and sometimes it can catch you out but what matters is what you do with those bad days. It was in this very pessimism that I've found my considerable teaching strength. I care. You guys, I genuinely care. Not just for my students and for this wonderful profession I chose but I care enough to acknowledge these bad days and embrace them as means to reflect and strengthen my resolve to make a difference and grow from it, rather than let it submerge me in a hole of further frustrations.

As the days went by, though at a very slow pace, I came around, enlivening the confidence in myself. I am not a perfect teacher, I'll tell myself. I will never be a perfect teacher and no matter how long I've been on this field, I will never have all of the answers and I will never be able to prepare in advance to avert bad days. I can, however, use these bad days as an opportunity to grow and to refuse to be defined by it. I hit a slump in my teaching these recent weeks and after a very intentional reflection, I came back stronger and eventually got the buzz of the high later on. This job is made up of contrast after all and it is one of the many reasons why I keep at it.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Heck Yeah Teaching,

Dear Students I Have Taught Last School Year: An Open Letter

Dear students I have taught last school year,

It’s hard to believe that school year 2015-2016 flown by all too quickly and has truly come to an end. Here I am currently occupied with planning for another school year and in between evaluating textbooks and teaching demos scheduled in the past weeks got me thinking about all of you.

Teaching you guys has been a rich experience for me. I revel in seeing you grow, both as learners and individuals. And while I may not be your favorite teacher, or the best there is this side of HFLC, I hope {pray really}, that you learn something from all the lessons and advice I have tried so hard to share with you over our ten months together. Know that the seemingly high expectations I have from you is more than just a standard but a process, if you may, that allowed me to stir up that creative magic in you. I never wanted to quantify you in a number but the system thinks it’s important to. I know its unlike anything you’ve ever encounter but I saw first hand the personal growth you guys made while under these academic pressures and that tells me more about your potentials than any quizzes, tests and examinations ever could. You’ve tackled this school year with perseverance and when the going gets tough, you guys continued trying your ding dang best. I can't be any more proud of you than I am today.

To all of you who will be returning to HFLC for another year of learning and exploration, I can’t wait to see you in my class! My excitement for school year 2016-2017 surpasses whatever thrill a new episode of Game of Thrones can ever offer me. I can’t wait to welcome you not just with plain excitement but also with a promise to learn as much as I can about you so we can create the most feasible use of the learning time we will have. I will commit myself in running those extra miles for you yet again and will light my flame from yours, assuring to hand it back to you when you need it most. I will be that teacher and MORE. *pinky swear*

And to those of you moving to bigger schools, it will take a lot of getting use to walking around the hallways and teaching my class without seeing your rowdy but beautiful faces. No longer will you regularly have my seemingly iron-fisted, no-nonsense voice for unsolicited guidance, keeping you on track, Miss Anie’ style! What a relief that is to some of you, I know, but should you ever need a good jolt to help you get back to your senses, know that I’ll certainly be available to you whenever I can be. I trust you will utilize the skills you’ve honed during your stay at HFLC and require of yourself the discipline all your teachers here have required of you. It’s been one heck of a ride fighting like hell for all of you and may you also find it in you to fight like hell for yourself as well. I shall miss you all dearly for sure!

Lastly, I want to thank all of you for your smiles, for your zeal and character. Thank you for allowing me to see your hearts, your minds and your regard for everything that surrounds you. I have gained new set of eyes because of this and I will strive to wield this vision in mentoring those who will step into my classroom. As you continue your quest as learners in the academia, bear in mind that I will always fiercely have faith in your potential for greatness. I want to pat you at the back for being who you are. Now, bestow the world with something significant by showing us who you will become.

All my affection,

Miss Anie

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Heck Yeah Teaching,

A Fond Adieu

“Miss Anie! Miss Anie!” exclaimed the several students approaching me all at once, folders and pens in their hands.

I gave them ‘the look’ and without further prompting, the kids formed a line and one by one, clearance forms were being handed to me. I cramped my fingers up, clenched a pen and in slanted cursive, I signed my initials, N.G.O, that looked everything less than a scribble.

Last day of school always takes me back to the beginning of the academic year and wave of nostalgia sweeps over me without delay. Emotions, pure and almost naïve, were all too distinct and though the classic INTP in me safely packed it away, it was there and it was strong.

I look back at the stressful moments this school year with great fondness and thought about the many ‘firsts’ I had the opportunity to do while in a non-teaching post, one that toughened my skin as an individual and allowed me to grow as an educator. It was a challenging ride no doubt, but it was also something I truly relished. Already, my mind is thinking about the next academic year, getting thrilled at the thought of new learning and new plans but somewhere along that great anticipation, there’s a hint of sadness because just like every single year, last day of school also involves a lot of goodbyes.

There’s an assumption that teachers can’t seem to wait to kick their students out the door fast enough as soon as March rolls around so we can finally plunge into our two months off for summer and hit the beach. If people only knew.

Of course we are ready to let our students go but not because we want to get rid of them. We are ready to let them go because we know that they are more than ready to meet the next challenge ahead of them. This goes out to our dear graduates who are set to move to bigger schools next academic year and those who will embark on a quest called college. We stood behind a podium on Friday to called out their names, watched them receive their diplomas and walked out of our lives. It hurts to see one chapter ends but at the same time, it is exciting to see a new one starts because it should. I’d be worried if it didn’t. I just hope that somewhere, deep inside, they will carry the things they learned in HFLC when they were put in an environment in which they have to practice respect, obedience, solidarity, perseverance, excellence, kindness, among others. I pray that all those moments we insisted on empathy, commitment, teamwork and passion would forever be engraved in their hearts. And if they can pass the very same values to the next person who comes along in their life someday, what an awesome thing would that be.

Tenth Graders, Class of 2014-2016

The school will miss all of them. More surprisingly, I WILL SURELY MISS ALL OF THEM.

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Faith Talk, Heck Yeah Teaching

Dear Teens: An Open Letter to Those I Had the Opportunity to Teach As Children

Walking into a room full of animated kids, whose age range from 6 to 12 years, for my first stint in the ministry as a children’s choir teacher was a life-defining moment. Clueless of what to expect, my heart was racing and pounding. Excitement, edginess, anxiety, delight and the what-nots were tangled into one big ball of perplexity that when I opened my mouth to speak, I quickly realized I had no idea of what I was doing. I was a teen myself, 17 to be exact and I was going to be a teacher. To the kids who first made me feel like I’m a real teacher (circa '07)… oblivious and inexperienced as I was. Whatever feat and wherever place teaching would take me, I know I’d always look back on that very moment I met all of you. Written with genuine care and affection, this one is for all of you.

Dear Teens,

I would like to take a few moments to scribble down a word for you. Since you are in a crucial stage, in which certain values have to be introduced, I wholly believe it’s but necessary that someone tells you these.

Image Credit: http://batpoopcrazy.com/

You guys, by far, dominate my Facebook and Twitter feeds like super crazy! I look at you in these social medias and take in how time flew by, quite dumbfounded and pretty baffled, to say the least, by the changes the years has brought. Suddenly you kids are teenagers… dramatic, irrational and impulsive. It’s the awkward growth spurt, I get it. Our brain continues to change throughout life and the huge leaps in development takes place during adolescence so, trust me, I totally get it. I was in that stage too. Between you and me, I think I had it worst. While you incessantly express your frustrations via Twitter and put your whole life out on Facebook (I mean, who doesn’t these days?), I was silently questioning my faith on humanity when I was your age. So, I have to give you a pat on the back somehow. Please understand that when I say I get it, I really do. Sarcasm not included. Puberty is kicking in, this I know. It means you are starting to make your way in becoming young adults. Not quite there yet but you’re on your way and as you go through this phase, allow your good ‘ol former teacher {and Ate, first and forever} to leave you with 10 things I know to be true.

1. You should understand that no matter how tall you have sprouted or how grown-up you dress, you are still in a developmental period. Turn to your parents for guidance. Listen to your church leaders. Pay attention to what your teachers have to say or whoever responsible adults who sincerely cares about you, because you will need all the help you can get in threading this stage and surviving all that teen drama. As Proverbs 11:14 puts it, “… in the multitude of counselors there is safety”.

2. Teens like you process information with the AMYGDALA {an almond-shaped part of the brain, nestled deep in the back} known as the instinctual, EMOTIONAL part of the brain. So, when you try to make a decision, your emotions tends to take over. While you think you’re old enough to run your own life, think again. Your brains are simply not yet equipped to think through things in the same way we adults, do. Until your still-developing PREFRONTAL CORTEX {rational part of your brain} takes control of the Amygdala, accept our genuine offers of help and straight-to-the-point criticism and TAKE. TIME. TO. LISTEN.

3. Don’t ever think parents/guardians only exist to suck all the fun out of life, especially when they won’t let you go on a road trip with some questionable friends. If anything, these people, who so good-naturedly and affectionately raised you, are your biggest cheerleaders in life. Your happiness is their happiness first. They watch your back like no close friends would. You may feel like they’re too strict but what you don’t know is, they only have your best interests at heart. Appreciate them now while you still have the time because life is too short for you to take them for granted.

4. Scrap the idea of peer pressure you have in mind. According to some neuroscientists and psychologists {feel free to Google this info I’m about to break to you all}, teens like you, don’t feel peer pressure, you feel PEER PLEASURE! Peer approval has been shown to be highly rewarding to your teen brains. The pleasure centers of your brain are most active when you get validation from someone your own age. But, ditch that burst of feel-good chemicals, I say! Peer pressure is something I easily dodged in my teens because I have that feeling of Invictus-ability {see W.E. Henley’s poem}, haha! Whatever that means. I don't even know how peer pressure didn't get the best of me but my words to you, remember the noble things you’ve learned from your parents/guardians/teachers/other mentors as a child, stand by it and be comfortable with your choices.

5. During puberty, hormonal changes occur and they magnify your emotions. Research says, your Amygdala gangs up with all these kinds of hormones, pumping them through your puberty-ravaged bodies, leaving you feeling all sorts of things including moodiness and unpredictability. So, when you think you’re in love with the boy {or girl} whom you have a crush on for the longest of time… chances are, you’re really not. Don't complicate things way too much. I would say 99% that it's not real love but just infatuation. You’re just being over taken with strong feelings because of your hormones and you probably don’t have a concrete idea about the difference between that and the real thing yet.

6. Take it easy on the Social Media. There is a fine line between self-expression and over-sharing. I am a huge social media enthusiast myself. I believe it’s a great tool for sharing, communicating and keeping in touch, except when it’s misused, it can create a lot of damage. Be sure to protect your privacy, be cautious on what you post and always think twice. Social media mistakes are hard to undo. Unfortunately, Papa and Mama can’t help you out when that happens. There’s way more trouble online as it is in real life and they’re just waiting for you if you’re careless. Express yourself, sure. Have fun, no problem… but be careful out there. Moderation is the key!

7.Girls, dressing modestly is not an outdated cultural standard, especially if you’re a Filipino. The profit-driven media’s fixation on bodies tell us otherwise and when you think of modesty in terms of being “restrictive” you need to consider the personal rewards of it — self-respect and honor. Take it from Pope Pius XII, he said: The more elegant you will be, and the more pleasing, if you dress with simplicity and discreet modesty. Besides, it feels way lot better to be noticed because of your mind and personality, rather than your body.

8.Boys, chivalry doesn’t have to be dead and simple courtesies are never trivial and old-fashioned. Manners are the grease that allows society to function and using manners is a sign of respect for people. So by all means, open a door for a girl at your school, help out your teacher with the piles of books he's carrying down the hall, gently lead your Mama by the elbow when she’s tottering on her stiletto, help the elders cross the street, give up your seat to someone who needs it most and reclaim the ways of the gentlemen that has been a seemingly lost art in today’s generation.

9. There’s nothing wrong with following the rules. This is something I wish someone told me when I was a teen and now, I’m telling you. Your parents/guardians set this structures and rules to look out for your safety. By the time you graduate college {or when you're in college}, you’ll have all the time in the world to exercise the freedom to do what you want, which I hope you will, in a responsible way but for now, learn to live by the rules. It’ll serve you better in the future, believe me.

10. As a disciple of reading, I implore you to read! Find a good book you can get your hands on, sit down, prop your feet up on a table if you like, open it and for goodness sake, READ! I hope this doesn’t sound like I’m hounding you or something but if it does? My apologies. I simply want you to know that reading is not just important while you are in school, good reading skills are essential to future success in the workplace too. It has countless life-long benefits including prevention of Alzheimer’s, enhances your memory, reduce stress, generate good mood, it makes you more cultured, {haha!} among others. I also believe that in order for us to write well and speak well, we should read first as reading teaches thinking. Come up with your own conclusion on certain things, form an opinion, discover new interests, see the world and for the pleasure of it, READ.

Keep in mind that the habits you form now will stick with you for the rest of your life. Teenage years may seem challenging but it's not that bad either, you just have to make the most of it and enjoy it before things get serious {like paying the bills, decision-making with lasting effect and the what-nots}. Don’t rush things. Savor the moment. Be responsible. Stay on your studies. Aim high. Memorize Philippians 4:13 by heart and you’ll do just fine. You'll see ;)

Grace to you,

Miss Anie

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, by Anie Ordillo

In Heck Yeah Teaching,

What Teaching Elementary Taught Me So Far

When the school year ended last March, I already lined up in mind the things I wanted to pursue for the rest of the year… numbers of more appealing somethings, none of which involved teaching. This is not to say that teaching isn’t appealing to me anymore. It still is. I suppose you can say that I am at a point in my life where I just wanted a change. Circumstance, however, pulled me back to teaching yet again, but with a tangible factor that somehow gratifies my itch for change.

It’s been four amazing years since the first time I’ve been somewhat blindly thrown into the teaching world. I taught various subjects in kindergarten, gave private tutoring lessons, became a robot at some point – completely drained and no amount of sleep could ever be enough, came to class without make-up on my face, including wearing mismatched clothes. Some days feel bright and sunny but there were also days where it’s a lot less darling job than other people’s career but I can sincerely say that I love every bit and pieces of it. There’s so much innocence in this environment, free from the worry of judgments from the real world that taught me to appreciate the little things in life, among other things. 4 years was enough time for me to make kindergarten my comfort zone and I knew I needed a new challenge.

New challenge, however, still came in the form of teaching and this year I’ve been tapped to teach… get this… Science and… wait for it… MATH to 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders! Turns out, this gig is indeed a challenge in every sense of the word. My schedule has changed around a bit since I started so now, I need to be in class at 7:20 {SHARP!} each morning, recess and lunch break in between and my day ends at 3:00 in the afternoon. Barely a month in this position, an outpour of countless new insights about teaching and the-what-nots occur to me in a wink and that makes life, for me, extra momentous.

Among the things I’ve learn so far…

I’ve learned to cherish my introversion now more than ever. Handling a rowdy class enable me to survive, notch up my game and excel through my typical introvert attributes and what a gift that is.
The key to inspire students to excel at and engage in Math is to tear down the idea that this subject is HARD, BORING and IT’S ONLY FOR THE SMART ONES. I used to hate Math in school too and I wish my teachers back then didn’t bombarded us with these kinds of messages.
It’s great to be around kids of all ages but I prefer the rug rats over raging hormones on any given day.
It’s kind of awesome and at the same time, daunting to be looked up to.
The concept that I’m now a full-pledge adult is sometimes scary.
SOME parents expect so much from teachers. We are one-person doing the best we can with resources available to us, it would mean the world to us if you give us a little consideration and not question EVERY move we make inside the class ALL THE TIME.
100 % marks on the test papers or straight A’s does not necessarily means your child is Einstein. So stop with the unreasonable demands and give these kids a break. SERIOUSLY.
It’s heartwarming to see you’ve positively touched someone, whether it’s by making them laugh or teaching them the properties of addition or 5 senses.
Checking piles of books and worksheets activity is slowly turning into a hobby, haha!
Teaching is a challenging and often unappreciated job but one of the most significant ones.

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, by Anie Ordillo

To the HFLC Class of 2020: An Open Letter

Quarantine Life, Week 1

The Whirldwind Ride That Is Teaching

Hello, World!

A Letter To My Crestfallen 10-Year Old Self. With All My Heart, Thirty-Two.

'Woe Is Me' Moment: When Teaching Gets Tough

Dear Students I Have Taught Last School Year: An Open Letter

A Fond Adieu

Dear Teens: An Open Letter to Those I Had the Opportunity to Teach As Children

What Teaching Elementary Taught Me So Far

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