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Are you accomplishing the goals you have
set for yourself or are you giving in to your environment. Nobody thought in my
family, neighbor and childhood friends that I will be I am now. I was a very
shy, no confidence typical boy in my childhood days. I could still remember my
first day in pre-school in 1976, when I was full of reluctance in study. What I
know on my mind then was I like to play, play and play? I never value the
essence of education, even when I was in grade one I was just a child that
never knows the cause and effect of studying and not studying. Often times I
developed alibis during those days so that my I could skip classes, from
diarrhea, headache, stomach pain and others. My parents were so irritated by
these scenarios forcing them from transferring me from one school to another. I
really do not like to study then, I don’t know the reason but as for me, I was
looking for something that I do not know, searching answer to questions that
has no question mark. So, during my last three years in elementary my parents
and sisters decided to enroll me in a public school. It’s a big turn-around
shift for me on matters pertaining to such environment. I was then in an
expensive private school then suddenly I was in a public school. A very
different environment, I became acquainted to pupils who live in squatter
areas, the attitudes and way of living was so different, they even do not have
money to purchased shoes and school uniforms. I had so many things to query
then on myself by I can’t find answer. Thus, this causes a lot of discouragement
on my part, I often absent in my class for the reason that I have so many
classmates who did a lot of bullying and extortion activities. I was so afraid
that I was always the subject of teased and jokes. I want to fight back, but I
can’t, they were strong build kids whose street brawling experience was evident
in their face and body scars. But, I have no choice, just to endure the
environment and finished my elementary course as an ordinary pupil.
In high school, it was a different story my sister insisted
to my parents that I should be enroll in an exclusive catholic school for boys.
I never thought then that I could pass the entrance exam with flying colors and
series of interviews with good comments to me. My first day in high school was
very memorable it was happy moment me. As, if I was free from poor, bad looking
environment of a public school not to mentioned the bullying, and offending
attitude of the pupil. That time and on and on, my drive to study inspires my
consciousness to aspire for the best. I was a consistent honor student, and
some sort of an achiever, I won numerous debate, oratorical and declamation
contest. Maybe, these achievements gave me inspiration to be involved in
politics and public service today. But, still, I have insecurities and little
confidence on certain things such as wealth, material things, money, attention
and popularity. Studying in an exclusive expensive school where most of the
student belongs to rich and wealthy families, where some students were
celebrities and movie stars plus those students whose parents were politicians
and government officials. It was very hard to set a mindset that we were all
equal. The fact they belong to an upper strata of the society, gave me more
negative attitude on enhancing my confidence level. But even if such attitude
crossed the penumbra of my mind, I continued to study hard in order for me to
climb and reach an undefined goal. Well these high school days were really
unforgettable. My mother died
when I was in high school and has very difficult time getting along with my
father who is a full blooded military officer, being a retired general in the
defunct Philippine Constabulary. I
would have easily given into the stereotypes of children raised in family
environment of fear and distance. Being
the youngest in a family of six children and my age gap to my sister that I
follow is nine years.
I have
a very difficult time getting along with my four sisters and my only brother,
whose age is enough to be my father. Think
about it, there are a lot of people who think and even say that being alone and
not supported by a family will not amount to anything or be able to finish
college. Thank God, I had a high
school Priest teacher in religion that has a strong in his relationship with
God and wanted more for us his students than he had. He encouraged my classmates and I have
to finish my education and do more than he had done.
Knowing
what my environment was in my hometown of San Mateo Rizal, prior to graduating
high school from Aquinas School, San Juan, my sister decided for me to enroll
in dentistry, while my mind and heart is shouting within that I must enroll in
Journalism. Little did I know
what challenges faced me. So,
being very dependent on my dominant sisters, I tried to appreciate dentistry in
University of the East, but my mind is on journalism and politics. That is why at that time even if I
became a staff writer of our school organization paper then later on I run as
student council officer and won. Maybe,
this is really my calling to be an activist and a public servant. But I don’t
know where in the family line I inherited this line. My grandfather was a
military officer as well as my father, brother and other relatives. Coming to
my attention then that my family will not support me of my education, I decided
to shift my course from dentistry to Accountancy. I took Accountancy not because I like
it but rather that is the only course which offers a scholarship.
Regardless
of such barriers I continue studying and focus hard on my course so that I
could finish college and I can be free from my family. And well I do finished college with a
high note of memorable moments. For the reason that even if I was a scholar, I
was still considered an activist having joined numerous rallies and demonstrations
against anti-student policies of the school. My grades suffer and even my
scholarship was put into trashed by the so-called capitalist educators of that
time. After graduation, finding a
job was another story, it wasn’t just easy for me catching a work that would
support my independence, and I tried real estate sales, office jobs, marketing
and others. I was not satisfied of what I was doing so I hibernate. But my
life, doesn’t end there, I took my Master in Business Administration and
finished it this time as number one in the graduating class as Cum Laude and
after it take again another Masters in Education. Later in my life, I decided to return
to school for a Doctorate in Christian Leadership and Organization Development,
through the help of my College professor, I got a scholarship in San Diego California Hawaii , California
and Washington
Having
a very creative and independent daughter, life to me is easy to manage, the
inspiration and motivation that my family is giving just enough for me to reach
the dream that I am aspiring. It was really that one day my daughter asked me a
question. “Dad when will you stop studying?” I was shocked and really don’t
know what to answer. I just told her that someday you will understand and know
the answer. With such situation, I decided on my own that I will not anymore
pursue another doctorate or any educational degree. But I don’t know, maybe God
really has a plan for me, when I was surfing I saw this website offering a
Doctorate in Social Development. My hungry educational addictive sub-conscious
mind push me to visit the university offering the program, then presto, it a
glimpsed of a moment I enrolled. Social
Development as a discipline is not new to me having been an activist,
politician, environmentalist and community organizer; these gave me more of
interest in pursuing the course and attaining the degree. Roman 8: 28 manifest
that all things work together for good according to God’s purpose. I believe
that such surfing in the internet where I found the degree which I am
interested was not accidental. God has a purpose on everything, and I need to
search for his purpose to me and use it according to his will and plan.
Am I
saying that life is easy? No. Am I saying that you will have a challenge
everyday in life? No. What I am saying to you is your mindset is the key to
your success, finances or your demise. According to American Heritage
Dictionary mindset is “a fixed mental attitude or disposition that
predetermines a person’s responses to and interpretations of situations. What
that means is it has already been decided how you would react to a situation
based on how you handled the situation before. Let me give you an example, if
you hear a sound in the car that doesn’t sound right what is the first thing
that comes to your mind? Is it that it doesn’t sound good, I know it’s going to
cost me a lot of money? Or is it, I have been wanting to get my car checked and
any necessary repairs fixed. Remember Proverbs 23:7 says, “So as a man thinketh
in his heart so is he.” So if you think the car is going to cost a lot of money
to repair it probably will. When we think things we tend to speak it out.
Usually we speak negativity in and over our own lives. Today is a new day and
through this reflection paper, you will be encouraged to renew your mindset to
God’s word. A better way of thinking for success and not failure.
How
many of you have heard the scripture, Philippians 4:8 which says, “Finally,
brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable,
whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are
lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if
there be any praise, think on these things. Your mindset will not change
overnight, but you can begin the process of renewing your mind. Begin thinking
you will succeed and don’t be afraid of success. There are people who are their
own hindrance to success. As you will notice in each circumstance above, I had
already purposed that I was going to succeed and reach my goals.
It’s your turn; grab a hold of your promises.
