As I dwell with this journal, I am feeling excited for the reason that one week from now practice teaching is over. My final demonstration is said and done and most especially I can turn off the alarm mode in my cellphone. Although that’s how I view this near end of my practice teaching, that doesn’t mean that the experiences I’ve got are lame. It is just the thought that teaching is really hard and one who is a beginner will really look forward to the end of it and I admit that. Actually, I don’t know why I am standing in front of young people listening of my explanations of how the universe works. Nonetheless, I am here already so what do I have to lose. I’ve always describe myself as a risk taker anyway. I am not afraid of committing mistakes because I believe that there were no such things. It’s part of the gift that God gave us- LIFE. The thing is if you happened to commit a flaw in any sort and you are open to overcome it and make it better the next time, I think that’s the essence of living this life --- to

change and be changed, to inspire and be inspired, to hear and be heard.

Going back to “teaching”, I can now define it as a career of unending demand of growth, development, and nourishment. As they say, once a teacher, always a student. I believe, that wise saying makes sense. It’s part of our personal growth and professional development. Before I elucidate it, it occurs to me that there is a difference between personal growth and professional development. The former is more of societal progress and the latter is more on the intellectual and procedural progress. To make progress on both is indeed a challenge. It requires a lot of effort, initiatives and most especially motivation. I believe, one can properly grow if he/she is well motivated.

As for me, the motivation comes from within. The desire to continually become better is my intrinsic motivation. The acceptance of this very crucial role of honing the minds of the youth locks me into that desire. The learners deserve all the continuous education that we must have. Well, the question is, am I growing in terms of my teaching? Are my late-at-night readings and reviews worth it? I can’t answer that so I asked the opinions of my students and here are some of their answers:

MY REFLECTIVE JOURNAL

Cagayan State COLLEGE OF TEACHER Andrews University EDUCATION

Campus

“Personal Growth and

Professional Development”

“…I THINK THAT’S THE ESSENCE OF LIVING THIS LIFE --- TO CHANGE AND BE CHANGED, TO INSPIRE AND BE INSPIRED, TO HEAR AND BE HEARD.”

I’d like to quote what Shiena said “para may room for improvements”. I think that is very right. A teacher must not be a glass full of water but a glass which will never be filled up for it is always ready to accept new things and new beginnings to improve from its previous best.