Author: missarve

I'm a storyteller.

A novice English teacher’s frustration…

Midway through the week, I laid on my bed in complete frustration. The day has ended on a sour note with the junior classes I am teaching. I have so much to learn from the classes that I have most difficult with.

It is confirmed: I love control. But these two classes (Sponge 3 and Trampoline 3B) are quite the challenge. Especially the boys. I want productivity and participation; they want free time and, pretty much, not to be in class. But, by divine choice, we all are placed in the same classroom. Not appreciating much of each other at that current moment. To them, I’m just 50 minutes more ’til freedom.

The thing is, I don’t mind them at all. They, without a doubt, are very silly and energetic – and I can’t help but shake my head and laugh (internally, mostly) at the silly antics they make during class. But I need to get on with the day’s lesson.

So, there I lay thinking, “If I am able to communicate ‘FOCUS + WORK WELL + PARTICIPATE = leave early’, will they work better?” Will this be the solution to the issue on hand? I’m unsure. I often catch myself counting down the minutes of when the class finishes.

The day’s frustration (especially with T3B) was pointless and self-imposed. Why bother teaching a class that doesn’t want to learn? Why raise my voice to try to get their attention when it only lasts for a couple of seconds, and they don’t even bother to follow the instructions I relay to them? Also, to my realization, me keeping them in until the end of class as a form of “punishment” for not working as they are supposed to, isn’t much of a punishment to them, but rather – to myself.

The next day, I wrote on the board the following:

Follow the rules + Focus + Particulate = Leave early.

This got them to do better than the day before. However, I’m suspecting that their productivity is only possible because they were doing a writing activity. I wonder how it will be like for the other activities?

Also, me writing the message on the board has gotten me to realize: they have good reading skills yet really weak listening and speaking skills. And I have weak classroom management skills.

Bottom line: I HAVE SO MUCH TO LEARN.

60 days in South Korea

Can you believe it? It’s been sixty days since I moved here.

If you haven’t already noticed, I’m terrible at writing. I’m trying to change this bad habit my picking up my pen and writing more (or in this case, typing something up…). I do keep a physical journal, but like this blog, I’m terrible at logging something onto it. Even though that is the case, my move to Korea has given me more chances to write something – especially about my new experiences.

Let’s just say, since my 21st birthday, this year continues to be my year of firsts.

Traveling alone, living in a different country alone, having my own studio, teaching English, learning the ukulele, picking up the camera and filming, learning Korean, living in an area that gets real SNOW – all are amazing firsts. You can only imagine how this petite and naive lady is growing.

If you aren’t following me on my other Social Media platforms, I post there more frequently than here:

Bottom line: the move to South Korea is the best thing I’ve ever done – so far. I am practicing newfound talents, creating new friendships, and fulfilling my desire to travel more. Praising God for giving me all these opportunities!

BTW – as a quick catch up for yourself, my dear reader, please watch the video below.

 

Of Changes and Adventures…

The plan was: graduate, get a job, and live in NorCal. And then life happened.

I’m being cliche here – but I know we all could agree that in life, change happens a lot. Two things I’ve learned about change is that it is ugly and beautiful. It is ugly as it stops the routine of what you’re comfortable and used to. And, sadly, could lead to broken hearts. However, it is also beautiful as it enables you to make new discoveries about yourself – about your own strengths, talents, and personal beauty.

It’s imperative to have a plan. As the saying goes, “One who fails to plan plans to fail.” With that in mind, always be ready for change to happen every now and then. Yeah, maybe cry and gripe a little, but prod on and accept the new adventure in front of you.

Speaking of change (as my original plan is having a huge detour) I’m currently preparing myself to leave for South Korea to teach English in one of the institutes. This, to me, is an adventure that would only come once my way, so I’m taking advantage of it AND looking forward to the adventure of it.

With that, documenting my new adventure begins now.

Grief, you are my friend…

Losing someone I know and use to interact with is one of the most painful feelings I’ve ever been through. Just recently, another friend of mine has passed away. That’s two within the month.

The sadness of what just happened has made me realize that the theme my friend and I have chosen for our line in PUC’s Fashion Show 2015 was no accident. The theme, Stages of Grief, which was inspired by Camp Kesem and my personal heartbreak -enabled me and my co-designer to remind everyone that there’s hope amidst the pain.


Below is our statement for our fashion line:

Grief…a keen mental suffering or distress over affliction or loss; sharp sorrow; painful regret. It comes without warning. We have all experienced it. Whether we’ve come from broken homes…lost someone we love, or had broken hearts. We portrayed the emotions that are felt in these stages using unwanted materials. Each outfit was up-cycled from scratch, using old table cloths, curtains, bedsheets, or rugs to show you that something beautiful can come out of the unwanted. We have depicted the stages: Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression, and Acceptance. However, we added a stage: Triumph. Because, everyone experiences difficulties, but what defines us is how we face them. Although the challenges we encounter make us stumble and fall – we can rise up triumphantly.

For those who are experiencing the grief of losing someone close, I dedicate this fashion line to you. 

With love,

Arve

Of flowers and its meaning…

 
Jasmine, considered to be the “Queen of all flowers,” is used for different purposes in different cultures. When used as a symbol of love and romance, it’s best to turn to the Filipino jasmine: the sampaguita. The Filipino name comes from the Filipino words “sumpa kita,” meaning: “I promise you.”  

Of Challenges

Days ’til graduation: 34. 

A couple weeks ago, I learned of a job opportunity that I found interesting. The position is a guest service and coordinator for a local business. Although school is nearly ending, I felt that I was pretty stagnant and wanted to learn something new. So, I called that local business and went in for an interview. Towards the end of my interview, my interviewer gave me a challenge: draft a one year marketing plan. 

Marketing is not my emphasis. And although all my classes do touch base on some level of marketing (like class presentations), I have not been formally trained in it in any my business classes. The closest thing I could possibly think of to a marketing plan were business plans and social media plans (from one of the Communication classes I took). So although I was at a disadvantage when my interviewer asked me to write a marketing plan, I took up the challenge nonetheless. 

Writing it up took me a couple of days. I was lucky that my mentor is the VP of PR and Marketing here at school, so she gave me some great pointers. After putting it all together, I finally sent it in. 

Although my mentor said that the plan looked good, I don’t think I’ll be getting the job at all. However, it still was a great learning experience. 

Of Having a Female Mentor

At the end of last quarter, I signed myself up to join a mentoring program that my friend, Maddy, set up. I was paired up with the VP of Enrollment and Marketing here at school. Before our first meet up, I was honestly intimidated. I mean, I’m about to meet one of the VP’s of my school!

Now, I need to share with you that I do have mentors. Two are in my department and one who travels around wherever the music goes. And they are all men. When I met my appointed mentor, one of the first things I shared with her about what I wanted out of this relationship, was that I needed that female perspective that my male mentors lack. So our conversations can range from anything to everything.

Meeting her for the first time was intimidating, but as we continued to talk, she’s a very energetic lady, who wants to have as much impact on the student’s life here on campus as much as our professors. The only thing that has kept her from truly doing that was that she rarely has that interaction that professors have. So when Maddy introduced this mentorship program, she was more than ready to grab onto this opportunity. On top of that, she loves Filipino food and culture. One of the few Caucasian individuals I know who appreciate Filipino food…

But back to our first meeting; we were talked about her career and how certain moments have lead her to our school. I’ve shared with her my worry of finishing school and life after college. Before we ended our meeting, she left me with the following insights:

  • What new skill do you want to learn? How can you use it to support yourself?
  • When you’re in a new environment (like a job), give yourself three years. It is allow you to understand the environment, culture, and the job, so when it comes to the third year, you are set!
  • When you’re speaking with your friends, don’t be afraid to share that you’re looking for a job – and tell them exactly what you’re looking for.

After speaking with her, I’ve taken up sewing (also because I’m a fashion designer for a charity event here at school – but story time at a another time…) and I’ve refreshed my Instagram to give it a new purpose. Those were the two things that have inspired me to do something new and different. Otherwise, I’m still working on the rest of her insights.

But keep posted! I’ll be sharing more of what she and I will talk about in all our hangouts. Hopefully you’ll learn something along with me – as I dig through her wisdom.

Before the graduation bell rings… 

bell tower puc

Formerly posted on an old blog, I repost it here. 

It’s funny to look back on these past years of my undergraduate school years. Just when I thought I would learn the answers to everything through these classroom walls, I couldn’t be more wrong.

There’s a bigger world out there, and I’ve barely scratched its surface.

 

Yes, the internet has allowed me to have a sneak peak on that world, but it’s not the same if I’ve never stepped into it.

 

Growing in an Adventist bubble, many who’ve been in this same boat as I am in, understand this weird culture: be good, no drugs, no alcohol, dress appropriately – especially when you’re at church, be respectful… (goes on with the Pathfinder pledge and law – another Adventist thing). I’m not saying that growing in all that is bad. I think it’s great, but it sucks to be shocked and naive in a lot of issues in which a lot of other kids have already experienced that I haven’t even seen until I entered public school in my high school years. (I actually miss that life I knew back when I was younger – it was very simple).

 

I’m not saying that I know a lot of things. I really don’t. Life after college is scaring me actually. The fact that I haven’t gotten the life skill of saving and budgeting down is scary. And no promises of having a job AFTER I graduate is even scarier. That fear of heading back to live with my parents is kind of embarrassing.. so for now search continues.

 

By this time of year, I thought I would get a lot of things down, but I still haven’t. Last year, I was in a student leadership position and learning a lot of things I promised myself not to repeat. However, as I am placed in another leadership position, life throws its curveball at me and I’m back in square one.

 

What I’m trying to say is: everything sometimes won’t work out the way you would initially plan it out to be. If that happens, ok, have a tear or two (or a rant or two), then carry on.