SO you’ve back to school especially for College students on trimester. How’s Life? Wish it’s fine with you, my friend. After a short vacation, you’re back to the grind of academics.
For Basic Education from Nursery Level to Senior High School, it’s almost the same story. Nursery for 2 1/2 years old to 4 years old toddlers is like a day care center. These toddlers spend their time in school, learning ABC and counting numbers, and watching instructional videos plus cartoon characters for entertainment, not to mention their physical education (translation; playing). Parents and teachers are just happy to have these toddlers accommodation where they can learn and play. The same goes for Kindergarten class (other schools like La Consolacion College Manila have Kinder 1 & Kinder 2 for 2 years), although more of learning than playing for kids of 4 years old to 5 years old.
The elementary level from Grade 1 to 6 is the start of the children’s formal education on 3 Rs (reading, [w]riting, [a]rithmetic). Though in advanced Grade I class, it is presumed these children have already begun their 3 Rs in the Kindergarten especially those with Kinder 2. From Grade I to Grade 6, children are also taught other basic subjects ranging from science, civics, arts, language, and history plus GMRC (good manners and right conduct), practical arts (gardening & home economics, and physical education). There was a time that history and GMRC were cancelled in the elementary curriculum which was a grave error. Even very young students have to know their country’s past, and the very important character building in GMRC ( glad, it’s back in the curriculum).
Then High School from Grade 7 to Grade 12 where teen-agers are prepared for college education with higher level of subjects, the last Junior and Senior Years to equip them with vocational and technical knowledge so they can land into jobs or employments as high school graduates which appear now to be theoretical than practical (additional 2 layers of high school education which have to be improved, or reexamined).
So you’re now in College Education. This is where you specialize in course that will lead to your future job as an Engineer, Architect, Teacher, Nurse, Vet Med., Agriculturist and so forth (not yet Lawyer or Doctor of Medicine for you need first to graduate a bachelor’s degree before going to College of Law, or Medicine).
Study well especially if you’re a working student (this author was as working student as asst. College prof. while U.P. Law student). You’re not as privileged in time and means like full-time students. Since you sacrifice more to finish a college degree, it’s presumed you value your studies and work. Give your best effort in your 4-year or 5 year degree course for time and money were invested into it (this author was privileged to have been Palawan State Scholar in his Bachelor of Arts at U.P. Baguio, 1971-75, all school expenses paid including board and lodging plus travel costs, after author topped the 1971 scholarship exam of the thirty six (36) valedictorians and salutatorians of the eighteen (18) high schools of Palawan in 1971).
Along your academic way, learn not only the theories and skills of your subjects, but also the values and principles of a good person kind to others; helpful member of a community; patriotic citizen of a country; efficient and honest leader of the country, if called to be world member for peace and international comity, and a faithful creation of God. In short, not only your knowledge must be harnessed, but also your character as a person. So that if you become public official in the future, your goal will be only to serve the people faithfully, efficiently, and honestly (no personal agenda for power, money, or family dynasty). Quoting Commencement Guest Speaker in U.P Manila, last graduation, Prof. Ma. Serena Diokno, what good is talent or intelligence if a graduate cannot stand for it with dignity and principle. Or to mean what good is being bright if you’re not upright? What good is wisdom that is doomed for use in the wrong? Let us be students and graduates with principles. Meantime, Back to School…
