A Journey of Personal Transformation

 from Third World to First World Educator   

 

by:

MARION A. OGOC, Ph.D.

Dalipuga Central School

Iligan City

 

 

     It was on the fifth day of June, 2010 when I have finally set foot at the threshold of Mindanao University of Science and Technology (MUST) at Cagayan de Oro City to enroll a doctorate degree to keep myself abreast on the different programs, trends and issues in the educational system.

 

      I had graduated my Master’s Degree on October, 1999 at St. Peters College, Iligan City. From then on, worries about beating the deadline of passing assignments, term papers, tuition fee payments and other requirements of the course have been erased from my mind.

 

     I enjoyed the life of an ordinary teacher in the four walls of the classroom. Being at school on weekends doing paper works like filling-up of the required Deped forms, making plans for the school days ahead, preparing instructional materials in the subjects that I’m handling for my pupils to easily digest the lessons that are taught to them and so that I can have an Outstanding Performance Rating at the end of the school year.

 

     Forgetting the idea of pursuing at the highest level of attainment, the Doctor of Philosophy course. I have put myself behind bars in the Third World cell for almost eleven years.

 

     But, it’s not of a total regrets. Stagnation failed to conquer me totally.

 

    Within those periods, I have earned my Teacher II, III and Master Teacher I promotions. I also have been exposed to many national trainings in Elementary Mathematics at UP-NISMED, Diliman Quezon City,  Ateneo de Manila University as a workbook author in Elementary Mathematics Five, a recipient of DepEd-Integrated Scholarship Program (DISP) held at West Visayas State University, Iloilo City, a passer of the First National Qualifying Examination for Principals given by the National Educators Academy of the Philippines (NEAP) and some regional and division seminars and workshops in Elementary Mathematics that were free of charge.

 

     And because of my commitment to serve the education system without expecting something in return, our Heavenly Father has given me more of His blessings of having won the title of Most Outstanding Public School Teacher in Region X for School Year 2009-2010 in the MOPSTA search that was sponsored by the Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro City in cooperation with the Department of Education in Region X.

 

     I received a Plaque of Recognition, a Cash Award of Fifty Thousand Pesos and a set of computer unit.

 

     Though I have locked myself in the Third World cell for quite a long time, it has shown me the way to taking the flight towards the First World.

 

     Of course, I had mixed emotions. An excitement of what a doctorate study really is and a feeling of fear like: “Can I make it to the end?”

 

     Bothered with these things, as if I had a long wait of when will my first day of school be.

 

     So the hands of time brought me to my first destination to the First World on July 24 , 2010 the start of our first module class in DEM 612, Educational Planning and Administration, a subject of a Ph.D. course at MUST with Dr. Genaro V. Japos, our professor.

 

     After introducing himself to us, he stressed that there are only four ways to consider in the journey to the First World. They are to: buy, borrow, loan ,or steal a laptop. A laptop is a great help in keeping abreast with what’s happening worldwide.

 

     The first-day session in my DEM 612 class gave me some fun. Navigating through Google web flattered myself upon knowing that my precious and beautiful name is found in the Philippine National Library and Philippine e-Lib as author of a Masters Degree Thesis on “Campus Journalism in the Elementary Schools as Perceived by the Administrators and Teachers of Northeast II-A District, Dalipuga, Iligan City”, and WOW Iligan Radio Station for winning the Regional search on MOPSTA.

 

     I thought the session will be all like browsing ideas in the net. When the day’s session is almost to close we were given with so many compositions and reading tasks to do which made me convince that having a personal transformation to the First World is not easy. It really takes some amount of patience and discipline to be in the First World. The gate of calvary has been opened with the fact that I am serving two masters at a time - my career and my studies.

 

     But as the saying goes, “No guts, No glory”.  There’s no way of turning back. I’ll have to make it a point that though transformation to the First World may begin in the mind, likewise, it must begin in my heart to fulfill my dreams of having the highest attainment. As, once we change our mind, we change our life, too.

 

     So, I value every second of the day aligning myself for the journey of personal transformation to the First World. A career lady whom the high quality of the basic education of our most delicate resources in our community, the pupils, is trust, and a doctorate student coping up with the necessary skills, knowledge, attitude and abilities that are pre-requisites of becoming a citizen of the First World.

 

     Now, I reap the good harvest of what has been sown. I have completed my doctorate degree and had gotten a new promotion as a School Principal I in the Department of Education in Iligan City division  which challenges me to continue my journey as a First World Educator.