One of the assignments I had to do for this week was to write down my personal/biblical mission statement. This statement didn't need the right punctuation or specific writing style (like APA or MLA), but it had to be a sincere statement that reflected what God placed in my heart as an individual, encompassing all the roles I have in life: child of God, wife, mom, student, youth leader, future teacher, etc.
I took the whole week to really seek God about it and dive into depths of my heart and searched what is my mission in life. When it was time to write out the statement so I can upload it to moodle (its this learning community that we use to submit assignments and read any updates about the classes we have that are part of the site), I thought it was gonna take me awhile. To my surprise, my mission statement was simple and to the point.
You would think I would be happy that I had it all sorted out already and ready to be submitted, but I kinda struggled to accept that this was it because the wording sounds so cliche and...simple. As I checked the guidelines Professor Ruppert gave us in class about writing this statement, one thing stuck out to me, the statement should NOT be written to impress anybody. I was like....woah...that's it!
So I finally accepted the fact that this was God's mission statement for my life in this season (Prof. Ruppert mentioned that it can change too as God moves you forward in your love walk with Him). So here it is:
This week was my first week in the actual Teaching Credential Program. As part of the multi-subject cohort, our class focuses on how to teach elementary school students, and probably some junior high as well. As one of our intro projects, we had to do a presentation on the 2nd day of class. (At first, I felt overwhelmed with all the projects and other requirements we had to do. But as I sat in class listening to Dr. Sandra Ruppert--which btw its her 1st semester of teaching so our class is very blessed to have her :)--I really enjoy the way she presents the information. She's a very intelligent yet humble woman; she has so many things to share to us but whenever she speaks, her voice is so calm and the information she presents is not rushed. Very opposite on how I would do it...anyways, I like the class and our professor.)
Going back to our presentation, its basically putting together a "ME-Bag". Dr. Ruppert demonstrated it to us by bringing in a bag filled many items that represent different things in her life. I really enjoyed watching her pull out stuff from her bag because its kinda like Mary Poppins, you never know whats going to come out next! Plus, it really gives you a visual picture of who the person is. So today, we had to bring our own "ME-bag" and present it in class.
I had so much stuff! My bag was overflowing with different things: I had brown rice, pasta, green tea, a England Soccer Jersey (which belongs to my lovely husband...thanks love!), the Bible and other books, audiobooks and movies, my iPod, magnets from Ireland and Wales, stickers, pink pashmina, photos, bag from the Philippines and many others! When it was my turn to talk, I was so excited and such in a rush because we only had 5 minutes and I had so many things to talk about! My finale was the best...I ended with my son Jet's 1st birthday photo. He was beautiful :) It was the best way to end my presentation.
As everyone got to share their "Me-bags," we were all eyes and ears because we're all so eager to see what the person presenting is going to pull out next. It was great getting to know each person in a very personal way. I'm glad I'm in the Elementary cohort. Its seems so much fun and just inspiring! I pray that though it's going to get tougher, this semester will be better than last, that I would be better (not procrastinating), making the most out of every moment. As Dr. Ruppert said it in class this week (and I'm going to rephrase it a bit), "Every challenge is an opportunity waiting to unleash great things to you and to to others."
Wow! The day has finally arrived. I'm starting my first week of the Teacher Credential Program here at Vanguard. It's crazy how they gave use homework before we even started class! It was tough getting my academic mind back (but the winter break is definitely easier to get over than summer!) One of the assignments we had this first week was our story of how we get to where we are...preparing to be a teacher! So, though it's kinda long, I wanted to share it with everyone. I hope it encourages you to pursue God's calling in your life, with no reservations and delays. So, here's my story, the catalysts for my new career.
As I started my own family, my perspective about life has changed over the years. Priorities have shifted from planning for me to coordinating for my whole family! Every decision that I make affects my husband and my children. For that reason, whenever I come to a crossroad of decision, I have to lift that need to God, especially when I decided to pursue becoming a teacher. Having said that, God brought three major factors that greatly influenced me taking the first step in this new career: my son Jeremiah, the book Revolution, and the Graduate Information Meeting.
After a year of being a mom to Jeremiah, I have read quite a few articles on how important the first seven years of childhood are in shaping who the child becomes. During those times, I remember different events in my life as a pre-schoolerandearly elementary-age student that made a lasting impact on my life. Then, I realize that I should not depend on others to teach my child, I need to be my child's first teacher! Whether he's learning his ABC's and 123's or learning his manners and how to share with others. At first, I wanted to go to school for early childhood education, but another event redirected my course.
At the beginning of 2008, I was reading the book Revolution by Dr. Mike Brown, a revivalist that trains up the next generation of prophetic leaders. In the first few chapters, he was giving a brief, general and personal account of the Jesus People Movement that occurred in the 60's and how it spread throughout the nation and evidently throughout the world. There, he strategically points out that before the revival hit his high school, students in his public school, in collaboration with their teachers, were able to create new ways of "doing school" - transforming the everyday classroom routines with interactive, free-flowing activities. (This method of school operation is very similar to the constructivist perspective of student-centered teaching. However, their new school system had absolutely no structure.) At this point, as Dr. Brown was enumerating the events on how these changes took place, I saw that God used the rebelliousness of teenagers back then to usher in revival in the public school system. Usually, students would just get high on drugs during class but, as one student after another experienced God in the most transforming way, their free-flow class schedule gave way for many students and teachers to know Jesus and be changed in their ways.
As he was speaking on these matters, I began to crybecause God opened my eyes to see that the only way to change a nation is to start with its youth- starting with their families and then reinforcing these ideas into their school. My spirit was so stirred up. At that point I knew- without a doubt- God was calling me to be a teacher. Honestly, I was both frightened and excited. Frightened because I knew I had to take many exams and go through a very tedious process to become a teacher, but excited because I love going to school and learning new things, plus working with children and youth are one of my life's passions. I understand that as a teacher I will be unable to speak directly to the students about Jesus, but hopefully through my actions they would feel God's love for them and make a difference in their lives in that way.
Though I did not act on this career change immediately, God sent me a big "road sign" to do it as soon as possible. I heard Vanguard University's advertisement on the radio about an information meeting about the school's various graduate programs (attending the meeting waives the application fee which motivated me to go). In that meeting, I realized that this program was the program for me. Though I was considering other programs, God directed my focus back to my alma matter.
Now, having finished one semester, God is revealing more pieces to the puzzle of how I am supposed to go about this new career. The program is challenging, but the whole experience is inspiring. I know that as I follow God's calling for me life and walk in Christ's confidence, He will equip me to accomplish my mission to the future school I'll be serving, to the ministries I'm involved in and especially to the family he has given me.
Hi! My name is Ligaya. I'm married to my husband Steve, have an almost two-year-old boy, and another on the way. I'm in the middle of going through the Grad Ed program to get my credential and am writing this blog to give you an honest picture of what it's really like.
