FACE OF THE MONTH

FEATURING

THE

GUIDANCE COUNSELOR

INSPIRATION
- By Mel Mantes

Teaching is not a vocation, its a fashion

answers because I learned many things in handling a student. According to her, students now are so destructive because of some reasons like having a broken family, technology, and influence of the peers. She witnessed all of these as a guidance counsellor and for her, these students wants love and attention. Whenever there are students who are fighting, she was just only quiet and watch them as if they are just playing. Then after the fight, she will let the students speak and explain for themselves on why did they do such things. She doesnt shout at them because she understands them.

As

BEED students, we always

complain if there are so much things to do projects, practicum, quizzes, reports, etc. that makes us loose our hopes and sometimes to give up. But is it the qualities that a future teacher should have? Do you think it can help us in handling our students in the future?? These are only some instances that really happens to a student like me. Being one in the group who made an interview with Mrs. Meileen D. Labalan, a former teacher of psychology in RGCC and now a guidance counselor in Bulan Natl high School, I feel lucky to hear her

When we asked her if she is happy to her job now, she said YES with a smile and a teeth wide open. And if ever she is given a chance to teach whatever grade or level it is, she would accept it and love too because for her, if you love your job, you will be happy doing it even though its hard and challenging. What she told us was very inspiring and now I know how to handle my problems and conquer it with a glad face and determination. Truly, Mrs, Meileen D. Labalan is an inspiration and a person I will not forget for the rest of my life. As a future teacher, I want to possess the qualities that she have. And I will bear in my mind what she said which was Teaching is not a vocation, its a fashion.

GUIDING FOR A CHANGE

--By Lyka Abejuela

woman of patience and with a strong concern for youths and the humanity; a devoted wife and a mother of a sweet 4- year old boy and on her 7 months family way (pregnant). A 33- year old woman, maam Meileen Diesta- Labalan is a fruit of manila central university with the degree of bachelor of arts major in psychology and finished also two masteral degrees : management and supervision, and guidance and counselling. After her graduation, she worked in an industrial setting as an office girl where she expected to be for a lifetime. But when she got married, everything changed especially when they planned to settle down here in Bulan. Considering the common employment here, she took up 18

units of education and soon passed the licensure examination for teacher. Previously, she taught at manila care giving school for 4 months. From there, she also became a volunteered teacher at San Francisco Polot Elementary School for two months, before she became a professor at R.G De Castro Colleges in the year 20102012. She then became a teacher of non-readers in Bulan national high school for 6 months. And at this time, she is a full-time guidance counselor of the same school for two years this coming July.

Being a Guidance Counselor is a very challenging work, as quoted about how she views her job. Challenging especially because of the strong effect of todays technology (like the use of cell phones, computers and video games ) and also the lack of support coming from some parents that tends for the students to be more destructive like having fraternities, gangs, and other cases like frequent absences, lack of interest to study and cases of drop-outs. There are times that she would think of giving up this job especially for his son and even asked herself: Why do I still need to work, even my husband (a seaman) can provide me and our family? But then, she realized one thing: (pwede pala) I can be a mother to many children, that there are a lot who are in need. She would asked again herself: Who would listen to these children? Who would encourage them not to give up and continue pursuing their studies? This is when her job became a sacrifice, a vocation.

About her vocation (job), she arrives at BNHS early in the morning (about 7:30) and works up to 5:30 in the afternoon from Monday to Friday. She conducts counselling (either one on one or group but she preferred most the one on one counselling) to students and even home visiting especially with cases of drop-outs. She clarifies the misconceptions about her job. In Guidance Counselling, I do not practice punishment but rather help them understand themselves, to listen and to enlighten them.

The common cases, as she narrates, are students who are very destructive, very strong and with worst attitude but deep inside they are weak, crying and are from broken families. Students who need help, enlightenment and touch to let them know that they are valued and that they are loved. Today, they are also conducting feeding program (through the support of the principal) to 15 indigents, poorest of the poor students. A service she really enjoyed doing.
Aside from being a full-time guidance counsellor, she is also a loving mother that she always makes sure that weekends (Saturdays & Sundays) would be a complete bonding moment and a quality time with her son. She said that I love you from her son is still her priceless moment no matter how many achievements shell get.

For her, Everyone could make a difference which doesnt mean that the whole world should change but just a simple change of one, or two, or three and more, like seeing a student who suddenly go back to school from almost two weeks of consequent absences or receiving a letter from them with a simple message of thank you & a simple greetings of Good Morning as they pass is the greatest achievement of her vocation because she believes with the inspiring quotation of Mother Teresa that goes like this:

We cannot do all great things but we can do small things with great love

BE PROUD!
So many times, people are listed as

An Inspiring Teacher, and A Mother as well _____________________________ --Liezel G. Reondanga

every second of her lecture. She is not only efficient in teaching, she is also good in touching her students life and she can even change it! If you have this kind of teacher, lets be thankful of him/her. As a student, BE PROUD! BE INSPIRED! Appreciate those things that might inspire us every time we go to school. The word sacrifice, patience, and love are the weapon of an effective teacher, the weapon to imitate and enliven the pupils. As a future teacher, we dont have to give up, we can do simple things to be loved by our learners. Lets prove to them that we can also be a mother to them. Im proud for choosing this kind of profession.

professionals such as lawyers, engineers, doctors, and teachers. In these professions, we have the power to choose an enjoying and inspiring job. In this article, I want to inspire you about a teacher who teaches effectively and a mother as well. They said, teaching is one of the most rewarding of all the professions but we can say that it is right if we encountered such impressive teacher. I knew all of us have it, all of us have a teacher whom we adored since we are in the primary up until to the tertiary level. Do you have a teacher whom you loved?? If you asked me back this question, fortunately my answer is yes. Ive encountered an inspiring teacher who makes me laugh