Taking the centerstage for our continued celebration of International Women’s Month are two inspiring young women. Meet Janella and Cleo, former STEFTI students who have returned as teachers. As clued-up mentors to a young batch of Theresians, they embody the values of the school: always on the side of justice, equality and truth.

Emerge chanced upon them on one of the rare times that they’re free, and we asked them these questions:

Emerge:  What have you been up to since graduating as a Theresian?

Cleo: After earning my bachelor’s degree in Secondary Education- Major in English at First Asia Institute of Technology and Humanities, I immediately began reviewing for the upcoming licensure examinations. And once the results came out, I applied for a teaching position in STEFTI. Just as my first year of teaching was starting to feel mundane, a massive curve ball was thrown our way. The pandemic hit and drastic changes had to be made in the way we teach and interact with our students. Nevertheless, being the trooper that STEFTI helped me to become, I adapted. I, with the rest of the teachers, embraced the challenge of online distance learning and, dare I say, thrived in it.

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Feeling as though I had conquered the new mode of teaching, I wanted to embrace another challenge. I realize now that I might have a slight aversion for the mundane because I talked myself into taking up a law degree in Dr. V. Orestes Romualdez Educational Foundation to spice up the humdrum days of working from home. Still only in my first year, I haven’t yet found my footing but armed with the skills STEFTI imparted in me—I’m sure it won’t be too long before I do.

Janella: A month after I graduated with the degree in Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts at the University of the Philippines – Tacloban College in 2018, I worked as a research assistant to a PhD candidate from University of New South Wales. Her study, ‘Building Back Better’ the Post-Disaster City: Examining Women’s Experience of Disaster Recovery in Post-Yolanda Tacloban City’ focused on the reconstruction of Tacloban City from the standpoint of women. The task wasn’t hard for me since during my time in the university, I was an active youth-leader and an activist who clamored for economic, social, and gender justice.

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 As a research assistant, it was my responsibility to look for participants coming from Yolanda-devastated areas in Tacloban. The research used a feminist photo-based approach to examine women’s experiences of disaster recovery, and for this, I produced a training manual on basic camera use, conducted an actual workshop for the participants, and organized an exhibit of their photos in their communities.  After half a year of working as an RA, I was given the opportunity to write a script and direct a performance for Public Attorney’s Office – Region 8. Around the same time, I started working in STEFTI as a substitute Grade 5 English teacher. For the following school year, I applied to teach in Senior High School. It has been three years now since I have worked as a full-time teacher.

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Janella during her work as a research assistant for a Post-Yolanda project

Emerge: Among your experiences as a teacher in STEFTI, what stands out as the most compelling aspect?

Cleo: 

It’s the trust in the guidance I give to my students.

Though I am not under the illusion that any of my students view me as a mother figure on account of how inexperienced I am, I’d like to think, some at least see me as an “Ate” they can come to for advice on matters concerning their school work or what they are going through. I consider how some students have allowed me to really “see” them as a compliment and a privilege, because they made the conscious decision to share that part of themselves with me. And that shows that they have placed their trust in me to guide them as they navigate through the turbulent years of adolescence.

Janella:  Seeing my students enjoy my class and put into practice what they have learned from my discussions and parents saying their appreciation for our hard work are the most compelling parts of my journey as a teacher.

I have not initially wanted to become a teacher, but these rewards make me enjoy and love my profession to the point of wanting to do more for my students.

Emerge: Being a female teacher with a nurturing heart, establishing a connection with your students must come naturally, right? Is there one woman who has made a strong influence on your life?

Cleo:  I am surrounded by inspiring women, however, one woman in particular has made a significant influence in my life—STEFTI’s patron saint, St. Therese of the Child Jesus. As a teacher, we can’t chalk up our students’ achievements as our own. We can only hope that a smidgen of our guidance facilitated their success. To me, this was St. Therese’s brand of sainthood. Her little way, that was adopted by STEFTI and passed down to me which I try – to the best of my ability – to pass down to my students, taught me there’s no such thing an insignificant deed, so long as that deed is done with love.

St. Therese stopped me from feeling small when compared to other alumni who were thriving entrepreneurs, soon-to-be doctors, architects, or lawyers, who were well on their way to making a difference in the world. She helped me realize that in the grand scheme of things, I was making a difference too, in my own little way.

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Emerge: How did your time in STEFTI prepare you for what you do now?

Cleo:

My time in STEFTI equipped me for life in two aspects: first, is in the way I learn; and second, is in the way I educate my students.

First off, learning through the Dynamic Learning Program is one of the unique features of studying in STEFTI. It taught me to be independent and the importance of understanding before applying. It essentially shaped the way I learn and study. And it’s a quality/skill that I am glad to have been equipped with for my time in college and now in law school.

Second, having been educated the same way, I have a firm grasp of what STEFTI wants to impart on its students. And it’s not just the learning competencies but also life skills such as how to respond or how to take control of a situation gone awry with leadership skills, like how we were honed through various school activities back then. I take a step back and allow them to step up, and push those who are just a tad shy but show potential. And for those who are still figuring things out—I give them the air and room to breathe and discover themselves. Ultimately, these would make them serve as a side character to each student’s main character story arc.

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Cleo’s STEFTI High School life

Janella: STEFTI was my steppingstone to the many opportunities that I had when I was in college.

STEFTI became a ground for me to recognize my potential in many fields such as in leadership, writing, and debating.

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Janella’s High School days in STEFTI

These potentials which my teachers in STEFTI first found in me were the very skills that helped me overcome the challenges I faced in college. Entering UP, I knew I was already out of my comfort zone, from STEFTI. I began meeting people with different attitudes, personalities, principles, people from different walks of life. But as how I was taught in STEFTI to treat everybody with compassion, I realize that no matter the differences I may have with other people, at the end of the day, it would still be compassion and kindness that could draw me closer to them. STEFTI’s teachings of having deep faith and gratitude in God also changed the way I see things – I may be truly lucky having been educated in a very good school, but the harsh truth is that I am just one of the few thousands among the many millions who are not denied of the chance to have access to quality education. This reality became my motivation to be an activist and to fight for a better future for the youth of today.

Emerge:  What piece of advice can you give to STEFTI Theresians who might want to become teachers like you?

Cleo:  Keep in mind the roles you played in the many role-playing skits you presented in school, because as a teacher you will be taking on various roles too. You will play the role of the authoritative mother, the clued-up mentor, the impartial mediator, an overall sounding board to students. You will also play the role of a content creator and constantly reinvent yourself, your materials, in order to stay relevant to what this generation is going through.

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Highlights of Cleo’s moments in STEFTI

Also remember that these roles you are asked to play aren’t just masks, you have to put your heart into these roles for them to come across to your audience. At this point you won’t just be acting to get a good grade; you will be standing on the stage you have chosen. This is the avenue you have chosen to make a difference.

Janella: From where you are right now, think of why and how you came there. Always be grounded. In whatever you do, make sure you do it for the service to the people. Also, never compare yourself to other people. Each one of us has our own pace, how fast others are does not matter. Eyes on your own goal and not how far others have gone. Comparing yourself to others might just hurt you and demotivate you. Pick good friends. And when I say good, good as in someone who would share with you both the good and bad turnabouts of life. Remember, it is better to have a small, good circle, than have a big bad one. Also, always be kind, you do not know what other people are going through.

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Some highlights so far from Janella’s STEFTI stint