Res Gestae
Undying passion
I have always wanted to teach. It is a dream that keeps haunting me. Yes, it lingers within me despite my stable job and promising career as government employee. In fact, the passion keeps me restless. Everyday.
Recently, I was invited to hold a lecture to more than 200 police recruits. Despite the (extremely) short notice, I grabbed the opportunity. The invitation was an answer to my prayer. I have to discuss PNP-Media Relations and the fundamentals of Police Correspondence.
While, admittedly, I don't have a formal education concerning the topics, I am confident that I have enough experiences and related trainings on the subjects.
With barely 15 minutes to prepare and having the mixed feelings for my first experience, I could hardly move my fingers as I started to design my presentation at the computer. How to start? That was my biggest problem.
As neophyte and excited, I got a lot of options in mind as regards to my introduction. But I could not decide which one I would use. Later on I settled with a simple question-and-answer format to open the discussion. I showed my audience 10 common conceptions and perceptions on the relationship of the PNP and Media. With true or false as choices for the answer, the group always gave me 'trulse'. They could not settle with a definite answer to each question. It may be because the statements have two faces; they are true at one time but false the other time.
Hopefully, however, I achieved the goal of the 3-hour discussion: to make these new breed of police officers realize the impact of good media relations in their work.
Having sustained the attention and participation of the audience for 3 hours, I could not tell if the lecture was successful. But, regardless how the audience rated my performance, I was happy. I was complete. I fulfilled a dream.
As of now, I don't know when the next opportunity to teach will knock my door. Will it be tomorrow? Next month? In the couple of years? No one can tell. But, when that opportunity comes, I will surely give it my best shot.
It has been so many years that I pursued the dream. I underwent class demonstration in colleges and universities, only to be told that I need a Masters Degree to qualify. Some told me, I need experience.
In those moments, I looked at my diploma, academic medals, and certificate of eligibility with disappointment. I pitied my self. I felt my struggles in college futile. And, at the back of my mind, I have this question: If an honor graduate like me could not find a job either because of lack of Masters Degree or experience, how could an ordinary graduate find one? That thought made my feeling even worse.
This country is, indeed, full of paradox.
The series of failures, however, did not dissipate my passion. They even made the craving stronger. I knew I needed a little time. So I waited. Everyday I look forward for the opportunity to teach and share my thoughts. And, recently, I got the chance – my first 'teaching' experience.
(Comments to rogatepnp@yahoo.com or 09193161190.)