#accepted
The quote: “Be the change you want to see in the world”, by Ghandi, has been my inspiration to be a free spirited, motivated and spontaneous individual in this world ever since I studied his teachings in high school. Growing up as a minority in the community, I have experienced situations in which I exercised the opportunity to explore and thrive in my culture and ethnicity as a Filipino-American in the small town of Hayward, California.
Growing up, English was my first language, followed by Tagalog as my second. In high school, I studied Spanish, which helped me expand my language knowledge. The English language has always been important to me for it helps me express myself and my thoughts in school, work and in my personal life. Being a Public Relations major in college, I was taught to write and speak in an concise, organized manner. The Public Relations field and industry emphasizes in an importance in writing and speaking. Since college, I believe I have implemented numerous writing and speaking skills to express and value the English language. I feel like I will be a credible candidate to teach English to others because it is my first language, I have studied it all throughout the past 18 years of my life and I am able to speak, write and deliver the language professionally, creatively and competently.
The Teach in Thailand program will help me grow as individual, professional, mentor and adventurer. Completing all requirements and credits in college and working towards my bachelor’s degree in four years has motivated me to constantly strive for whatever comes my way. My short term goals are to build myself up as responsible young adult and experience instances to gain real-world skills across cultures and to see the world in another perspective. I am a free-hearted, open-minded individual who is always up to a challenge to better shape and widen my horizons and opportunities. Along with exploring the world, it is my aspiration to build new relationships with individuals I care and have interested in. My long terms goals are to find fulfillment in changing the lives of others, directly and indirectly. By teaching English to others, I believe that I will not only enhance the lives of others, but also I will better myself. Knowing that I can make an impact on an individual yearning to gain new knowledge inspires me to apply to this program with humility and enthusiasm. It is my long term goal to find fulfillment in having a connection is everything that comes my way—taking the opportunity to change lives, exploring rich, vibrant cultures, being successful and reliable for my work and finding contentment within myself that I have tried my best to make a difference.
From the food to the scenery to the people, Thailand has struck and won my attention from the very first time I indulged in a scrumptious plate of Pad-Thai back in 1999. The stories I hear from mentors and peers of their firsthand experiences of the beautiful country thrill me and encourage me to experience that journey myself. Although I have never been to Thailand, I have vivid and fresh descriptions of the country in my mind from surfing the Internet viewing various travel/information websites. The Buddhist way living interests me to discover the land filled with people devoted to the religion. Having traveled through that part of Asia, particularly the Philippines, has given me a small hint and sneak peak about what Southeast Asia is about. As my parents toured me around the third-world country of the Philippines in 1994 and 2008, I learned messages of acceptance, appreciation and gratitude toward the country—the natives, landscape of atmosphere. Because I was born and raised in the Bay Area of California, which was a melting pot of multiple cultures—both local and foreign, I am comfortable with diversity. I am a personable individual always ecstatic to meet new people and find a connection with them.
My ethnicity as a Filipino-American individual has exposed me to the Southeast Asian culture. I observe and accept the opposite ways of living in those cultures and the ways of living in the United States. I believe that I will be able to live and work independently in Thailand because I adapt well into new settings and surroundings. Living by myself and away from my hometown for undergraduate career/college has taught me valuable lessons of independence and responsibility to survive outside of my comfort zone. Because of innovative new technology available these days, it will be easier avoid isolation and cope with homesickness. However, my thirst for exploring and seeking adventures will help me appreciate and value my time in foreign countries. If selected, I feel that I will be able to maintain self-confidence and self-determination throughout the five months of the program.
Reaching out to others has always been a passion of mine. From volunteering in soup kitchens to delivering presentations to my fellow fraternity brothers to helping out organizing university campus-wide events to assisting high school awareness conferences, I find contentment in instilling knowledge and aid to others. Furthermore, I see myself as a leader. Throughout my four years San Jose State University, I have been an active member in the Filipino-American organization, Akbayan and an active brother in a professional business fraternity, Alpha Kappa Psi. In my fraternity, I contributed my work by organizing and presenting instructional workshops on how to build resumes and cover letters, as well as informational workshops about safety and dependability in “the real world”. My involvement in these organizations have built my leadership skills and have taught me valuable life lessons in time management, professionalism, organization and commitment. In retrospect, I plan to channel these skills I achieved into my passion of helping others—particularly those eager, willing students in Thailand.
All in all, I believe I am a credible candidate for CIEE’s Teach in Thailand program because of the skills and expertise I have stated in this mission statement. If selected, I prefer to teach students in primary or secondary level in a busy, city-like environment like Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Chiang Mai. I appreciate and value the opportunity to work with CIEE and the Teach in Thailand program.
