This morning I followed up my clearance application at the Reg Office. Apparently, it is ready for pick up. So finally I would have in my hand an official document formalizing my exit from my doctoral studies which I no longer intend to complete. And so driving towards UP, I felt a sense of newer possibilities ahead of me. I was thinking, I could really go for any future studies I can imagine myself doing. Then of course the other more interesting but serious courses to help me become a Yoga teacher or an Art teacher. But then, itchy brain says, I still have not given up on going for a PHDDE, MADE, PGDEL(eLearning), PGDDE(Distance Ed), PGDET(EducTech) ...anything to help me set up elearning programs, Gr 6-8 Social Studies courses and corresponding learner support systems at the basic education level. Then there is this resounding echo to simply become a better Social Studies teacher by taking online courses in Teaching Geography. Ergo, the ADHD/ADD in me wanted to embrace new things and possibilities. It simply felt like breaking up with an old BF or breaking free from obstacles to what I want in life.
Then this news from the Records Section that my honorable dismissal can not be finalized until official admission to a new program under a diff unive has been made official. And so for one last time, I had to email STRIDE of IGNOU for any update. In between waiting time, I was trying to reflect on why this journey has taken me only up to this point. I admit, it has been a tiring 6 month-1yr roller coaster ride trying to submit to the whims of my panel at UP College of Ed, coming up with an NIOS paper so I can time my trip to go personally at IGNOU-New Delhi and afterwards, struggling to work on this new research proposal on learning presence ....all these amidst rethinking my future in university life and whether I can imagine myself doing this kind of work until the age of 60. It was kinda hard to imagine, really, the idea of merely settling for a job which offers me good perks to do the teaching I would like to do. Or worse, a kind of job in where one is saddled to do major R-work=rework, retool, revise, rethink this kind of administrative side of education offered at a distance...a stark contrast to what I am really good at....happily doing C-work=create, construct, collaborate, cooperate, coursework on matters related to teaching and learning with children, teachers or both, online and offline.
So now I ask, what now? OR why this, now? OR what could have I done? But I need to bring myself to ask, what else is there for me to do? At this age, I can only afford to ask the latter because I may not have achieved this part of my academic life, but what I have now with me are some things I truly wanted, still happy about and thankful for. The mistakes I have made along the way, I can only own as A-work=ako, akin, at-iba-iba-pa-man-din=I ALONE can choose to embrace.
Then, email arrived from IGNOU. I was advised to try again but not for this July cycle but for next January cycle, given pointers on my research proposal. I thought I could at least get a provisional admission so I can finally work with a good mentor to help me through my research proposal writing because all this time, I have been working by myself. Ergo, with this IGNOU goal in mind, comes still the A-work which needs to be done and I=AKO lang makakafigure out nito. I need to get this off the ground, try for the last time...and if nothing materializes out a university based degree, then I know I can happily just go for the following:
-online professional teacher development courses
-go to VSO Philippines for extension work I have always wanted
-pottery and sculpture classes
-mount my next online FLIP classes
-Yoga courses so I can teach Yoga for children
Life is short, dear Aleta!
Then this news from the Records Section that my honorable dismissal can not be finalized until official admission to a new program under a diff unive has been made official. And so for one last time, I had to email STRIDE of IGNOU for any update. In between waiting time, I was trying to reflect on why this journey has taken me only up to this point. I admit, it has been a tiring 6 month-1yr roller coaster ride trying to submit to the whims of my panel at UP College of Ed, coming up with an NIOS paper so I can time my trip to go personally at IGNOU-New Delhi and afterwards, struggling to work on this new research proposal on learning presence ....all these amidst rethinking my future in university life and whether I can imagine myself doing this kind of work until the age of 60. It was kinda hard to imagine, really, the idea of merely settling for a job which offers me good perks to do the teaching I would like to do. Or worse, a kind of job in where one is saddled to do major R-work=rework, retool, revise, rethink this kind of administrative side of education offered at a distance...a stark contrast to what I am really good at....happily doing C-work=create, construct, collaborate, cooperate, coursework on matters related to teaching and learning with children, teachers or both, online and offline.
So now I ask, what now? OR why this, now? OR what could have I done? But I need to bring myself to ask, what else is there for me to do? At this age, I can only afford to ask the latter because I may not have achieved this part of my academic life, but what I have now with me are some things I truly wanted, still happy about and thankful for. The mistakes I have made along the way, I can only own as A-work=ako, akin, at-iba-iba-pa-man-din=I ALONE can choose to embrace.
Then, email arrived from IGNOU. I was advised to try again but not for this July cycle but for next January cycle, given pointers on my research proposal. I thought I could at least get a provisional admission so I can finally work with a good mentor to help me through my research proposal writing because all this time, I have been working by myself. Ergo, with this IGNOU goal in mind, comes still the A-work which needs to be done and I=AKO lang makakafigure out nito. I need to get this off the ground, try for the last time...and if nothing materializes out a university based degree, then I know I can happily just go for the following:
-online professional teacher development courses
-go to VSO Philippines for extension work I have always wanted
-pottery and sculpture classes
-mount my next online FLIP classes
-Yoga courses so I can teach Yoga for children
Life is short, dear Aleta!
