Calimlim, Wrensly M.

BSEd-English I-2

NSTP 1 (CWTS)
ASSIGNMENT #1

1. Write something about yourself.

Can’t Spell Heroic without I

Philippine’s courageous heroes like Andres Malong and Juan dela Cruz Palaris were both born
and raised in Binalatongan, now San Carlos City, Pangasinan, and the city full of those “Amputi
Layag” meaning “brave”. We three share together the same hometown so it’s no wonder why I am a
hero too; a hero for myself. Here’s how I became the hero whom I needed to save myself.

It was a cold yet sunny 33rd day of the year 2004; February 02 to be exact, when my loving
mother gave birth to a cute yet petite looking baby me at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital. My
hardworking father watched and had tears in his eyes as I enter this world full of wonders. I cried a lot
as newborn. Days after, my loving parents gave me the precious name “Wrensly” which is a
combination of both their names Wilberto and Rizalina. I am the eight and the youngest sibling in the
family. My parents decided to reside here in Matagdem, San Carlos City because my mom was
fostered in the nearby barangay and my father was from Bayambang so it is practical decision to live
here in San Carlos because markets are easily accessible.

My path on becoming a hero began when I was around 1 year old. I ate rice earlier than toddlers
in my age did so every time my family is eating meals, they would share some with me and every
spoon I ate made me so much happy. Everything was okay until I suddenly vomited and it continued
for hours. They then did not hesitate to confine me in the nearest hospital. As days pass by, there
seems to be no sign of hope for me to continue living. My grandmother even said that my family
should pray to God because they think that I would die soon. It was painful for my mom to hear that
from her own parent. I became extremely thin after five days. It was a miracle that a week later I
became active and started to eat a lot better than my first few days in the hospital. My parents shed
tears of joy knowing that I would be fine in no time. I then got discharged after two weeks in the
hospital! I consider that little act as a heroic one because if I had not helped myself recover, I would
not be alive by now righting this introduction of mine. Being hospitalized and pierced by syringes
affected my physique. I became weak and my body did not go back to normal. I became underweight
and could not talk and walk well at age 1 and a half. My health clearly deteriorated.

Another tragedy occurred when I was 2 years old. Our house got burned for some unknown
reason. I then survived another demise in my life. I was inside the house when the fire engulfed my
surroundings and I screamed “ate!” to my nanny which was outside doing chores. She immediately
grabbed me and left the house and called the neighbors for help. They were surprised, they thought I
could not shout that loud because of what happened to me. I was heroic, was I not? If I hadn’t
screamed that moment, I would be just ashes today. Months later, everything went fine but not like
how it used to be and I started talking phrases at age 2.5 which is a bit late. Since my legs were full of
injections, I became frail. It was after a year after the fire incident that I started walking on my own.
Another toddler achievement I attained.

Fast forward to when I started going to school when I was four years old. I attended kindergarten
at Doyong Elementary School which is located at the adjacent barangay and it is where my mother
works as high school teacher. I did well that I became the class salutatorian. Even though it was a
barangay school, it meant a lot to me. Central 1 Elementary School is where I studied from grade 1 to
6 and graduated with flying colors as 2nd honorable mention and garnered some awards like
mathematician of the year, an RSPC qualifier for news writing and a few more.

Since I studied earlier than normal, I was a grade 9 student in Speaker Eugenio Perez National
Agricultural School, more known as SEPNAS, when I turned 13 and finally became a teenager. I
spent my high school years in the said school. Anime and games were introduced to me which I am
currently obsessed with. Throughout those 4 years of junior high school, I had maintained an average
of 90 which made me qualify as “with honors”. As a high schooler and a teenager, I am shy and does
not want to stand out. I know that I am capable of writing articles since I was once a campus journalist
but at the same time, I doubted my skills. It was when I am on the tenth grade when I decided to be
part of the online publishing team of the Rural Echo, the school’s newspaper publication. I conquered
my doubts and fear that made me once again a hero of my own. After being part of the online
publishing team, good things came to me. I was chosen to represent the school in the division math
festival where I did great but not enough to top most of the competitors. I also performed well
academically that I finished junior high school as one of the few “with high honors.” Junior high school
as a whole changed me. Thanks to my friends who had always been there since the 7 th grade. We
shared laughter and sad moments together. We played DotA which strengthened the bond between
us. If I had not met them, I think I would still be the same shy Wrensly as I was before. My friends
were one of the people alongside my family that molded me to become what I am now. To the
teachers that believed in me, I will always be grateful to them. I also thank Jehovah God for the
continuous blessings He provides.
 Senior high school indeed was challenging yet exciting stage of education. I continued senior
high school at the same school, SEPNAS and took up HUMSS as my strand. HUMSS guides
students who want to pursue social science related courses. Since I am an aspiring educator, it fits
perfectly for me. My grade 11 journey was good. I did well and again qualify as “with honors” which is
absolutely great. I also became one of debate captains of the school’s speech and debate club. We
entered the Pangasinan Debate Competition where we showed off our abilities and speaking
prowess. We might not have ascended to the peak but we dominated more than half of the
competitors which is good for amateurs. I have learned so much through the course of years. I am
now confident in my skills and is continuously training myself to be better because I desire to be a
great teacher. I have truly conquered my fears. Few months ago, I finished senior high school and
eventually graduated as “with honors”. There were struggles but I had to keep going in order to attain
what I dream and I yearn for.

At the present, I am a first year college student taking up Bachelor of Secondary Education Major
in English at Pangasinan State University, Bayambang Campus. I am hoping that this new journey I
have taken will be successful. Hardships are expected but I am determined to graduate and nothing
will hinder me from becoming a professional teacher. I have realized things about life during this
pandemic. Things like family is the best company to ever be with and happiness is not all about being
rich or wealthy but is rather about enjoying the little things in life. It is during this pandemic that I
became more mentally mature. The experiences I had in my home opened my eyes to the truth and
reality about life. I am just glad and thankful that I have learned these things.

Who would have thought that the kid who was once in the brink of death, cannot walk stand on
his own feet and barely talk at age 3, can achieve so much in school and in academic competitions?
Over the span of time, I have learned and realized so many things. To sum it up, it is about becoming
our own hero. During our downfall, expect no one to help us. Do not rely on the people around you.
They might care but they can’t respond all the time. You just have to help yourself and become your
own hero.

I always keep in mind that I am braver than I believe, stronger than I seem, and smarter than I
think.

1.
 2. Why did you take Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in English?

Growing up as a son of an educator, teachers have always been the individuals I look up
to. My mother would often instill me the ABCs to 123s, and I would be left astounded as to how
my loving teacher seemingly perfected the art of conveying the sets of ideas to me in a manner
that I can grasp hastily. I liked teachers as a kid, but I never imagined myself as someone who
wanted to be a teacher. My first dream, when I was around 6 years old, was to be an engineer;
I'm not sure why, but it surely inspired me to become a successful person someday. I continued
dreaming about it until I was in the sixth grade because it was when times have truly changed
for me; I witnessed the enchanted proficiencies of a teacher to inspire a student and bring out
the best in them. 

In academic contests that entail writing, I used to distrust myself. I always thought my
competitiveness was a waste of time since I kept in mind that I would eventually lose. I branded myself as
a disgruntled loser. I knew I was good, but not good enough to be the best in my field. But yes, I still
intensively trained myself under the headship of my teacher and coach in the field of News Writing as a
campus journalist at age 9. As a journalist, my first year was incredibly difficult. I've been totally
desolated. Although I had a modest hope of taking a place among the seven winners, I failed my school,
my parents, my teachers, and myself in particular. After the result, I was crushed. It persuaded me to quit
participating in such competitions since it would just diminish the little faith in me.

After one year, the Division Schools Press Conference will be held again, where young journalists
from different schools from San Carlos district V compete for several journalistic honors. Once more, I,
who had reached the 6th grade, was hired as an English news writer. My coach trained me for like 4
hours a daily at school at had given me assignments to do during the weekends so that I had no excuses
but to do it as a training for myself. She understood that I didn't believe in myself, but she discovered
something about me she had to do so. I became exhausted like a man who works 24/7. After a month of
intense preparation, the time has come to demonstrate the abilities that I have and have developed
through the course. During the contest proper, I felt like I got this and I can win this, but at the same time,
the bitter and unconfident side of me had dominated once again. I can hear myself saying “You can’t and
you will never top competitions like this.” I just wrote what I had in mind and expected less about me
winning. The contest was held during the morning and the awarding ceremony was immediately in the
afternoon.

After I was done with my event, I ran back to school because the event has held to the adjacent
school to where I was attending. I then ate and played basketball. I was busy playing basketball at the
time when my classmate and one of my fellow journalists called me to be present and get my award as a
3rd placer. I couldn’t believe it. Naturally, at first, I questioned her and asked whether she was simply
some sort of bum, but she responded "no" decisively. I hurried to the awards ceremony site instantly with
perspiration throughout my body. I've been astonished and incredibly thrilled at the same time. I was
literally in dreamland! It was the first time I got and saw myself standing in the stage not because of a
performance but because of a competitive award I had. The certificate that was awarded to me said that I
can do more than this.

It is a tremendous pleasure to represent your school at the Regional School Press Conference. I
never thought I that I’ll get to be one of those outstanding journalists. I was truly blessed that year, my
hard work had paid off and in addition to that, the RSPC is going to be held at Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. I
was happy inside and out! During the contest, I did my very best but still lost. However, for me and the
others around me, I have proved something this time. In these competitions and in my talents, I had
gained my confidence. That tiny achievement had made the Wrensly I desire to see and become, in other
words, I achieved me. I'm not sure whether I would still be this motivated and never-lose-hope person if it
weren't for my kind teacher who never threw in the towel on me and kept pushing me to my limitations.

And that is the story of how I was greatly motivated by a teacher and decided to set on my
journey to become one; a teacher who inspires, touches hearts, and brings out the best in students. The
question left is what major do I take up? There was one obvious answer – English. Why? Because I love
and enjoy it!
 3. What do you expect to learn in NSTP 1 (CWTS)?

As a young adult and a citizen of the country, I am considered one of the “nation's hopes,” as
declared by our national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, and thus need to be instructed to become a patriot and
someone who would protect the nation against the authorities itself or any organization that would
threaten to destroy our beloved country. The subject is unquestionably established to assist young grown-
ups in actually becoming folks worthy of the title "motherland's savior."

I anticipate that students will encounter themes in this course that will most likely be about the
fundamental theories and concepts required for accomplishing community work, as well as awareness of
problems and concerns that may affect the community and society generally. The program also provides
an introduction to the concepts of self in relation to community, as well as the fundamentals of community
theoretical approaches, practices, and processes. As the course progresses, we will be introduced to
ideas such as basic data gathering as a tool for community diagnosis and project management in
readiness for project implementation.

I also expect that while enrolled in the program, we, the students, will be able to develop specific
skills and talents, such as raising civic consciousness and improving physiological, cognitive, moral,
spiritual, and interpersonal well-being. Another possible learning outcome would be the instillation of
patriotism and nationalism ideas, as well as increased participation in public and civic affairs. Moral
standards, respect for civilian rights, and adherence to the constitution are also expected of students. A
few other skills and learning which are anticipated to be gained upon taking up the subject/program are
developing the ethics of service and enhancing the youth's active participation to the general welfare.