St. Agnes' Academy Career Week 2015 Speech

Hi! I have been asked to speak to you, Agnesians. Specifically, I have been asked to talk about Gearing Up Opportunities: An Awareness of the K-12 Challenge for your Career Week Celebration. Thank you for inviting me to speak to you this afternoon. This is the second time I was invited. The first was in 2013.

Before I start, let us seat properly.  Kindly sit with your back and shoulders straight. Keep your feet flat on the floor. Your armchair is not an ordinary chair. It is a PhP15,000.00+ seat that only a  few can afford. Please honor its value by warming it with your behind. Unlike other Agnesians like me, you will be sitting on that chair for an additional two more years - the Senior High School. Grade 11 and 12 is the new 1st and 2nd year college. Are you ready for Senior High? 

There is no need to worry because I am here to guide you through my presentation entitled "Team A.B.M. Accountancy, Business and Management Strand": What Every Agnesian Ought to Know."

Who wants to join Team A.B.M? Can I see a show of hands? Thank you for raising your hands.     

I like you to meet Agnesians who are part of Team ABM. They chose Accountancy, Business and Management courses. They were my students in Bicol University - College of Business Economics and Management and Divine Word College of Legazpi. Do you know some of them? You will get to know more about them later.

As future students of Team A.B.M, there are only THREE THINGS that you need to know.

First, LEARN ABOUT YOURSELF. The Nescafe' commercial asks a question to us: Anong matagal mo nang gustong simulan? I would like to add to that question: Anong matagal mo nang gustong pagaralan? Sinong matagal mo nang gustong kilalanin? Alam niyo na ba? Oo or Hindi?

I am sure that most of you are still clueless, confused and spaced out. It is ok for now because you are still young ones. As you become "young once", you should know what you want and most importantly know who you are but do not be in a hurry. In Bicol, we say: Dae ka magaprita. Aprita came from the Spanish Apretado which means "pressure". Just think of an onion. You are slowly peeling off your true skin.

Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon said ‘One of the huge mistakes is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you".

You have to ask the right questions: What will make me happy? What do i really want to do? What do i dream of doing? What am i passionate about? 

Second, LEARN ABOUT SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL specifically the curriculum, tracks leading to college courses, and the careers. King Leonidas shouting face is the best way I can describe Senior High School. Grade 11 and 12 is your worst nightmare. Welcome to hell.

Kidding aside, the Grade 11 and 12 curriculum is good. It is damn good. You have 4 tracks to choose from:

1. Academic

2. Tech Voc

3. Arts and Design

4. Sports

           Team A.B.M falls under the Academic Track.

As early as now, prepare yourself to a lot of new experiences. Some will be easy. Most will be difficult. Some will pass. Others will fail. Keep in mind that fail means First Attempt In Learning. Keep calm, finish Senior High.

What is next after Senior High School? You have to get a college diploma. Afterwards, a career.

What can you do with a college diploma? What can you do with  a major in? You only have 4 choices:

What is a career?

Let us get to know the choices our Agnesian brothers and sister made in their career.

 

 

Last, YOU NEED TO MAKE A PLAN. sometimes having a picture of your hopes and dreams in your mind can help you to move toward that vision and attain some of those goals.

For the next several minutes we’re going to dream. I’m going to ask you to close your eyes and imagine or try to visualize your response while I ask you some questions. Think about the questions and begin to create a picture in your mind.

“Imagine yourself in the future, say, _____ years from now. You are studying a wonderful course in college that you love. You’re very happy because you’re doing exactly what you’d always dreamed of.” 

“It’s 7 o’clock in the morning and you are getting ready to go to school. What clothes do you put on? Maybe you have a uniform, maybe not. Do you have to bring any special tools or equipment with you to school? What are they? [Pause for them to think.]” 

“Now you’re leaving your house. How do you get to school? Do you take the jeepney, drive a car, carpool with classmates or walk? How long does it take? What do you see on the way to work? [Pause.]” 

“You’ve just arrived at school. Look around you. Where are you studying? In U.P? In D.L.S.U? In San Beda? In B.U? In Divine? Or some other school? [Pause.]” 

"Are you alone in the classsroom or is someone with you? Whom do you study with? How many people do you study with? [Pause.]” 

“What sounds do you hear when you are at school? Maybe the ‘click-click’ of a computer? Or maybe people talking? Perhaps classmates laughing? [Pause.]” 

“What language do you use at school? [Pause.]” 

“On the way home from school you run into an old friend. Maybe it’s someone from ST. Agnes' Academy. You haven’t seen each other in five years. Your friend asks you what you’re doing now. What do you tell him or her? [Pause.]

“In a minute we’re going to come back to today. So take this time to really fix the image you have in your mind and the feelings you have about your future college course. Try to capture all the details so you can tell us about them.

Open now your eyes.

“What were you feeling as you imagined yourself in your ideal school and course? 

“What was most exciting about it?” 

“Did you allow yourself to ‘think big’ and imagine the school and the course you would most want in the world, or did you try to be realistic about what is possible in ___ years?” 

“Why was this exercise important? 

“How will you use this exercise to inform your search for your senior  high track/course/college and career?”

That’s it, the 3 things you need to know:
1.    Learn about Yourself
2.    Learn About senior high
3.    Make a Plan

So as a parting point, here is a saying from Randy Pausch: It is not about how to achieve your dreams. It’s about how to lead your life. If you lead your life the right way, the karma will take care of itself. The dreams will come to you.”

Welcome in advance to Senior High School! I arm happy  that you are here in St. Agnes' Academy and I look forward to watching you grow! Have fun! Happy Studying And may the odds be ever in your favor.