CWTS: a touch of reality

by Rejay Y. Alvarado, BA Community Development I

“NSTP-CWTS had been an important training ground for my future career in community development.”

Honestly, I dreaded the idea of engaging in community service; if I just had the choice, I would rather avoid NSTP CWTS. During the first few weeks, I was mainly focused on the fulfillment of the required number of hours. However, as I immersed myself in our assigned community, my perception about NSTP-CWTS gradually changed. I began to love the subject and found its importance in my life.

I realized how lucky I am for having been educated in a school aptly equipped with enough facilities and with enough number of teachers. I was lucky for having not to walk for several kilometers to get to school.

I learned to value the little things in life. Before, I used to complain about the things that I lack which I thought I should have had. My community exposure helped me realized that I have so much in life compared with many other people in the community. Thus, I would say, NSTP-CWTS had been an important training ground for my future career in community development.

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Feeding the empty stomach

by Angela May F. Cuaterno, BS Applied Mathematics I

“Responsibility must start within one’s self.” This is the greatest thing I have learned in CWTS.

In CWTS I learned that change must start first within our own self and then to the group and eventually to our community site. I also learned that in order for a team to succeed in its project, unity among its members is necessary.

At first I thought CWTS was less important subject than my major subjects. I thought I just had to fulfill the minimum required number of hours - without seriousness. But later on, I found myself enjoying and looking forward to the next instruction day. It became a true obligation of service to the community. I cherished those weekly visits we had in Bacauan-Mambatad elementary school. Seeing those kids very happy every time we conducted our feeding project was truly a fulfilling experience. CWTS ay may kabuluhan para sa Iskolar ng Bayan!

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CWTS Molder of Character

by Margaret Sistoso, BA Communication and Media Studies I

“…this training molded my character and prepared me to life’s trials.”

CWTS taught me many good things: First, I have learned to make good use of my time.

Second, CWTS helped me become a team player. I belong to a team composed of students from different courses. Often, we do not share the same ideas and opinions. We disagree in various ways, but we managed to put aside our differences for our common goal.

Third, I learned and practiced the virtues of patience and understanding. We tutored 24 grade four pupils in Malagyan Elementary School. Teaching kids with different personalities and intellectual capacities was not easy. I had to understand their short attention span, and create activities to stimulate their mind.

The NSTP-CWTS instilled values of service and commitment on me. It molded my character and prepared me to overcome life’s trials.

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My ten months of journey

by Myla Nieves, BS Applied Mathematics I

“…the journey that the CWTS has given was such a good one. I’m happy to be part of it!”

It’s been a while since I sat in the CFOS-AVR, listening attentively during the orientation for the NSTP-CWTS. Now, after almost ten months of riding the tough current, the journey finally came to an end.

But during that journey, I’ve met a lot of persons, made new friends, realized some things and found new things to ponder.

So, I may say that the journey that the NSTP-CWTS has given was such a good one. CWTS taught me how to cooperate, trust others, and be responsible for every action I made. I gained many friends.

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Worth persevering

by Jezzebelle Baldo, BA Psychology I

“I never thought that CWTS would render me so much learning that no classroom-based classes could offer.”

From the very beginning, I never thought that CWTS would render me so much learning that no classroom-based classes could offer. I never imagined that it could make a big difference within me especially in terms of stretching my patience. With the distant site, we had the second farthest sites, and the active and talkative pupils of Valencia Elementary School, I never thought of passing this course.

Lots of problems came our way that I almost held my breath and thought of just failing the course because of some delays and the large number of required hours to achieve. Our hectic class schedules almost totally took over our time for weekly meetings and preparations for the next tutorial sessions. Our group had almost reached the bottom and we thought we weren’t able to meet the requirements for this course.

However, as we went on with our tutorial, what I thought would give a hard time turned out to be the most wonderful part of CWTS life. Our pupils became energized and participative; they erased our worries with their smiles. My whole NSTP-CWTS experience turned out to be an exciting one that made a great difference in my psycho-social well-being.

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