Thank you donorworx and World Vision!

I could still remember the bright orange glint of that tiny World Vision booth at our event, OTzibit 2011, almost three (3) years ago.  The trifold brochure with a little boy really piqued my interest. Pretty soon, I found myself grabbing one from the table.  The kid that looked around 8 years old in the brochure said that he wants to be a driver and nothing else.  I remembered thinking, "Man, an eight year old kid...wants to be just a driver like his dad? The cycle of poverty is trapping a lot of people in its course."  When I was eight years old, I dreamt of becoming EVERYTHING!!!  A doctor, a scientist, a singer, an actress, an astronaut, even becoming president!  My dreams were limitless!  And yet, that little boy in the brochure and perhaps quite a lot of other Filipino kids don't even have the permission to dream high.  How truly sad it is. At that time, I had to reject the idea of sponsoring a kid for fifteen (15) pesos a day because I can't even fend for myself.  

The second time I encountered World Vision was at Metrotown.  I saw this guy stopping a couple of people who were walking by.  I was in one of my "enlightening strolls" that day and I decided to stop by the booth as I loved that familiar warm color.  I, of course, having no job yet, refused the opportunity to sponsor a child.  But, mind you, I had always wanted to.  One autumn morning, World Vision came knocking in my door again. I saw an ad in the newspaper about a hiring as a fundraiser and I applied with much hope.  (Please refer to this post)  Holy guacamole!  I got accepted and by the end of the campaign, I was given the "WHY" award.  It's for new people like me who does a great job in the field. 

Sweet!  I was excited to open this when Kirsten gave it to me

Aaw...such a sweet card

TADA!!!  Free 10 dollars to spend in Starbucks :)

 I am so touched.  I didn't really expect it because it was hard enough to get people to stop in Guildford mall.  My teammates and I were really challenged to work those stops and break those objections to pulp.  Thank you Chris Ghieuw, Korina Manaloto, Odette Pinto, Sam Bones, Katharine Heaster, Melanie Scharfe, Brendan for the amazing fundraising days.  I give my special thanks to Kirsten (TL) and Stephanie (CFM) for picking me as a winner. You are such wonderful people and I wish to work with you guys again.   And of course, I just wanted to say thank you to donorworx for giving this once in a lifetime opportunity to work with World Vision. If you hadn't given me the opportunity, I wouldn't be posting about this.  My words are not enough to express the gratitude I feel.  I deeply wish for summer to come soon!

LDAFS volunteer

I am, in perspective... a teacher at heart.  Maybe that is why it seemed hard for me to part with the kids I handled for the past fall in Learning Disabilities Association Fraser South (LDAFS).   I remember when I took the National Career Assessment Exam (NCAE), I had been classified as a "social".  One of the careers listed there was being a teacher.  I didn't really think that I have potential for that stuff though.  I mean, for four years in highschool, I was an introvert and not to mention an extremely gullible person.  It wasn't until I got into college that I slowly changed my ever-so passive self.  I have slowly acquired a skill that most people, even in their own native language, do not use effectively.  That is assertion.

To be an effective teacher, you must be assertive.  You do not disregard, you acknowledge.  You do not force, you persuade.  It is also what an occupational therapist needs to learn.  For OTs are teachers as well. We teach about everyone's daily business, we teach about life.   We assess what areas in daily life do people have trouble in and we find what factors hinder them in doing it.  Like how I did with the two kids I have tutored in LDAFS.   By the end of the tutoring, I can proudly say that they have improved a lot.

Freebies from tutoring :)

In hindsight, I may have been looking for a little bit of OT in the tutoring program.  It put me in a tight situation once when the supervisor questioned my methods of tutoring.  My expectations were far off from what they had in set.  It just isn't the same.  I found that, the more I engage myself with different kinds of work, the more I realize how much I love being an OT.  I observe it in the simple things people do everyday but observing alone do not suffice.  I miss being an OT.  I envy those back home that are engaged in their reviews.  Everyday, I feel that my knowledge is fading.  I pray that my application in CAOT will be an okay!  I'll be good, I promise.

My little kid's writing :)

There is perhaps no saddest moment than saying goodbye to something you have come to love. My volunteer work in Learning Disabilities Association Fraser South has ended after 3 months. And now, it's time to embark on another adventure!

Red Cross, here I come!!!