A Mom and More

Life is filled with paradoxes and the gospel today (Luke 18: 9-14) states one of these seemingly contrasting truths we have to live with “… for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted…”

I learned how to be really humble through an experience I went through three years ago when I grabbed an opportunity to work in the USA (for a Fil-Am cousin’s school) and gave up a good local job and business. I ventured into this foreign job offer as a way out of my financial crisis. I thought that with a good track record, broad set of skills and talents, an excellent education and the optimism that I could bear all hardships for a better future for my family – I was more than equipped for work and life in the USA. I thought that friends and relatives who believed in me and even encouraged me to leave for USA would help me find some decent work. I had high hopes that everything would be easy.

When I reached California, I learned that I arrived too soon — the position offered to me was still in the pipeline, the school I thought I would administer was just being planned. But, not everything was spoilt – I was given a job as teacher cum coordinator for a satellite school for disabled American adults, mostly Hispanics. I took the challenge believing that I know my Spanish lessons in college would be enough to teach basic computers, medical terms, cashiering, hospitality and job preparation skills.

My students in Gilroy, California (the so-called garlic capital of USA) were mostly employees who have become physically disabled due to work-related accidents such that they had to be trained to acquire new knowledge and skills to be able to get back to the job market in 6 months or less. Courses were self-paced and administered one-on-one and I had an average of 18 to 20 students: 80 per cent of whom worked as construction aides, most were migrants, knew very little English and most never benefited from college education. With this student profile, I did not bother to mention my educational attainment nor my past managerial posts nor my age so as not to lord over them. Initially, this disadvantaged me since most thought that I just finished an Associate degree since I looked young, frail and petite compared to them; I seemed like a small school worker to them.

I struggled hard to fulfill my role as teacher-coordinator for the school. I multi-tasked in roles I never imagined I could take and chew. Here’s my typical day: wake up at 4:45 a.m., run to the bus stop to make it to Gilroy before 8 a.m., open the school, check if all computers and facilities are working, sweep or vacuum the floor, check phone messages, inspect if rest rooms are clean (and clean them as needed), make coffee, prepare for group lessons, receive students, teach/facilitate/clarify, attend to administrative-clerical duties and student complaints/problems and by 5 p.m., close the school, throw the garbage, clean the premises and prepare lessons for the next day and finally, no later than 7:45 p.m. catch the last trip back. What a long and tiring day! At first, I felt like complaining that I was cheated and did not expect some tasks (which the maid did for me). I wanted to scream for help. I was tempted to tell my students what I am in Manila (and not the lowly school teacher and all-around help they see). I wanted to cut my stay short. But, I am not the type of woman who easily gives up. I did my best.

In my moments of silence, I realized God must have called me to California then to teach me lessons in life, among them: to be humble as Christ when He served others even if He was the Master and Teacher of all; to accept others’ dignity without prejudices and masks even if I knew I was better than what they thought; and to acknowledge that I am nothing at all without God’s guidance, providence and love.

By being humble, I have found my purpose for being part of the school (even for just a while), another path to take (teaching) and a way to the hearts of my students who have become newfound friends and brothers to me through this day.