Before I came to Guam in late 2016,
I had been working in the Middle East for more than a decade as a Chemical
Engineer. Throughout my career, I worked in the manufacturing industry, both in
the Philippines and the Middle East. Upon arriving in Guam, I realized there were
no industrial plants where I could apply my expertise, particularly in metal
surface treatment and painting. After several months of searching for a job
that matched my experience, I ended up working as a Front Desk staff at a
hotel. This was a challenging shift in my career, as I had no prior experience
in the hospitality field.
When the Covid-19 pandemic struck
in mid-2020, the influx of hotel guests dropped, and eventually, the hotel
closed. I was fortunate to avail myself of the pandemic employment subsidy
provided by the government. When the GDOE announced a Job Fair sometime in June
2021, I tried my luck and applied to be a Substitute Teacher, marking the
beginning of my journey as a teacher.
One of the challenges I encountered
during my year as a substitute teacher was being in different classrooms and
subjects every day. I experienced being in front of all grade levels,
overseeing and executing the assignments left by the absent teachers. During
this time, I observed various student behaviors. The teachers I met encouraged
me to take the Praxis Core exams to apply for a temporary teaching certificate.
This encouragement, along with my observations in school, led me to believe
that I could teach. I took the exams and was fortunate to obtain the temporary
certification. Subsequently, I took and passed the content area exam in
science. Unaware of the next steps for teacher certification, I hurried to the
Guam Education Certification Commission (GECC) to present my Praxis content
results- an amusing experience in hindsight. It was only then that I learned I needed
to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) course to become fully
certified.
I followed the GECC’s suggestions.
At this moment, I have nearly completed 27 of the 36 credit units required for
the MAT. The MAT program has provided me with valuable insights into classroom
management and strategies, various educational philosophies and theories,
assessment methods, and has especially helped me become tech-savvy. Being more
literate in modern technology has had a significant impact on my teaching
career. I can utilize all the knowledge and strategies I have learned in the
program to continuously enhance my students’ learning experiences this coming
school year, and eventually in the years to come.