This Is Where I Belong

Last week, I passed my 6-month probation at work. I'm relieved. This job has been really good for me, and I'm glad that my supervisor is extremely happy with all the work I've done so far.

I remember when I was in high school. I was debating between taking up Political Science (to go into law school) or Information Technology. I chose the later. I wanted to be a Systems Analyst. I figured that moving forward, computers would make the world go round. I was right, and I can't believe that here I am, in my first IT job in Canada, and I am a Systems Analyst. I've got a lot to be thankful for.

A Systems Analyst practically means problem solver, and the job is not without stresses. Working with archaic systems would be the first issue. Then you have your users. Patient though they might be, it's still concerning when your main purpose in the workplace is to solve their problems. But I feel right at home. This is what I spent years in school for. This is what I'm supposed to be doing.

Recently, I've been regretting not wanting to go to med school when I was younger. After all, my horoscope says I would do best as a surgeon. Unfortunately, the thought only occurred to me about a couple of years ago. It's definitely too late. But it's okay. I'm content. On almost every single day, I'm in the mindset that I would rather not be doing anything else. 

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ADIS Adventure

As I write this entry, I'm sitting at the basement of the SMART Tower in Ayala Avenue in Makati, using a computer that virtually has all entertainment and networking sites blocked. The fact that I can't access Facebook, or even Yahoo! OMG, is somewhat annoying, but I'd like to look at it as a blessing in disguise. After weeks of not being able to blog, I'm practically forced to do so.

What am I doing in Makati, you might ask.

Last week, I was informed by our dean that I was going to be sent here as a representative of Silliman University to SMART's Application Developers' Intro School (ADIS) Trainer's Training. It's a two-week long training of SMART application development practices that I, in turn, have to teach to my students in the upcoming semester. It's my first time to be in the Manila area alone. I was quite apprehensive about coming here, but I was not about to turn down an opportunity such as this. I've always wanted to be sent to trainings, I was not going to let the chance pass.

I arrived yesterday on the morning flight of Philippine Airlines (ticket shouldered by SMART, yay). I told my parents that someone would be picking me up at the airport so they would not worry, but I actually had to take a taxi by myself to the hotel where I was designated to check in. (If you read this, you can't tell them!) I had a couple of Iranian friends on the same flight (one of them was my ex, actually, hahaha) and they helped me find a cab. Fortunately, the taxi driver was a blessing--he was really kind, and I arrived at the Makati YMCA Hostel safe and sound.

I will be here for two weeks, until the 30th of May. I've already met great people, and I'm sure we will be learning a lot of things. Surprisingly though, I already miss Dumaguete, which has never happened to me in past travels. Maybe it's because this is the first time I've actually had to go anywhere NOT for the sake of having fun. I really  feel bad about the events I will miss, such as the Faculty & Staff Retreat that my colleagues will be having on the 28th, my friends Jonas and Lobelle's wedding on the 29th, and the already planned outings that will have to be pushed back into later dates because of my absence. I guess that's life, though. Not everything is about having fun, and despite it all, I am still very much grateful for this experience.

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A Beginning

Whoopee! I gave the last of the final exams to my students today. That only means one thing. The semester is finally over! School will officially end tomorrow and the graduating students will don their togas and march to Pomp and Circumstance on Sunday. It gives a bittersweet feeling, the end of a school year. You have friends who will be graduating, people you might never see again. But even though it is technically an ending, it is, in essence, more of a beginning. How apt the graduation term Commencement Exercises is!

This is just one reason why I like teaching. After the end of every semester, you know there is another one coming up right around the corner. You will have new subjects to teach, new lessons to learn, new students to interact with. You will be able to have a fresh start; ponder about whatever mistakes you might have made in the past and correct them.

Personally, I am looking forward to the future. I think I am finally on track. Although I will not be teaching for roughly two months during the Summer term, I have a lot of things to do, such as preparing for the TOEFL and GMAT examinations I am planning to take. By the opening of the new school year in June, I will be back in school again, taking up Masters in Information Systems. I am excited for that. It's been two years since I've been in school, and I miss it. I hope to do better this time around, and not be as lax as I was in college. It is a new beginning indeed, and I hope all goes well!

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I'm gonna be a teacher!

Yes, I have teaching load! I'll be teaching two classes in computer fundamentals. *wooooooot* I'm so excited! I wonder how it'll feel like to actually be in class and teaching students. Hmmm. I can't wait!

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Oooh

A couple of posts back, I mentioned that I really wanted to teach this second semester. I hope I'll be given the chance. I had my interview and teaching demo last week. I'm still waiting for the result. *crosses fingers*

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