Due to the modification of the education curriculum, where Philippines adapted the K-12 curriculum

that led for another 2 years in my highschool. Since we are the pioneer batch, learning materials and
even classrooms are lacking, so it was not easy to adjust before. And with the taught that I am
supposedly college student by that time adjusting took time.

I decided to take my senior high school within our municipality, I needed to transfer from the school
where I took my junior high school, my beloved Allacapan Vocational High School to my new school and
second home, where I will spend my 2 years of studying the Matucay National High School.

I choose the strand General Academic Strand, because I am already decided to take teaching and I
believe that a teacher should be complex or flexible. A teacher should know and atleast familiarize the
different subjects not only their choosen majors.

I had different subjects that I can choose from to become my major but I really fell in love and
challenged by the English subject. Since I was in pre school I already fond in my language and writing
subject until my high school days, I got to encounter different literary pieces that I got interested to.

In my senior high school experience, I got to overcome my shyness when it comes in speaking in front of
a class, due to various presentations that I had, I also improved my skill in doing some power points,
reading thoroughly my subject matter or my assigned topic. That taught me to become more
responsible. My speaking skill was also improve due to recitations and due to group works I got to share
my ideas and showed my creativity side.

After two years of hardworking, from the sleepless nights that caused eyebags, the meals I skipped due
to reviewing and reading, to those times I needed say no to my friends, most of my time I had, I
dedicated it to my studies. At the end it was all worth it as I garnered With Honors in my grade 11 and I
graduated with High Honors. It was very fulfilling, as all my hardships were paid off, even the efforts of
my parents just to send me school became worth it.

Our guest speaker in our graduation was our Municipal Mayor Harry D.Florida, since he also graduated
from that institution, he gave us a graduation gift and that is a whole day swimming at their resort. All of
us, the senior high school pioneer and our teachers enjoyed. I did not swim all day because I do not
know how to swim.I never got the chance to learn swimming.
After graduation and our swimming, the next days became harder for all of us. As we already need to
say goodbye to each other, we are not going to same school anymore.

It was already time for me to choose where I am going to take my college, above all the choices I had. I
chose our SPUP, Saint Paul University Philippines. One of the catholic school in the City of Tuguegarao
and their Teacher Education Program is their Center of Development. Because I believe that the
institution will going to help me be prepared and be skilled enough for my future. That it will mold me to
become that individual I am destined to be. With high hopes that the institution will going to help me
improve spiritually and that the institution will really direct me to the right path.

In my four month vacation, I had enough time to prepare myself for the college life. I improved my
cooking skills, I got to cook for my family with the different dishes like, Pinakbet, Adobo, Dinakdakan,
Tinola , Sinigang , Crabs and Shrimps. I also became fond in gardening, collecting plants like rose,
bougainvellias and even cactus. I got it from my mother who is also a plant lover, everytime she goes
home from school she has plants that she bought on her way home.

Characteristics of a Healthy Family

Christine Vander Wielen, M.S.W., LCSW

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For the past decade, the media has bombarded us with stories and information about "dysfunctional"
families. These stories are usually outlandish and tragic. While all families are made up of imperfect
people who make mistakes at times, the institution of the family still works. In his book, Five Signs of a
Functional Family, Dr. Gary Chapman wrote about several characteristics that help families to work well.

As I have had the privilege of counseling many families in the past several years, I have also noticed
characteristics that help to create a healthy family. A healthy family is one in which the needs of the
family members are being met. It is meant to imply growth and change, as families and relationships
are dynamic. Some characteristics of a healthy family are:

1) There are clear boundaries in the family.

*Parents take the leadership role. They recognize their responsibility is to train and to teach their
children.
*There is a strong bond between the husband and wife. The husband and wife prioritize their
relationship and purposely nurture that relationship.

*Children are kept out of tension between the husband and wife.

*The husband and wife do not make disparaging or negative remarks about one another, especially in
front of the children.

*Decisions are made in the best interest of the family.

2) Relationships within the family are seen as important.

*Parents purposely make an effort to establish relationships with their children. It is the parents'
responsibility to establish that relationship. Likewise, it is also the responsibility of the grandparents to
establish the relationship with their grandchildren.

*Parents support the children's activities and are involved.

*Parents plan "fun times," where memories are often made.

3) There is open communication among all family members.

*Communication does not go through one person. Mom does not act as the interpreter.

*There is not a "message carrier" in the family. Children are encouraged and allowed to speak for
themselves.
4) Conflict is allowed.

*Family members are allowed to disagree with one another and voice their disagreement.

*When conflict occurs, it is resolved.

*There is freedom and safety within the family for mistakes and failures.

*There is forgiveness and "a moving on" from conflict.

5) Family members have an attitude of service toward one another and others.

*This attitude typically begins when a child is quite young. The young child frequently wants to "help."
Although the task will most likely take longer, allowing the child to help will encourage the child to feel a
part of the family.

*Family members purposely serve one another.

*The whole family serves others.

Although families are not always structured with these characteristics, families and relationships are
dynamic and changeable. With purpose, patience and time, positive change is possible in family
dynamics.