Being A Nurse

Abad, Glory
14 May 2010
FD4

Being A Nurse

Now a days, most girls (especially Filipinos) want to continue their education so that they can become a registered nurse. Almost every Filipino family has at least one member who is a nurse. Maybe it’s because of the majority of home health care operators being Filipino. Since this semester has come to an end, I already have one year of nursing school under my belt. The clinical experiences that I had opened up my eyes, and I now see for myself what nursing is really about. Most people think that it’s all about the pay, but I have learned that those who go into nursing just because of the amount of money that they make, are miserable with their jobs. [THESIS] There are many reasons why nursing is one of the best professions to get into. [THESIS]

Besides firefighters, teachers, postal workers, and armed forces being the top most trusted professions, the public also relies on doctors and nurses. The public put their trust in nurses because they believe that nurses are very caring, empathetic, detail-oriented, emotionally stable, adaptable, have physical endurance, are quick thinkers, make great judgments, very hard-working, and have great communication skills. People know that nurses have the knowledge about their specific condition, so they believe and follow what the nurses tell them, because they want to get better.

To be a registered nurse, a person must go through intense schooling and training. After the completion of their degree, they must then pass the National Council Licensure Examination for nurses (NCLEX). Going through this extreme route would make a person think that this nurse “knows his or her stuff.” The public entrust their health and sickness into the hands of a nurse believing that the course of treatment and care will be very valuable to them.

Nurses who have strong traits make them the best at what they do. Some possess empathy, and a lot of people admire that because they will know that they’re not alone. If a nurse is able to put their self in another person’s shoe, and try to feel what the patient is going through, that nurse will be a lot more caring than some other nurses who just do it for the money. Aside from being empathetic, a nurse must also be emotionally stable to be functional so that he or she can perform their duties. The nursing profession will encounter everything from births, traumas, and deaths. With all the stress and pressure around them, nurses have to be able to think on their toes, but still make good decisions.

Another reason why the nursing profession is one of the most trusted occupations today is because they are very detail-oriented. If they weren’t precise in their work, patients wouldn’t get well or some might even die. No matter the circumstance, nurses learn to adapt to everything - situation, environment, patients, and patient’s needs, and to fellow health care workers. Nurses are very hard-working and have a lot of physical endurance.

From watching some nurses during my clinical experience, many don’t even have time to use the restroom. They are at high risk for getting urinary tract infections because some put their job before their own needs. They also complain about their feet being sore at the end of the day because they hardly sit and are always walking around. People trust nurses because they have good communication skills. A nurse is an advocate for the patient. The nurse listens and fights for the patient’s needs; even if it involves disagreeing with the doctor. If a patient doesn’t feel comfortable with something, part of the nurse’s duty is to discern this and address it.

The nursing profession is very rewarding. Nurses who love helping others and are good at it will get this feeling of satisfaction. The patients who are very grateful for the nurse’s care and concern will express this sincere appreciation for what has been done to/for them. I’ve heard of some stories where elderly patients being cared for at long term care facilities and don’t have families end up signing off certain valuables to their nurse. Because of the trust that was gained in that patient-nurse relationship, both parties benefit from each other.

This feeling of satisfaction is very hard to describe. The nurse gets this sense of contentment and gratification that he or she did a good deed for someone else that was in need. This experience of making a difference in a person’s life is very heartwarming. Although a nurse can’t change a person, their behavior and attitude towards the patient will greatly influence their perspective in life, and will probably be a factor in the future decisions that they make regarding their health.

Another thing that is rewarding about the nursing profession is knowing that you have helped save a life. The nurse who made the right judgments about a patient who might have come into the emergency room hanging onto the last string of their life, will be greatly appreciated by that patient and his or her family. There is no better reward than having an effect on patients’ lives that leaves a lasting impact.

One of the major reasons why most people go into the nursing profession is because of its job security. As of today, our country’s economy is at a state of depression. Because of this, a lot of the older population are putting their retirement plans on hold, and many of those who are being laid off can’t afford medical coverage, which affects the health care industry. With the nursing profession, it is recession proof. Although some branches of health care are being affected by the downturn in the economy, nurses are still needed. In fact, the outlook for nurses after this recession is good. They say that we will have one of the biggest shortages in nursing when our economy recovers.

The nursing profession provides people with many opportunities. Nursing is very broad and continues to expand. With our technology expanding everyday, more and more jobs for the nursing occupation will be available. There is so much more to nursing than just caring for patients. Some types of jobs in the nursing field include forensic nurse, genetics nurse, legal nurse consultant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, radiology nurse, emergency/trauma nurse, nursing informatics specialist, and many others.

Some nurses work well with others, but there are also those who work better alone. People who prefer not to have patient care can do forensic or genetic nursing, be a legal nurse consultant, or work with computers and be a nursing informatics specialist. There are so many patient care nursing jobs available out there. From emergency/trauma, telemetry, medical surgery, ambulatory, oncology, geriatric, pediatric, or long term care nursing; it is very broad and gives people many options to discover what/who they love working with.

Being a nurse is a very good job because of the salary. I know of some nurses who make well over $100,000 with overtime. The average starting pay is around $60,000 for a general/regular patient care registered nurse. If I become a specialty nurse, a home health care operator, and teach at a local nursing school part time, I would be able to support my family. My husband can play Mr. Mom, my children will get a good education, and we can take a vacation every year.

I chose to enter the nursing profession because I think it fits me well. I like helping others and I love working with people. From my clinical experience that I had over this past year, I enjoyed myself while other classmates realized that nursing wasn’t for them. I want a job where I can make a difference and be respected for what I do. I also want a job that my entire family will benefit from. With all the things that I have been through in life, I know that I will definitely succeed. I am the type of person who works very hard at what I want, and I don’t let anything that gets in my way put me down.

I know that my path towards being a nurse will be difficult because the schooling is so intense, I often feel that my family is being deprived of my quality time with them. I am so thankful for a very supportive family because they understand what I am going through and what I put them through. I always remind them that in the end, it will pay off because they can get whatever they want.

I strongly believe that the nursing profession is my calling because I see the weakness in some of the nurses that I have worked with, and I learn from it. I try to apply these corrections toward my patient care because I don’t want to make those same mistakes. Although the money is good, I am not only looking forward to that, but I am excited to influence others and let them realize that there are still people in the world who care.

Log of Completed Activities
_X__Apr 6t- Intro to Paper #4: Read Guidelines for Paper #4: Literary Journalism (Confirmation reply required.)
_X__Apr 12M- Complete readings for paper #4: chap. 15 (Confirmation reply required.)
_X__Apr 16F- Laulima Discussion #1.
_X__Apr 21W- Laulima Discussion #2.
_L__Apr 26M- RD4 due [50 pts] Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
_X__Apr 30F- RD4 Evaluations due [50 pts] Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
_X__May 5W-14F- FD4 due [150 pts] Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)

Being A Nurse

Abad, Glory
26 April 2010
RD4

Being A Nurse

Now days, most girls (especially Filipinos) want to continue their education so that they can become a registered nurse. Almost every Filipino family has at least one member who is a nurse. Maybe it’s because majority of the home healthcare operators are Filipino. Since this semester has come to an end, I already have one year of nursing school under my belt. The clinical experiences that I had opened up my eyes and I now see for myself what nursing is really about. Most people think that it’s all about the pay, but I have learned that those who go into nursing just because of the amount of money that they make are miserable with their jobs. [THESIS] There are many reasons why nursing is one of the best professions to get into. [THESIS]

Besides firefighters, teachers, postal workers, and armed forces being the top most trusted professions, the public also relies on doctors and nurses. The public put their trust in nurses because they believe that nurses are very caring, empathetic, detail-oriented, emotionally stable, adaptable, have physical endurance, are quick thinkers, make great judgments, very hard-working, and have great communication skills. People know that nurses have and knowledge about their specific condition, so they believe and follow what the nurses tell them, hoping to get better.

To be a registered nurse, a person must go through intense schooling and training. After the completion of their degree, they must then pass the National Council Licensure Examination for nurses (NCLEX). Going through this extreme route would make a person think that this nurse “knows his/her stuff.” The public entrust their health and sickness into the hands of a nurse believing that the course of treatment and care will be very valuable to them.

Nurses who have strong traits make them the best at what they do. Some possess empathy and a lot of people admire that because they’ll know that they’re not alone. If a nurse is able to put their self in another’s shoe and try to feel what the patient is going through, that nurse will be a lot more caring than some other nurses who just do it for the money. Aside from being empathetic, a nurse must also be emotionally stable to be functional so that he or she can perform their duties. The nursing profession will encounter everything from births, traumas, and deaths. With all the stress and pressure around them, nurses have to be able to think on their toes, but still make good decisions.

Another reason why the nursing profession is one of the most trusted occupations today is because they are very detail-oriented. If they weren’t precise in their work, patients wouldn’t get well or some might even die. No matter the circumstances, nurses learn to adapt to everything - situation, environment, patients, and patient’s needs, and to fellow health care workers. Nurses are very hard-working and have a lot of physical endurance. From watching some nurses during my clinical experience, many don’t even have time to use the restroom. They are at high risk for getting urinary tract infections because some put their job before their own needs. They also complain about their feet being sore at the end of the day because they hardly sit and are always walking around. People trust nurses because they have good communication skills. A nurse is an advocate for the patient. The nurse listens and fights for the patient’s needs; even if it involves disagreeing with the doctor. If a patient doesn’t feel comfortable with something, part of the nurse’s duty is to discern this and address it.

The nursing profession is very rewarding. Nurses who love helping others and are good at it will get this feeling of satisfaction. The patients who are very grateful for the nurse’s care and concern will express this sincere appreciation for what has been done to/for them. I’ve heard of some stories where elderly patients being cared for at long term care facilities who don’t have families end up signing off certain valuables to their nurse. Because of the trust that was gained in that patient-nurse relationship, both parties benefit from each other.

This feeling of satisfaction is very hard to describe. The nurse gets this sense of contentment and gratification that he or she did a good deed for someone else that was in need. This experience of making a difference in a person’s life is very heartwarming. Although a nurse can’t change a person, their behavior and attitude towards the patient will greatly influence their perspective in life, and will probably be a factor in the future decisions that they make regarding their health.

Another thing that is rewarding about the nursing profession is knowing that you have helped save a life. The nurse who made the right judgments about a patient who might have come in to the emergency room hanging onto the last string of their life, will be greatly appreciated by that patient and his or her family. There is no better reward than having an effect on patients’ lives which leaves a lasting impact.

One of the major reasons why most people go into the nursing profession is because of its job security. As of today, our country’s economy is at a state of depression. Because of this, a lot of the older population are putting their retirement plans on hold, and the many of those who are being laid off can’t afford medical coverage, and affects the health care industry. With the nursing profession, it is recession proof. Although some branches of health care are being affected by the downturn in the economy, nurses are still needed. In fact, the outlook for nurses after this recession is good. They say that we will have one of the biggest shortages in nursing when our economy recovers.

The nursing profession provides people with many opportunities. Nursing is very broad and continues to expand. With our technology expanding everyday, more and more jobs for the nursing occupation will be available. There is so much more to nursing than just caring for patients. Some types of jobs in the nursing field include forensic nurse, genetics nurse, legal nurse consultant, nurse practitioner, registered nurse, radiology nurse, emergency/trauma nurse, nursing informatics specialist, and many others.

Some nurses work well with others, but there are also those who work better alone. People who prefer not to have patient care can do forensic or genetic nursing, be a legal nurse consultant, or work with computers and be a nursing informatics specialist. There are so many patient care nursing jobs available out there. From emergency/trauma, telemetry, medical surgery, ambulatory, oncology, geriatric, pediatric, or long term care nursing; it is very broad and gives people many options to discover what/who they love working with.

Being a nurse is a very good job because of the salary. I know of some nurses who make well over $100,000 with overtime. The average starting pay is around $60,000 for a general/regular patient care registered nurse. If I become a specialty nurse, a home health care operator, and teach at a local nursing school, I would be able to support my family. My husband can play Mr. Mom, my children will get a good education, and we can take a vacation every year.

I chose to enter the nursing profession because I think it fits me well. I love helping others and I love working with people. From my clinical experience that I had over this past year, I enjoyed myself while other classmates realized that nursing wasn’t for them. I want a job where I can make a difference and be respected for that. I also want a job that my entire family will benefit from. With all the things that I have been through in life, I know that I will definitely succeed. I am the type of person who works very hard at what I want, and I don’t let anything that gets in my way put me down.

I know that my path towards being a nurse will be difficult because the schooling is so intense, I feel like my family is being deprived of my quality time with them. I am so thankful for a very supportive family because they understand what I am going through and what I put them through. I always remind them that in the end, it will pay off because they can get whatever they want.

I strongly believe that the nursing profession is my calling because I see the weakness in some of the nurses that I have worked with, and I learn from it. I try to apply these corrections toward my patient care because I don’t want to make those same mistakes. Although the money is good, I am not only looking forward to that, but I am excited to influence others and let them realize that there are still people in the world who care.

Story of My Life

Abad, Glory
10 May 2010
Final Exam

Story of My Life

Being a parent, our hope and dreams for our future lies in the hands of our children. We look at them and hope that we can teach them all of the proper morals and values. Sometimes, things don’t turn out how we want it to, but what matters in the end is the happiness of our loved ones. [THESIS] The many life experience that I went through turned me into a young woman with a strong head who knows what I want out of life for myself and my loved ones. [THESIS]

When I was a senior in high school, I got pregnant and was forced by my parents to get married. A few months after I gave birth, my father passed away. A year after, my husband cheated on me and got another girl pregnant. We were supposed to get a divorce, but ended up working on our marriage. The girl gave birth, and a few months later, I gave birth to my second daughter.

I was only working at a place where it was paying only the minimum wage. Living with my in-law’s family is fun, but tough. My husband and I had to come up with a plan for our life so that we can find our own place. With the cost of living in Hawaii and three kids to support (one child support payment), having a minimum wage job wasn’t going to do any good. I decided to take the phlebotomy course that my husband took at Kapiolani Community College. At least with a better paying job, we can save money and still survive.

As I started working in the laboratory, I learned more about myself and decided that I wanted to go back to school to major in nursing instead of medical technology. I didn’t like the thought of sitting at the microscope all day and having no interaction with others. I am not that type of person. I love working with others and feeling good about what I did. Going back to school was very tough because I had a hectic schedule. I had to get up early everyday to get my kids ready for school, go to school from 8 AM to 12 PM, come home to cook dinner for my family, pick up my kids and drop them off at the sitter, head to work from 3 PM to 11:30 PM, then go home and study. That was my routine for about three years. Many people called me super mom because they couldn’t believe it was possible and still get good grades.

I had to really work hard at getting good grades because it really mattered when I applied to UH Manoa’s Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program. The first time I tried applying, I got rejected because they said I wasn’t quite done with my prerequisites. I felt so horrible and I wanted to give up. I thought, “What if they won’t accept me when the next time? What if my grades won’t be as good as those other applicants?” It was so devastating to learn of the news that I didn’t get in.

I thought of all the many obstacles that I have been through in my life and I remembered that it wasn’t just about me anymore. This motivated me to try even harder and never give up. I wanted my kids to have a sense of having their own room, so I couldn’t just stop now. The next semester, I tried again. This time, I was successful because I got accepted and is on my way to attaining my goals and dreams for my family and I.

I am currently in my second semester of nursing school and surviving it. My kids and my husband inspire me to be a better person and to not give up. It’s not really about me anymore, I am doing this to have a better life for my children. My husband and I want them to have a good life. We don’t want them to worry so much about their education in the future. Most people now days don’t continue school due to financial situations. Our goals for our kids is to have them go to college without having to worry about paying for it and for them to concentrate on their studies. We want them to be full time students, so we want to save up as much as we can so that they’ll have their own savings fund while going to college.

The goals that we set are not so that we can boast that we’ll be having money, we just want what will bring our family happiness. With the many life experiences that I went through, I feel stronger and wiser. Sometimes I feel like I have also changed into a mean person. I just think it’s because I have a low tolerance for people who don’t give respect to others. Even though I feel mature, there is always room for me grow and be a better person.

Marriage's Surgery

Abad, Glory
26 April 2010
FD 3

Marriage’s Surgery

Filipino families are known for being very strict, especially when their reputation is on the line. Since my father was a minister, the steps toward adulthood through traditional Christian values was sternly enforced. My parents strongly believed that a couple should be united as one in Christ through marriage before having a baby. When I delivered the bitter sweet news to my parents that they were going to be grandparents again, they assured my boyfriend (back then) and I were to be married as soon as high school graduation was over. [THESIS] The early departure into the journey of marriage that I set out on has transformed me into a mature and strong-minded woman, from the many obstacles that my husband and I encountered. [THESIS]

After being married for two years, my husband breaks to me the devastating news...he wants us to get a legal separation because he is having an affair with his co-worker. Those words that darted out of his mouth, “I am fooling around,” felt like a dagger penetrating my chest and through my heart making it stop beating for a minute. I was only 19 years old, with an 18 month old daughter, heading towards being a statistic for the ever growing divorce rate and on my way to single parenthood. His whole point in getting a legal separation was to satisfy his curiosity and to “explore” what’s out there. We jumped into marriage really quick and he wasn’t sure if I was the “right one.” If he didn’t find this treasure on this adventure that he wanted to embark on, he would come running back to us. I constantly blamed myself for my husband’s infidelity. I thought it was because of the lack of time that I had for my family because I was always with my mother. She needed me the most because she was a new widow after the passing of my father. Most of my time was spent helping her at their church, that my father left behind. They have many activities that my mother needed to direct, all by herself.

The gash on my chest hasn’t even started healing, yet this man that I love who punctured my dignity stick his hands into this wound, pulls out my heart and crushes into a million pieces. He tells me that his mistress is pregnant with his baby. I thought this was totally the end of our marriage. I was at a fork in my life where I had to choose to be with my daughter's father or to move on without him. I assumed he found the treasure he’s been longing for and wanted to be on this escapade forever so I filed for a divorce. I hired an off duty Sheriff to hand him the divorce papers personally. I guess this life changing document hit him hard and made him come to his senses. He realized that he was clinging onto something bogus and the treasure he was searching for was right there all along. Stitching up my injury and putting on some gauze and tape over it wasn’t going to be enough; this relationship was in need of a major surgery. We both went to a psychologist for marriage counseling to repair the damages that was done.

First was the anesthesia; I had to forgive him for his shortcomings. If I didn’t go through the numbness, this procedure could hurt more than it already did. The numbing part kicked in after a while because forgiveness didn’t come easy. I had to forgive this girl who did me wrong even though I've never met her (up till this day). At one point I thought my body was rejecting the anesthesia because the girl decided to keep my husband’s baby. Next was the incision, which is actually a key element for this surgery to work out, open communication. My husband and I had to learn how to communicate effectively without bringing up our faults. This was very difficult because I had to be honest with myself and tell him how I really felt, trying to avoid blaming him for the grief that he caused me.

Going in through the incision to fix the problem was the process of regaining trust. He wanted to bring me everywhere he went, checked in with me on his way to work and back, cut off all ties with that girl, changed his phone number, and he was even willing to relocate to another state; anything to earn my trust. Closing up the cut to start the healing stage was spending more family quality time together. This didn’t mean that our friends and the rest of our family were erased from the picture, we just decided to set a day with no distractions, just "us" time spent with our family alone. Helping my mother wasn’t a top priority anymore. She understood my situation, so my time with her was when he went out with his friends. The recovery period is improving our lives to have a better future for our family. We have set goals and dreams that we are slowly turning into reality. Although our past haunts us like an unearthed spirit, we will prove to other family members and friends who have judged us that we have buried this issue and moved on.

When I am at the intersection of present with past (if my husband and I get into a major argument), I remind myself that that’s nothing compared to what we’ve already been through. This experience has taught me that I can never change a person because it is up to that certain individual to change. I can only be an influence by being a better person so that they can see the difference if they were to do the same. I have also reached a different level of maturity compared to others of my age because I can reflect on my life’s history and apply it to other people if they need help and to other situations as well. Marrying at a young age and surviving a stormy marriage has shaped me into the woman that I am today. I know what I want out of life, so I continually strive harder each time I face a similar difficulty. Every time I reach that same intersection, I hold onto my husband’s hand like a child does to its parent before crossing a busy crosswalk, and remember that we are in it together.

Log of Completed Activities

_X_Mar 9t- Intro to Paper #3: Personal Essay. (Confirmation reply required.)

_X_Mar 15M- Complete readings: all of chapter 12. (Confirmation reply required.)

_X_Mar 18- Laulima Discussion 1: “Chimera“

_X_Mar 18- Laulima Discussion 2: “Notes of a Native Son“

_X_Mar 19- Laulima Discussion 3: “Under the Influence“

_X_Mar 19- Laulima Discussion 4: “Being Brians“

_X_Mar 19- Laulima Discussion 5: “Warring Memories“ and “Snakebit“

_X_Mar 29M- RD3 due [50 pts] (Confirmation reply required.)

_X_Apr 1T- RD3 Evaluations due [50 pts] (No confirmation reply required.)

_X_Apr 2F- Holiday: Good Friday

_X_Apr 5-12- FD3 due [125 pts] (Confirmation reply required.)

Marriage's Surgery

Abad, Glory
29 March 2010
RD 3

Marriage’s Surgery

Filipino families are known for being very strict, especially when their reputation is on the line. Since my father was a minister, the steps toward adulthood through traditional Christian values was sternly enforced. My parents strongly believed that a couple should be united as one in Christ through marriage before having a baby. When I delivered the bitter sweet news that they were going to be grandparents again, my boyfriend (back then) and I were to be married as soon as high school graduation was over. [THESIS] The early journey into marriage that I set out on has transformed me into a mature and strong-minded woman from the many obstacles that my husband and I encountered. [THESIS]

After being married for two years, my husband breaks to me the devastating news...he wants to get a legal separation because he is having an affair with his co-worker. Those words, “I am fooling around,” felt like a dagger penetrating my chest and through my heart making it stop beating for a minute. I was only 19 years old, with a 24 month old daughter, and heading towards being a statistic for the ever growing divorce rate. His whole point in getting a legal separation was for him to “explore” what’s out there since we jumped into marriage really quick and he wasn’t sure if I was the “right one.” If he didn’t find this treasure on this adventure that he wanted to embark on, he would come running back to me. I constantly blamed myself for my husband’s infidelity. I thought it was because of the lack of time that I had for my family since I was always with my mother. She needed me the most because she was a new widow after the passing of my father. Most of my time was spent helping her at their church, that my father left behind, with the many activities that they have.

This gash on my chest hasn’t even started healing, yet this man that I love who punctured my dignity stick his hands into this wound, pulls out my heart, and crushes into a million pieces by telling me that his mistress is pregnant with his baby. This was totally the end of our marriage because I assumed he found that treasure he’s been longing for and wanted to be on this adventure forever. I hired an off duty Sheriff to hand him the divorce papers personally. I guess this life changing document hit him hard and made him come to his senses. He realized that the treasure he’s been searching for was right there all along. Stitching up my injury and putting a band aid over it wasn’t going to be enough; this relationship was in need of a major surgery. We both went to a psychologist for marriage counseling to repair the damages that was done.

First was the anesthesia, I had to forgive him for his shortcomings. If I didn’t go through the numbness, this procedure could hurt more than it already did. The numbing part kicked in after a while because forgiveness didn’t come easy. I had to forgive this girl who did me wrong that I’ve never even met (till this day). Especially since she decided to keep my husband’s baby. Next was the incision, which is actually a key element for this surgery to work out, open communication. My husband and I had to learn how to communicate effectively without bringing up our faults. This was very difficult because I had to be honest with myself and tell him how I really felt not having to blame him for the grief that he caused me.

Going in through the incision to fix the problem was the process of regaining trust. He decided to bring me wherever he went, checked in with me on his way to work and back, cut off all ties with that girl, changed his phone number, and was even willing to relocate to another state; anything to earn my trust. Closing up the cut to start the healing stage was spending more family quality time together. This didn’t mean that our friends were erased from the picture, we just decided to set a day with no distractions, just our time spent with our family alone. Helping my mother wasn’t a top priority anymore. She understood my situation, so my time with her was when he was with his friends. The recovery period is improving our lives to have a better future for our family. We have set goals and dreams that we are slowly turning into reality. Although our past haunts us like an unearthed spirit, we will prove to family members and friends who have judged us that we have buried this issue and moved on.

When I am at the intersection of present with past (if my husband and I get into a major argument), I remind myself that that’s nothing compared to what we’ve already been through. This experience has taught me that I can never change a person because it is up to that certain individual to change. I can only be an influence by being a better person so that they can see the difference if they were to do the same. I have also reached a different level of maturity compared to others of my age because I can reflect on my life’s history and apply it to other people if they need help. Marrying at a young age and surviving a stormy marriage has shaped me into the woman that I am today. I know what I want out of life, so I continually strive harder each time I face a similar difficulty. Every time I reach that same intersection, I hold onto my husband’s hand like a child does to its parent before crossing a busy crosswalk, and remember that we are in it together.

Abad, Glory
11 March 2010
FD2

Pastor Jaime Castro Manera, Sr.

When I was a little girl, I always wondered why so many people knew my dad and why they would question me, “Oh! You’re Pastor Manera’s youngest daughter?!” These people would treat me like I’m some kind of princess, but I’ll admit, it felt good back then. My dad was a well respected person and always spoke highly about his family. As I grew older and realized what my dad did for a living and who he was, I started to get a little embarrassed because people had high expectations for me since I am the “Pastor’s daughter.” It seems like I had to be the perfect daughter since some church members told their kids that I was an example to follow as a Christian child. [THESIS] I try to fit myself into the mold that my father’s life has created so that my life will form into a shape that will have an influence on others as well. [THESIS]

My dad, Jaime Castro Manera, Sr. was a Pastor and a humble follower of God. This short Filipino man always had a smile on his face that you would wonder if he was ever the type to get mad. I’ve seen him angry at his children for not listening, but never with other people. He always kept this calm demeanor because many people looked up to him. He was a role model and a leader. Although he had a monotone voice, it was soothing knowing that he spoke with wisdom. He used to say that his wisdom is seen by the grayish colored set of hairs that he had on his head. I didn’t see the use of plucking out the white hairs when he asked me to since they were all gray anyway.

He had a faith so huge that he entrusted God with everything. In times of happiness or sadness, he knew that this higher force was in control. He always said that with God, anything is possible and there was a plan behind every situation. Even with his health, he didn’t have a primary care physician because he believed his doctor was God. If he had symptoms of a cold, he would boil some water and ginger and drink that as his remedy. He claimed he was healthy even though he had this belly of an 8-month pregnant woman. My nephews would imitate him by putting a pillow under their shirt, but my dad would just make a joke of it and smash them with his tummy. My dad would find ways to make us laugh, but did it with a clean sense of humor because he really cared about how other people felt. I’ve never known of a time where he hurt someone’s feelings. He would even say sorry to other people even though he didn’t do anything wrong.

He was just a little over 5 feet tall, but had a heart of a giant. He went out of his way to help others and sometimes put his family aside to do that. He knew that we would understand his motives in helping people and wouldn’t get mad at him. To my dad, helping people made others see that he was a devout follower of God. He did anything to show that he had Christ in his heart. If we had a bible study on a school night and it was really late, he would still offer a ride to those who need it no matter how far they lived. It was hard to get mad at him for being nice, but when he was late (almost an hour) to pick me up from school and used the excuse “I’m sorry I’m late because I had to bring Nana and Tata Porlucas to their interview for their citizenship,” he always found a way to make it up to me. He would either bring me to McDonald’s or to a store of my choice and buy me something nice.

I couldn’t understand why he had so much patience helping others. If I had to drive someone around for a day, but they weren’t there at the time they said they were going to be there, I would just leave. My father never complained one bit. In fact, he used that time waiting to meet new people by starting up a simple conversation, “Hi! Are you Filipino? Oh what part of the Philippines are you from?” That conversation would eventually lead to an invitation from my dad to attend church the following Sunday. His vibrant character was hard to resist and was nothing compared to those regular Saturday morning door to door Jehovah’s Witnesses. Although he had this huge scary looking mole on his right cheekbone, the way he smiled made his flat fat nose flare which made him look like a familiar family friend instead of any other stranger.

No matter how much he had, he was willing to share or sometimes give it all away. If he had a plate lunch, but was bombarded by an unexpected friend visiting, he would offer his food even if it was only a little left. There were times where my dad just gave his food away and was left with an empty stomach, but a huge smile on his face to see that someone else was satisfied. Although my family’s income was mainly dependent on my mother’s since my dad didn’t make that much as a full time minister, he was still very giving. Nothing was too little for him to share with others. If he didn’t have money for lunch, he would pop open a can of Spam, put it in the microwave, and add some tomatoes. He lived an ordinary life, but managed to make remarkable differences.

When my father died in 2002, I felt like I lost a big piece of my life. The number of people that came to pay their last respects goes to show that my father, the pastor played many roles in these people’s lives. He inspired me to be a better person by sharing the message of hope and practicing it, and enforced the value of putting God first in everything that I do. My dad’s immense faith, spirit of serving others, and huge generosity made his life into a model that I want to follow. This model will help me to be successful in my career pathway that I am on right now.

Log of Completed Activities
__X_ Feb 9t – Intro to paper #2: Portraits (Confirmation reply required.)
Feb 15M: Holiday: Presidents’ Day
__X_ Feb 12F- Laulima Discussion: Portraits by Lee and Simic.
__X_ Feb 16t- Complete readings – all of chap. 13. Optional: “Cucarachas” by Madeline Sonik (Confirmation reply required.)
__X_ Feb 19F- Laulima Discussion: Portraits by Steinbach and Toth.
__L_ Feb 26F- Laulima Posting: Sample from Your Portrait.
__X_ Mar 1M- RD2 due [50 pts] Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
__X_ Mar 4T- RD2 Evaluations due [50 pts] Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)
Mar 5F- No classes.
__X_ Mar 8M- FD2 due [125 pts] Review the guidelines. (Confirmation reply required.)

Pastor Jaime Castro Manera, Sr.

Abad, Glory
01 March 2010
RD2

Pastor Jaime Castro Manera, Sr.

When I was a little girl, I always wondered why so many people knew my dad and why they would question me, “Oh! You’re Pastor Manera’s youngest daughter?!” These people would treat me like I’m some kind of princess, but I’ll admit, it felt good back then. My dad was a well respected person and always spoke highly about his family. As I grew older and realized what my dad did for a living and who he was, I started to get a little embarrassed because people had high expectations for me since I am the “Pastor’s daughter.” It seems like I had to be the perfect daughter since some church members told their kids that I was an example to follow as a Christian child. [THESIS] I try to fit myself into the mold that my father’s life has created so that my life will form into a shape that will have an affect on others as well. [THESIS]

My dad, Jaime Castro Manera, Sr. was a Pastor and a humble follower of God. This short Filipino man always had a smile on his face that you would wonder if he was ever the type to get mad. I’ve seen him angry at his children for not listening, but never with other people. He always kept this calm demeanor because many people looked up to him. He was a role model and a leader. Although he had a monotone voice, it was soothing knowing that he spoke with wisdom. He used to say that his wisdom is seen by the grayish colored set of hairs that he had on his head. I didn’t see the use of plucking out the white hairs when he asked me to since they were all gray anyway.

He had a faith so huge that he entrusted God with everything. In times of happiness or sadness, he knew that this higher force was in control. He always said that with God, anything is possible and there was a plan behind every situation. Even with his health, he didn’t have a primary care physician because he believed his doctor was God. If he had symptoms of a cold, he would boil some water and ginger and drink that as his remedy. He claimed he was healthy even though he had this belly of an 8-month pregnant woman. My nephews would imitate him by putting a pillow under their shirt, but my dad would just make a joke of it and smash them with his tummy. My dad would find ways to make us laugh, but did it with a clean sense of humor because he really cared about how other people felt. I’ve never known of a time where he hurt someone’s feelings.

He was just a little over 5 feet tall, but had a heart of a giant. He went out of his way to help others and sometimes put his family aside to do that. He knew that we would understand his motives in helping people. To him, helping people made others see that he was a devout follower of God. He did anything to show that he had Christ in his heart. If we had a bible study on a school night and it was really late, he would still offer a ride to those who need it no matter how far they lived. It was hard to get mad at him for being nice, but when he was late (almost an hour) to pick me up from school and used the excuse “I’m sorry I’m late because I had to bring Nana and Tata Porlucas to their interview for their citizenship,” he always found a way to make it up to me. He would either bring me to McDonald’s or to a store of my choice and buy me something nice.

I couldn’t understand why he had so much patience helping others. If I had to drive someone around for a day, but they weren’t there at the time they said they were going to be there, I would just leave. My father never complained one bit. In fact, he used that time waiting to meet new people by starting up a simple conversation, “Hi! Are you Filipino? Oh what part of the Philippines are you from?” That conversation would eventually lead to an invitation from my dad to attend church the following Sunday. His vibrant character was hard to resist and was nothing compared to those regular Saturday morning door to door Jehovah’s Witnesses. The way he smiled made his flat fat nose flare which made him look like a familiar family friend instead of any other stranger.

No matter how much he had, he was willing to share or sometimes give it all away. If he had a plate lunch, but was bombarded by an unexpected friend visiting, he would offer his food even if it was only a little left. There were times where my dad just gave his food away and was left with an empty stomach, but a huge smile on his face to see that someone else was satisfied. Although my family’s income was mainly dependent on my mother’s since my dad didn’t make that much as a full time minister, he was still very giving. Nothing was too little for him to share with others. If he didn’t have money for lunch, he would pop open a can of Spam, put it in the microwave, and add some tomatoes. He lived an ordinary life, but managed to make remarkable differences.

When my father died in 2002, I felt like I lost a big piece of my life. The number of people that came to pay their last respects goes to show that my father, the pastor played many roles in these people’s lives. He inspired me to be a better person by sharing the message of hope and practicing it, and enforced the value of putting God first in everything that I do. My dad’s immense faith, spirit of serving others, and huge generosity made his life into a model that I want to follow. This model will help me to be successful in my career pathway that I am on right now.