isobellerosal

[isobellerosal]

Last year, an intense debate rose up when people wondered if there will be a school year 2020-2021. Originally, the start of classes usually begins during June to July. However, because of the pandemic, there will be no traditional face-to-face classes happening. Instead, the Department of Education introduced to learning modalities for this “new normal”. It includes the MDL or the Modular Distance Learning where schools will provide sets of modules for students with no access to gadgets or internet. The other one is the ODL or the Online Distance Learning where lectures and discussion will be held through online video conference platforms of the school’s choice. These two approaches have their own pros and cons. Nonetheless, students are demanding an “academic break” during the pandemic.

As a student myself, I also have my reasons why I want to appeal an academic break. Yes, I have the access to gadgets and internet, but even so, this are not enough reason for me. I have my fair share of personal reasons to why I am pushing an academic break.

Unfortunately, my online school year will be ending in merely two weeks that is why I can share my experiences in this blog post. As for me, I have my two main reasons.

First, it was so hard to manage my time. This was the first problem I encountered when the classes started. Unlike before where students have their time separated for studying and personal schedules, it was hard for me now to adjust and manage my time. There are many incidents where I am behind my activities and examinations because I need to do other things. Yes, we have the allotted time in our class schedule where we should answer those activities but truthfully speaking, I cannot follow that schedules. Having only our house to study, it was hard for me to balance my time. Aside from being a student, I am also a daughter and an older sister whom my parents are expected to take care of my younger brothers. They expect me to cook meals for my siblings, and help them with their modules and bathing. Having only one place where my responsibilities are all packed up, it was hard for me fulfill those responsibilities. It was not easy to look for my siblings while listening to my teacher. It is not like we can just simply hire helpers because first, we do not have the budget and my parents cannot risk our health and safety especially during this pandemic. Unlike before where I can study at school and be a sister in my house, I had a very hard time adjusting my schedules. Because of this, I often found myself staring at a long list of overdue activities to answer. This also causes me a mental breakdown at some times. I can’t help but to feel stressed at those times.

Second, not all students can be responsible and have peaceful study sessions. Let’s face the truth─ there are lots of distractions while studying. Having only one place to stay, one’s world revolves around it. This place is their school, house, comfort zone, and stress reliever. I am admitting that I have a short attention span. I cannot focus on things for a long time, even more if I find it uninteresting. While studying, there were moments where my attention shifts from listening to my teacher to my sibling as he watches random shows. There were also times where I find myself pinning my own screen and looks at it. Honestly, most of the time, I am not studying at all. I just join the meeting for the sake of attendance. If I will be asked, I cannot consider those times as studying. I am just literally passing those activities for the sake of completion. It is indeed hard to be a responsible student. As I reflect myself, I realized that in this pandemic, you will see who are the real students, and unfortunately, I am not one of those.

Some may see these reasons as just “palusot”, but these are based on what I experienced. All I say is that, most students are not asking for an academic break because they do not want to study or because they are lazy enough. Students have their own reasons that is why they are pursuing the petition. We are not ignoring the fact that our teachers may lose their job if there will be an academic break. We know that we all have our own sufferings─ our fair share of sacrifices.

- 04.25.21 22:47

[isobellerosal]

“Normalize being single and independent.”

“Normalize ladies being confident on their looks.”

“Normalize respecting all kinds of women.”

And the list goes on.

These numerous normalizations are being a trend nowadays. These are all intended for WOMEN EMPOWERMENT movement, an advocacy that promotes one woman’s sense of self-worth. Personally, I am so grateful for this movement, for it allows women to support one another. It allows every woman to help each other in becoming a better version of themselves─ free from all of the society’s limits.

However, it seems like not all women have enough knowledge of what this movement is all about. It is not just about raising our own identity against gender inequality. In reality, this movement is not just about giving words of encouragement to each other. It is also about being respectful towards each other. And that is what some women do not have.

Normalize being single, but some shames other women during Valentine’s Day for having no partner.

Normalize self-appreciation, yet some are calling them as GGSS (Gandang-Ganda Sa Sarili.)

Normalize respecting all women, but body-shaming among women still exists.

Normalize supporting each other’s decisions, yet some are criticizing other women’s ambitions for being different from how they visualize an empowered woman.

These are not what women empowerment means. These are just hypocrisy, from those “some” women who goes along with the trend. These misconceptions just alter what women empowerment should promote.

“Empowering women isn’t just about giving words of encouragement. It’s letting them have power over themselves to rule their lives.” ─Jennifer Gaoiran

Just a reminder for ladies. Women Empowerment choose no standard. It does not pick some women to support. Empowerment do not base on one woman’s achievement, her success in life, her physical appearance, or her chosen profession. This advocacy is for all women─ for the women who chose to free themselves from what the society had decided for them since ages. This is the real deal about women empowerment.

-02.25.21 23:40