Why this is my last semester as a UP CAMP lecturer

I'm thankful to UPM for exposing me to ideas that are different from mine.

Since I will most likely be single for the rest of my life, my mom advised me to avoid swinging towards two extremes. She said that it’s important to fight off both tendencies that are caused by the lack of structure in a single person’s life. On one hand, I must not cling to such a narrow way of living that anyone who doesn’t behave according to my expectations is immediately judged as inferior. On the other hand, I must also not spread myself too thinly. Missing out on marriage and motherhood can be devastating, and a lot of single women compensate for that by taking on far more than what they can handle. 

I have a stronger tendency towards the latter. That’s why several weeks ago, I told our Occupational Therapy (OT) Department Chair that this will be my last semester as a lecturer. I’ve decided to focus more on patient care and on graduate studies. 

Although being a clinician has always been my primary role, teaching at the University of the Philippines College of Allied Medical Professions (UP CAMP) has been one of the most fulfilling experiences that I’ve had in my professional life. For the past three years, I’ve handled interns and taught major subjects with colleagues. I immensely enjoyed the intellectual stimulation! Other than that, I had fun hanging out at Robinson’s Manila (especially at the Papermoon Cafe — I loved their Matcha Ichigo! And their mille crepes, of course!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wRTqsRh8wg

I may have complained about how overwhelmed I was. I may have ranted about the weaknesses of Gen Z students that are more evident in them than in the older generations. Nevertheless, it was a joy teaching such bright, cheerful, and open-minded future therapists. I believe that with the right guidance and with the appropriate level of challenge in light of their many learning resources, our Gen Z OT, physical therapy, and speech-language pathology students just might become one of the profoundest and most creative generations of therapists in history. That’s not an exaggeration. I’ve witnessed their brilliance many times.

Aging is real

Still, I must say goodbye to UP CAMP to not overstretch myself given that I’m aging. I’ve long accepted the fact that there is a great likelihood that writing reports after a day’s work will always be part of an occupational therapist’s daily routine. I’m actually used to that, because pre-pandemic, I had evaluations with home programs almost every week. That’s on top of the other paperwork from patient care and my side projects.

So I was prepared for the kind of workload that I would have in UP CAMP as a part-time lecturer. But now, I must cut down on the papers and the administrative duties that I need to do after work hours as I need to sleep more. Plus I’ve got to exercise.

Humility: UP CAMP’s greatest legacy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItMiX5P07_0

So in light of my limitations, I’m no longer renewing my status as a lecturer at the UP CAMP. The realization that I can’t be everything that I want to be has always been the greatest lesson that I learned from my alma mater. UP taught me then as an undergraduate student that there will always be someone more gifted than me. Because of that, I learned to have my own journey instead of constantly comparing myself to everyone else. Now, UP CAMP has revealed to me my real strengths as an occupational therapist. God willing, this lesson on humility will help me focus on where I can best serve others.

Maraming salamat, UP!