I Passed the Exam, but it’s Not Only Me. God and I Worked Together

God never fails. He never fails even if we continually disappoint Him all along. That is how amazing God’s love for us.

It was a different kind of elation that Monday night of November 26. A friend surprised me with a text confirming the results were in. I was shocked. I was expecting it to be released by 28. It was what a website published earlier. And just minutes later, a classmate texted me ‘CONGRATULATIONS! YOU PASSED THE EXAM!’,that moment I could only think of God, His amazing love and generosity, for yet another answered prayer.

For the past few days and say months, after the exam, I was paranoid. I mean literally, I was. Exam results kept haunting me. The optimist me assured that I will pass, but there’s the evil pessimist me who kept on insisting I will fail. But it was all in my mind, just the thoughts that I kept on rewinding inside my head. And how little faith have I got!

I blog about my L.E.T. experience here before, on how it went and what exactly I felt when I took the exam. But I forgot to write about a terrifying thing that happened. I LEFT A SINGLE ITEM FOR THE GENERAL EDUCATION, UNANSWERED AND UNSHADED. I COULD NOT FORGET IT; IT WAS A MATHEMATICS ITEM, #68. THIS, THIS WAS THE REASON OF SO MUCH FEARS AND WORRIES TO ME.I was delirious. I was full of “what if’s” in mind. What if the machine would jump and skip more items in checking. What if I fail because of myclumsiness?

I feel so sorry for myself for those times that I was doubtful of His ways. I did believe, but I did not trust. I just thought, “DearJesus is this somehow a challenge on my faith?”, “Am I tested if I trust Your ways all along?”.This transformed me. I was transformed by trouble.

Maybe God meant for me to pass the teachers board. He meant for me to become a teacher, a licensed teacher. So that in the future, as I serve His purpose, I will shape minds and touch hearts. And that I can impart my skills and abilities. Use the talents He has given me. Influence lives and spread His words.

From this day forward I promised you Lord to live life full of love. I will keep on kneeling and serve Your purpose for me here on earth, and continue to love you every day Jesus and Your people. I am happy that I made it. I am especially happy to see my family wearing extra special smiles on their faces with what I have achieved. This is an early Christmas and birthday gift from God.

I WISH NOT TO BE THE PERFECT TEACHER IN THE FUTURE, BUT I WILL WORK HARD TO BE THE BEST TEACHER THAT I CAN BE. For with God, nothing is impossible.

I REALLY COULD NOT EXPRESS TOTALLY IN WORDS WHAT I AM FEELING AT THE MOMENT. I AM EXTREMELY HAPPY AND DELIGHTED THAT GOD HAS GIVEN ME THIS WONDERFUL MOMENT IN MY LIFE, MOST ESPECIALLY TO MY CAREER. I am also grateful that I was not the only one; we made it, my classmates from the University of Southeastern Philippines – Tagum, BEEdsection D1. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE NEW BREED OF TEACHERS! ALL GLORY TO GOD!

Roll of successful passers.

L.E.T – Elementary held on SEPTEMBER 30, 2012, released on NOVEMBER 26, 2012.

1.       ANTIPUESTO, EDEN HOPE

2.      AUTOR, FELIPE

3.     BINAG, LEREVIC

4.      CABANISAS, DARRYLYN

5.      CAMACHO, ALBINO

6.      CENIZA, JUDELYN

7.      CORAJE, MARY JOY

8.      CORTES, MELISSA

9.      FLORES, MARIZ

10.   GASTA, CHARLENE

11.    GEPALA, CHERRY MAGNE

12.   GUIBELONDO, ROCHEL

13.   GUILLAS, GRETCHEN

14.   HINGPIT, GRACELL

15.   LEGASPI, JANETH

16.   LINGAS, JAY PEARL

17.   LOOD, JULIE ANNE

18.   MANOOS, STEFFANY

19.   MUTOC CHERRY MAE

20.  OLARITA, MARY ANN

21.   PARILLA, DONNA ROSE

22.  PEPE, XENIA BELLE

23.  PICAZA, APRIL ROSE

24.  SARDA, MICHELLE ANN

25.  TANGUAN, JAY R DAVE

26.  TUMALA, METHYLEN

Most especially to our TOP NOTCHER, another pride of the University, ERECK BANICO for being one of the TOP 7 in the entire LET passers.

I am as proud as everyone. Congrats guys! This calls for a celebration. LET’S PARTEYYYY!

I TOOK A BOARD EXAM (SEPTEMBER 2012 LICENSURE EXAMINATION FOR TEACHERS)

Let me just describe the day I consider as a significant one to remember (Sept. 30, 2012), where armed with guts, hope, faith and a prayer, I took the Licensure Examinations for Teachers (LET) at UM Bolton, Davao.

It was a sunny day, just a normal Sunday morning for everyone. I woke up really early and fixed myself for what could be the make or break diurnal of every aspiring teacher to be, like me. I was bursting with self-confidence that day. God heard my prayer for I was more enthused than usual. My mind was relaxed. I wasn’t even that keyed-up about the exam and my anxiety level inexplicably died out.

One of the review masters on a certain review center I attended told us the exact thing about the upcoming LET. He stressed that we should ‘EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED’---- like the whole shebang under the sun might just be a possible item for the LET (AND YES, HE WAS RIGHT ON THIS!).

And so without a fuss, I read and answered the questions cautiously. I dug-out some old relics of knowledge I have from my nutshell just so I could answer some out-of-nowhere questions in General Education. I was just amazed on how they structured, chosen and included those questions that some of it (at least 50% of them) were NEW to me, like you’ll be stupefied for a moment every time you read some of those unfamiliar questions. I thought I’ve prepared well, read enough notes and answered enough possible items that would come out. To my disbelief, I even have some overlooked topics which I thought was insignificant and yet unfortunately some of them came out. (T.T)

After all, I was confident when I took the exam for I believed I wasn’t alone that moment. I was accompanied and guided by my Lord Jesus in answering all of the items. I claimed it to the Lord and I believed. I was repeating the same line on my mind while answering, “, I CAN DO IT, I CAN PASS THE LET!’ just to uplift my spirit.

Few items in English, Filipino and Social Sciences were literally ‘ALIEN ITEMS’ to me. Although much of it were just the basics, but still if you haven’t encountered some of those you’ll end up guessing. Some questions/ items which I goggled right away for answers that were retained on my head and which also puzzled me a lot were: (1) who wrote ‘Little Women’ (which I guessed right – t’was by Louisa May Alcott); (2) the great orator (Lopez-Jaena); (3) a German term for ___ (t’was actually MACHEN --- thanks to my recent acquaintance with a Nazi documentary for a petty knowledge about the German language, again I guessed this item right (^o^)v ); (4) who created the Bonifacio monument (t’was Guillermo Tolentino); (5) created an economic plan for the Philippines (t’was Jose Basco --- thanks to Mr. M for this). Basic knowledge on sentence structure and grammar and a handful about English and Filipino literature were evident.

For Mathematics, the basic knowledge on fundamental operations, percentage, ratio & proportion and algebra I had back then was extremely beneficial. I was expecting some nerve-wracking questions/problems that could break any momentum, but it was way far than what I’ve expected (thank God!). I thank Mr. B a lot for sharing his useful knowledge and tips in answering different kinds of mathematical problems. I SUPPOSED I ANSWERED ALMOST ALL OF THE MATHEMATICS ITEMS CORRECTLY AND TO THE BEST KNOWLEDGE I HAVE (except for just two items TT_TT).

There were only few items in Science and Health. I fathom there were only less than 20 items. Again I am extremely grateful to Mr. B for having provided us enough possible items for Science and Health, and so I was confident I hit some of the right answers for those items (*crossed-fingers).

As for the Professional Education, I was just surprised there were a lot of items for SPED. I thought we (CONTENT COURSE MAJOR) have a different set apart from SPED MAJORS, like we will have the NCBTS. Well I guess we both got the same.

To sum it all, the experience brought by taking the Licensure Examination for Teachers (LET) on me was unexplainable. It created an impact not only on my physical and mental being, but most significantly, to my spiritual life. I was driven towards my Creator. It made me reflect, ask for forgiveness and renew my ties with Father God.

I FEEL ECSTATIC, FRENZIED, EUPHORIC WHATEVER YOU CALL IT AT THE SAME TIME STRAINED AND EXCITED AS I WAIT FOR THE RESULTS (actually ATM, as I write this so-called sentiments). FOR WHATEVER MAY HAPPEN, MY MIND IS OPEN FOR POSSIBILITIES. I BELIEVE IN MY HEART THAT I WILL PASS, BUT I DON'T WANNA BE PRESUMPTUOUS.

Religion is not magic if you played your part well. I believe in the power of faith and prayer. I did my part. I did my best. Now I rest everything to GOD. ^_^