For these K-12 graduates, there are many paths to success

 

While many academicians are still debating the necessity of adding two more years to the basic education curriculum, one thing is clear for three newly graduated students of the University of Makati's (UMak) Senior High School Program (SHSP)—they are now more equipped with knowledge and industry experience, keys to helping them chart their own futures.  

Maturity and focus

Way back in 2012, Moises Castelo enrolled in Higher School ng UMak’s Grade 11 program since he had no idea what course to take in college—plus, HSU's tuition was free.

“Wala akong inaplayan na ibang college, school... kasi nga nung pagka-graduate ko ang gulo pa ng isip ko nun, eh. Hindi ko alam kung ano kukunin kong kurso,” Castelo recounted in an interview.

“Tapos nung nag-enroll na ako dito, iba-iba pala yung courses na pwede mong i-take. Bale yung pinakahuli ko po kinuha nung Grade 11 ako, Massage Therapy. Tapos yun po yung naging pinaka-mataas na grade ko. Ang sabi po sa’min ng guidance counselor, kung ano yung magustuhan mo saka kung ano po yung pinakamataas na grade mo, yun ang magandang i-pursue mo sa Grade 12. Kaya nung sa Grade 12 ko po ipinursue ko na po yung Massage Therapy,” Castelo said.

Castelo had also taken the elective courses Responsible Citizenship, Software Development, and Caregiving, before pursuing Massage Therapy.

And armed with knowledge gained in Grades 11 and 12, 18-year-old Castelo is now a certified Massage Therapist after passing the Technical Education Development Authority's (TESDA's) National Certificate II (NCII) assessment test.

And, despite his earning a living from his massage therapy practice, Castelo is contemplating further education and would like to pursue a Physical Therapy course in college, probably in UMak. For now though, he will be working full-time to save money for college.

Equipped

For 24-year-old Grade 12 student Jino Ramboy, the 300 hours of job training in his chosen elective, Culinary Arts, got him further than he expected.

“Hindi ko akalain na matatanggap talaga ako dun. Kasi nung interview ko po, kinakabahan talaga ako, kasi K-12 (student) lang ako e,” Ramboy said, recalling the time he applied for his OJT in a four-star hotel in Tomas Morato, Quezon City.

But when he got accepted, Ramboy gained confidence as the skills gleaned from his Culinary Arts course matched the skills required in his OJT.

“Yun pong mga natutunan ko sa Culinary Arts (course), hindi ko akalain na dun sa hotel magagamit ko talaga. Dun ko nalaman na wala yan kung anong school pinapasukan mo, saka kung ano yung estado mo ba. Kasi nakasabayan ko dun mga, talagang galing ng culinary schools. May mga galing sa CCA (Center for Culinary Arts).”

"Nung malapit na matapos yung OJT namin, parang may game dun sa hotel, pakulo lang ba nung executive dun para magkaroon ng buhay yung OJT namin. Lahat ng OJT, kailangan daw namin magluto para ise-serve sa buffet night... Yun po, parang may grading sila sa mga niluto mo. Hanggang nung natapos na po yung OJT ko, sinabihan po ako ‘Gusto mo ba magtuloy mag-work dito? Iha-hire ka namin,” Ramboy recounted.

The eldest among eight siblings, Ramboy decided to seize the moment. The only other real job experience he had was working several years as a bus conductor to finance his studies.

“Sa ngayon, magtratrabaho po muna ako. Saka sa culinary naman po, hindi mo kailangan ng four years e, ang kailangan lang po siguro, mag-upgrade yung skill mo, practice ka nang practice. At the same time po, mag-attend ka ng mga training,” Ramboy said.

Ready for higher learning

Meanwhile, 18-year-old Grace Alcazar said she intends to pursue her college education.
After specializing in the Sign Language course, Alcazar, who was certified by PNASLI, said her OJT and volunteer work as an interpreter in churches and schools for persons with disabilities (PWDs) helped her realize her calling.

“Kaya yun (Sign Language) po ang pinili ko, kasi po kakaiba siya. At the same time nakakatulong ka po sa kapwa. Kahit po wala man akong pera para maitulong, yung sarili ko na lang po,” Alcazar said.

Though she is now working in the school where she had her OJT, she said she intends to enroll in college in the coming school year to take up a course in Special Education (SPED).

“Ang laking tulong po nung Senior High School Program para sa ’kin kasi mas nalaman ko po kung ano yung gusto ko. Magandang preparation po siya para sa college kasi nawala po yung pagka-mahiyain ko... ngayon po nakakapagturo na ’ko ng sign language,” Alcazar said.

“Itutuloy ko na po dito sa UMak. Sabi ko po dun sa school na kumuha sa ’kin, bale magpa-part-time lang po ako dun kasi, mag-aaral po ako dito,” she said.

University of Makati's Grade 12 students, the first-ever to undergo the SHSP in the Philippines, graduated on April 12. — VC, GMA News