24/07/2026
2026-07-13 Dear Diary, Hello, Sir! I hope everything is fine on your end. In my case, my first half of July has been filled with meaningful challenges, experiences, and countless opportunities for growth. Although the month is still ongoing, I can already say that it has been one of the busiest seasons of my academic and professional journey. Every day has been a balance between fulfilling my responsibilities as a graduate student and embracing my new role as a summer camp teacher. One of my main priorities this month has been my Master's studies. As I continue this journey, I also realize that I am nearing the completion of my first year in graduate school. Looking back on everything I have learned throughout the year, I feel grateful for how much I have grown both academically and personally. This month, our instructors have given us numerous worksheets and problem sets that require intensive mathematical thinking. Solving each activity has demanded patience, critical thinking, and perseverance. There were moments when the problems became mentally exhausting, but every completed worksheet reminds me that every challenge contributes to my learning and development. Just like during my previous trimester, I have also been working on instructional modules. This time, however, the task is even more demanding because I am developing two modules simultaneously, one for English and another for the vernacular language. Creating a single module already requires careful planning, extensive research, and multiple revisions, so preparing two at the same time has certainly tested my time management skills. Despite the workload, I have been steadily making progress and am now in the process of finalizing both modules. My goal is to complete everything with quality and submit them before the deadline set by my instructor. Aside from the mathematics courses, we have also been studying different pedagogical concepts. As part of our requirements, we write reflections and reaction papers on various articles related to teaching and learning. Although this type of activity is already familiar to me as an education student, it remains one of my favorite academic tasks. I appreciate the opportunity to freely express my own perspectives while learning from the different viewpoints of my classmates. These activities continue to remind me that teaching is not only about delivering lessons but also about continuously reflecting, learning, and improving as an educator. The past two weekends have also been significant because I took my final written and oral examinations for several of my courses. Preparing for these assessments required countless hours of studying and reviewing. During the examinations, I gave everything I could and answered with confidence, knowing that I had prepared to the best of my ability. While I still do not know my scores, I am genuinely happy with the effort I gave and the knowledge I was able to demonstrate. At present, I am also working on the remaining course requirements that our instructors have assigned before officially concluding the trimester. Also, this month has also brought a wonderful opportunity for me to grow professionally. Last month, I mentioned that I started working as a summer camp teacher, and I can honestly say that it has been a rewarding experience. Every weekday, I have the privilege of teaching students from different countries. It is fascinating to meet learners from diverse cultural backgrounds, hear about their traditions, and learn about the places they call home. Although adjusting to this new role has been challenging, I am happy with the progress I have made and excited for the experiences that still await me. Balancing work and graduate school has become my routine this month. Weekdays are dedicated to teaching, while weekends are reserved for my Master's classes and examinations. To manage everything effectively, I have developed a discipline of leaving my work responsibilities behind once I clock out. Instead of bringing work home, I spend my evenings completing assignments, reviewing lessons, working on my modules, and studying for my classes. This routine helps me stay organized and prevents me from falling behind whenever deadlines begin to pile up. On a personal note, I am also approaching my first year of living in the city. Looking back, I remember how unfamiliar everything felt when I first arrived. Now, I can confidently say that I no longer feel like a stranger here. I have become comfortable commuting on my own, navigating different places, running errands independently, and adapting to city life. These may seem like ordinary experiences, but they remind me how much I have grown in confidence and independence over the past year. As July continues, I remain grateful for every opportunity and challenge that comes my way. Although balancing graduate school, work, and personal responsibilities is not always easy, I know that every experience is shaping me into a stronger learner, a better teacher, and a more independent individual. I look forward to everything that the rest of this month has yet to offer and hope to continue giving my best in every responsibility entrusted to me. Also, I am happy to share that my Dynabook 28 laptop and its charger are still in good working condition and continue to be reliable companions in accomplishing my academic requirements and other responsibilities. I would also like to express my heartfelt gratitude to AAVS for your unwavering generosity and support. Your kindness continues to inspire me to work hard, pursue my goals with dedication, and strive to become the best version of myself. Every opportunity and every achievement I experience reminds me that your trust and encouragement have played a significant role in my journey. I sincerely appreciate your continued belief in my potential, and I hope to honor your support through my perseverance, growth, and future accomplishments. With heartfelt gratitude, Donalyn A. Sabanal. 2026-07-13 Donalyn 1 – Sharing a meal with my newfound friends and my BSEd Mathematics juniors was a simple yet meaningful way to create lasting memories beyond the classroom. 2026-07-13 Donalyn 2 – An evening shared over dinner with my classmates was a wonderful opportunity to unwind, catch up, and strengthen the friendships we've built throughout our graduate school journey.