HUME 10 became one of the most enrolled GE subjects
here in UPLB maybe because of the interesting topics it covers about adolescents. I was engaged to enroll in HUME 10 mainly because I want an easy subject to take given that I have overload units this semester. But as the semester went on, I realized that HUME 10 is more than just a GE subject that you need to take in order to graduate. Throughout the semester, I saw the dedication and passion of every professor. I appreciate their efforts to make students to really grasp something from them. I saw their commitment to be students confidant when difficulties arise. They are more than just willing to help every student to overcome whatever they are going through.
2. Among the topics discussed, which are the most significant to
you as an adolescent? Why? What have you learned and realized? How have they become relevant to you?
All topics discussed in HUME 10 are significant for me
as an adolescent. One of the topics I really appreciate is the topic about Body Image. Teenagers are very susceptible to criticism, teasing, or negative comments. Some teenagers lose confidence in their appearance if they receive negative or insulting comments about their looks, racial or ethnic features, physical abilities, or body changes associated with puberty. With all of the focus on the body's appearance, adolescents like me may need to be reminded to give equal value to other important aspects of themselves, such as personality, inner strengths, mental aptitudes, and artistic and musical talents, which, along with body image, contribute to overall self-image. There are certain things that I cannot change about my appearance or physical capabilities, but having a good body image does not require a perfect body. I can develop a healthy body image by taking care of my body, appreciating its capabilities, and accepting its imperfections.
Another topic that is significant for me is Hygiene. As
UP students, sometimes I lack care on my well-being. One personal benefit of good hygiene is having better health. Keeping my body clean helps me prevent illness and infection from bacteria or viruses. Like in our example, the simple act of washing my hands regularly is an effective way to keep germs from spreading. I would be much more likely to get sick if, instead of washing my hands, I just wiped them off on my pants and went to lunch as soon as class was over. Maintaining good hygiene also helps me have better self- esteem. In other words, once I take care of how I look, I feel better about myself.
I also find the topic about Emotions really interesting
and helpful. I learned that emotional responses dont necessarily have much to do with the current situation, or to reason, but you can overcome them with reason and by being aware of your reactions. Emotional decisions are sometimes seen as made in the heat of the moment, but emotions play a greater part in most decisions than we may be aware. Very few, however, would argue that the decision is made solely on the basis of logic. HUME 10 thought me that the best decisions are made using both logic and emotion.
Another thing I find vital in HUME 10 is the discussion
on Sexually Transmitted Infection. I want to spread awareness to my friends and classmates about it and help them in case they will encounter it. STIs nowadays are prominent to adolescents and the number of infected people is tremendously increasing. And today, education regarding STI is very vital.
I have a sister undergoing puberty and the topic about
Changes during Puberty is very helpful for me as her sister. I can help and guide my sister as she undergoes puberty and I can give tips on how to take care of herself. With my knowledge I got from HUME 10, I think Im credible enough to educate my sister and guide her as she faces this stage. I can understand her even better with the help of my learnings.
Parenthood is also one of the topics I find relevant.
Good parenthood is the practice of taking good care of ones offspring and ensuring that they grow up in a safe and happy environment, are well educated and know the difference between right and wrong. Parenthood is crucial to human development in so many different ways. That is why it is so important that parents strive to be the very best parents that they can be. But as students, we should focus now on becoming a responsible person we are ought to be. Being a parent has its own season and it demanded responsibility and maturity.
3. Has HUME 10 helped you better understand some personal issues?
What are they, and how has HUME 10 helped in providing clarification about them?
HUME 10 helped me to have a better understanding on
some personal issues like anger management. Anger is a completely normal, usually healthy, human emotion. But when it gets out of control and turns destructive, it can lead to problemsproblems at work, in personal relationships, and in the overall quality of life. People who express their anger without restraint often claim that their anger takes over, and that they can't help their actions. It may feel as if anger is beyond your control, but in reality everyone can learn to control their response to anger.
In addition, anger has some biological basis. The role
that chemistry plays in anger is by the epinephrine and non- epinephrine. Without these two chemicals the body would not be able to give off any reactions when you become angry or try and show any other emotions that involves adrenaline. Epinephrine allows you to engage into the flight to fight reaction which determines how you handle the situation that you are in, by either walking away from the problem or engage aggressively. Non epinephrine is known as the adrenaline rush which in some cases can lead to aggression in situation. It gives them the strength to defend themselves in extreme situations. One thing I learned from Hume 10 is that if you find yourself getting worked up and starting to argue, there are things you can do to prevent things getting out of hand. If you are angry, its usually better to say so, rather than pretend you are not.
4. Are there other personal issues that you wish HUME 10 could help address? If so, what additional topics would you suggest for future classes?
Mental health is one of the issues I wish HUME 10 could
address. Mental illness, particularly depression, has been predicted to be one of the major health burdens of the coming decades. Considering that depression is one of the main causes of chronic illness in the developed world, it baffles me that we are still not arming our children with a very important, arguably the most important, tool to help navigate them through their adult years. That is to give young people an understanding of their mental health.
Mental health for young people in this country is
poorly provided for. Some schools deal with students' issues through counselling services. Others have pastoral sessions to reflect on problems. Charities and the government at local level are increasing their support. But it's still patchy. We recognize that a child's physical health education is important enough to have attention devoted to it weekly, on a national scale. Many communities struggle with the stigma of mental health diagnoses and treatment. While people will openly seek treatment for a broken arm or heart disease, their decision to seek treatment for a mental health illness is often kept secret and many times, avoided entirely due to stigma.
It is, of course, not a new insight that physical and
mental health concerns must be addressed if schools are to function satisfactorily and students are to succeed at school. It has long been acknowledged that a variety of psychosocial and health problems affect learning and performance in profound ways. Such problems are exacerbated as adolescents internalize the unbearable effects of performing poorly at school and are punished for the misbehavior that is a common correlate of school failure.
Helping students make the most of their education is
everyones goal. Students struggling with depression or other mental illnesses have a harder time feeling motivated, learning, concentrating, taking tests, etc. But with timely and proper treatment, mental health challenges can be addressed and students can reach their academic potential.
5. Were there any improvements in your relationship with
yourself, your peers, your family, or your intimate friend?
Yes, there is a lot of improvement that I observed with
my relationship with myself, peers, family and boyfriend. Relationships come with plenty of opportunities to worry. Worry is often a sign that there is a problem in the relationship that needs to be addressed, but it might also signal a personal struggle that resides more in me. So, I make sure to ask myself what my exact worry is. Rather than accepting that I am just anxious about my relationship, I try to get more specific. For instance, I might realize that my parents are not giving enough attention and care for me. Once that Im already aware of my specific concern, I ask myself whether if it is reasonable. This can sometimes be difficult to figure out. It can help to think about what my assessment of the situation would be if it were happening to someone else. Sometimes, I ask a trusted friend for their thoughts. As much as possible, I try to address any reasonable causes for concern directly, and doing my best to work it out together.
Good relationships have open lines of communication --
where each people feel heard and respected. One of the best ways to strengthen relationship is to increase listening skills and those of other people. Until we can hear each other, we cannot build strong relationships. Most people value people in the relationship, although many people are not aware of the importance of improving their self and perspective. It takes hard work to make a successful relationship. The work you put into making your relationship stronger, however, can be well worth the effort.
6. With whom do you usually discuss personal issues like problems
with your parents, friends, bf/gf, school issues or intimate issues that have something to do with sexuality?
There will always be problems in our lives, but
sometimes we don't have the capacity to handle them all by ourselves. Getting a 360-degree view is impossible when all you can see is what's going wrong. No one was created to navigate this world on their own. And talking with another person can give us perspective. I realized that I can minimize my problems by discussing them with the people I trust. No matter the pain and sorrow of past relationships, everyone should risk inviting someone into their lives and sharing their problems with someone.
I always discuss personal issues with my best friend
because she is the one who knows me so well. I have never felt judged by her because she assures me that things I have felt, cried about, been angry about, or even overjoyed about have been justified since she hears my explanations. One of the greatest things about opening up to her is that she also trusts me to listen to her issues and joys too.
With all of the listening she does, I love that she
isn't afraid to give her opinion if she feels the need. I value her opinion highly, and it is always welcome. I just simply love that she let me get everything out first. She doesn't judge. She doesn't interrupt. She is just the friend I need.
All of the advice she gave me isn't simply what she
would do. She know me so well that she would take the time to listen, analyze, and combine her wisdom with how she see me reacting. It is such a breath of fresh air to know that she have my best interests at heart, and that she explains her advice if it ends up being something that isn't necessarily me.