Hi! First, I wanted to let you know that this phase of my life (being a teenager) is quite challenging. Academic pressure's huge. I'm still growing, developing, and uncovering things in my life. Although this stage is difficult, I know I can overcome this because God is with me, guides me, and gives me strength to live this life; that's why I've been strong throughout, because of Jesus. I can say that I've been in many situations I never expected to be in. But I thank God every day because He never left my side. I am so blessed and thankful for everything in my life. Many realizations came in, one of which is that life is not constant but changing. The more I get older, the more realizations I get. The more people I gain, the more I lose. I have a lot of dreams to chase, and I want to achieve those not just for myself, but for everyone who needs me. I know God wants me to help other people, and I will. I hope you will never lose your faith in Jesus because that's a promise I would never break. I hope you will be successful and help others who need help a lot. I hope you will be humble and think that life is tough, but through Jesus, we can overcome those obstacles. I hope you will forever be grateful for what you have. I hope you will continue to live through God. Do what is right and place love above all. Remember that Romans 8:18 says, "The pain that you have been feeling can't compare to the joy that is coming." Love yah!

Sincerely,

Your teenager self

Let's begin with my JHS days, so my first two years of high school were not face-to-face classes because of the pandemic. Let's talk about my 9th and 10th grades. I'm still struggling with commuting here because I don't know how to commute. I've encountered and realized a lot here that everything has its purpose and that you won't get what you want. But it's a crime not to say that this was the BEST SCHOOL YEARS of my life. I became more mature and open-minded.

Recently, I chose ABM, which encouraged me to put in the effort. I entered Ateneo de Davao University Senior High School. At first, I was down because none of my friends attended Ateneo; it was all me, a new, independent. I never really wanna talk to anybody because I know our humors won't match because I have a "kanal" humor and most of my classmates have "aircon" humor. My grades literally dropped. However, that changed when I met my friend, Grace. I was really thankful for her. God gave me one person to click with because He knows I'm not doing fine. Until I found my friends, they were getting a lot, haha. If you ask me how I am right now, I love this phase of my life. Life is not perfect, but it is beautiful.

Although being a teenager can be confusing, I gradually understood myself and made better choices. I appreciate the support from my family and friends as I go through this critical time in my life. I believe these experiences will prepare me for the future. I became more dedicated to God, and I heard the call of God for me to serve Him, love, and be kind to one another. I only want to be successful in life to help others with love.

One of the best parts of the class was our teacher, Sir Jerwin Yanson. He has a unique way of making each topic engaging and easy to understand. Sir Jerwin is kind, engaging, and understanding. He knows how to keep us interested and motivated. Even when the subjects became serious or personal, he always ensured we felt comfortable and respected.

I really appreciate how he ties every lesson to real-life situations, making the subject feel valuable and practical. Thanks to him, I no longer see Personal Development as a boring subject, but as a helpful tool for improving myself and understanding others better. I’m very thankful to Sir Jerwin for making this learning experience enjoyable and meaningful.

My main lessons from personal development are about understanding myself, being aware of my emotions, and valuing healthy relationships. I learned that knowing who I am is crucial to personal growth and overall happiness. This topic has helped me appreciate myself while also motivating me to strive for improvement. I've realized that making mistakes is okay as long as I learn from them. Also, I recognize that personal development is an ongoing journey that continues as I encounter new experiences.

There are two topics I really liked, which were Emotional Intelligence and Mental Health and Well-being. I found Emotional Intelligence helpful because it taught me how to understand and manage my emotions effectively. It also made me more understanding and caring towards others. I also enjoyed learning about Mental Health and well-being, as it showed me the importance of taking care of myself, both mentally and emotionally. These topics were easy to relate to and offered me important lessons I can use every day to stay balanced and positive.