AFTER my six years of teaching in a university, I thought of working with a municipality as a coop development officer. I know it’s incompatible with my education course but I see it as my strength in the workplace.
While performing my function as a public servant, I met this dedicated and multi-tasking non-government organization personnel—Catherin Cimatu.
I encouraged her to write her thoughts on shifting careers before leaving the La Trinidad Coop Office especially with her experience in the organizations she worked with. The following are her take on shifting careers:
You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go. –Dr. Seuss
It doesn’t matter if your career today isn’t aligned to the degree you finished and other’s expectations of you. What matters are the impacts you’ll create in the places you’ll go and the learning you’ll acquire along the way.
I started as a budding development journalist of La Trinidad, to a public school teacher in Metro Manila and to an ambassador/development officer in LGU-La Trinidad.
I was one of the privileged graduating college student from Cordillera who was qualified to be part of Teach for the Philippines (TFP)—for-purpose, non-stock, non-profit organization that works to provide all Filipino children with access to relevant and excellent education.
TFP enlists some of the country’s most promising young leaders to teach for two (2) years in public schools throughout the Philippines. Through training and experience from the classroom, Teach for the Philippines transforms them into leaders who will advocate for education equity.
The people around me asked why the sudden shift of career? At first, like them, I may not also certain of what will happen to me and what I can get from going out of my comfort zone and teaching #parasabata # parasabayan but still, I grabbed the opportunity.
After undergoing intense leadership trainings and professional education units, TFP was assigned as a Teacher Fellow in one of the most highly populated public school in the country and became the adviser of the school publication that slept for almost 8 years. I taught English to more than two (2) thousand Grade Three (3) pupils, introduced the Cordilleran culture, facilitated workshops and created rapport in and out the school for two (2) years.
After graduating from the 2-year TFP Fellowship Program, TFP gave me another opportunity to choose what field I want to work with where I can still inculcate education reform. I chose to go back to La Trinidad. I wanted to give back to my community by serving in the LGU.
For a year, I worked as a TFP ambassador/DevCom officer in LGU-La Trinidad, specifically in the Cooperative Development Services Office (CDSO) where I was able to inculcate the skills and knowledge I’ve acquired from TFP. On the other hand, I was inspired how the co-ops of the municipality support the community through giving financial support for the environment, culture and other projects of the municipality and how the CDSO, Mayor Romeo Salda, Vice Mayor Joey Jovencio Marrero and Coun. Horacio Ramos Jr. support co-op activities that promote unity and enhance skills among the co-op members.
Saying yes to TFP was the best choice. I may skewed from the society’s expectation of alignment of career but I still made the right choice—to go out of my comfort zone, contribute to nation building, return to my community, create positive impact and celebrate the little victories.
Everything is worthwhile if it’s out of passion. Let’s continue to leave a positive mark in every single thing we do for nation building. //Catherin Cimatu