Bill Gates said to a group of graduating high school students: "Life is unfair, you just have to live without." Fact: This world is really "unfair." But we must "live with it" by being proactive and try to equalize with those people and institution who are unfair! I'm not saying that we must have a heart of revenge and "equalize" with them by putting them down. What I'm saying is that we must not let other people look at us with eyes of judgement thus we must act and elevate the identity of teachers in our land. Let's do away with the biased stereotypes this world has to offer.Dr. Anna Amerilla of Philippine Normal University who happens to be my mentor in my doctoral program shares four relevant principles which can free us from the bondage called "mediocre." Here are the four equalizer principles:
- Earn a Credential - this can be a higher position you rightfully deserve or an academic degree. Sad to say, people still look up to people who have prefixes and suffixes attached with their names. Specially in the realm of academics wherein these affixes are flaunted to earn the respect of their learning community.
- Express Yourself - be confident because you are a person created with God's image bestowed with a destiny to fulfill.
- Expand our Networks - this speaks about exuding excellent human relations. Your network will speak of your network. There's an Erap joke which says: "Tell me who your friends are and I will tell you mine." Your "friends" will make or break your influence.
- Emit a Life of Integrity - model your life to others.
