Hi. My name is Jessica Gorge Villanueva. I am 26 years old, and I live in a beautiful country – the Philippines. I have been an ESL teacher for over three years now. I just started my journey here on this great platform. I am excited to share with you my life and my stories about it. This platform will serve as my humble online abode where I can freely express my ideas for you, my readers.
Before my personal stories, I would like to personally address you, my dear readers, as SHINERS - simply because I do believe that all of you here have bright and radiant personalities.
Who I Am?
I graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Secondary Education with a Major in English. I am also a Licensed Professional Teacher. It was always my dream to become an educator. I am the youngest daughter of my loving parents. I have one older sister, and she has her own family now. As a teacher in the Philippines, it is a part of our journey to take the Licensure Examination (LET). Sadly, it was the COVID-19 period, so my test was rescheduled about three times. It was a big struggle for me since I don’t know if I will continue to review or not since the schedule has been changing due to the pandemic. Countless sleepless nights and lots of tears were the product of my preparations for the licensure test.
I didn't want to waste my time after I graduated, so I decided to apply for a job in a private school here in Cavite. I also want to give back to my family since they have been so supportive of me. Luckily, I was hired as a Senior high school teacher. It was good but overwhelming for me since my students were almost the same age as me. It was challenging but rewarding for me that I finally stepped into a classroom and shared the things that I know with my students. Seeing my students learn something from me was so fulfilling. My efforts all paid off when I witnessed how they applied what we have learned together. I learned a lot during my one-year stay at that school, and it served as my stepping stone into the world of teaching.
A big struggle came into our family. My dad passed away due to a heart attack. I am the youngest, and I only have a sister. It was truly heartbreaking for me and my family. It happened during the pandemic period, so we don’t have a choice but to let my dad’s body be cremated. It was one of the protocols to follow since my dad died in a hospital. The pain was so deep that even some of our family relatives didn’t get a chance to see him for the last time due to the strict protocols. I felt numb during this time since I had to be strong for my family. My sister was pregnant at that time, and I didn’t want her to get stressed since it could affect my niece. My mom was also devastated since she was shocked by my dad’s situation. I didn’t have a choice but to stand for my family. My dad always reminds us to be strong in life, so I keep that in mind. However, I am still looking at the brighter side of life since I know that my dad doesn't have to suffer anymore. I know somewhere, he's been watching and is so proud of what I have become now as an individual.
As an active individual, I don't find myself relaxing for a long time, so I applied for another job after a month. It was a bit different since it was an ESL job. I was proud of myself for passing the interviews and the tests. Thankfully, I got hired. It was challenging for me at first since I had classroom experience. But I know that I just have to believe in myself and let myself grow. Luckily, I am still affiliated with my Korean company.
My licensure date came, and I honestly didn't believe that I could pass it since I was multitasking my full-time job while reviewing. It was a nerve-wracking experience for me. With God's grace, I passed on my first try. That experience taught me more to believe in yourself, and your hard work will surely pay off.
Life has taught me a lot of things, and it has surely shaped me into who I am today. I am so blessed with my life, and even though there are trials, I still look at the positive side that life has to offer. I am ready to face new challenges as I welcome this new year, 2025.
I hope you will continue to be part of my journey here, my dear SHINERS. It is just the beginning of my stories and adventures for you. Come with me as we explore more and inspire each other in our life's journey. You are truly a SHINER now if you finished my intro blog. I am proud of you. I hope you continue to support and be with me as I explore life. Thank you, SHINERS!
Special Note:
The pictures are all mine, and they are edited in Canva and Remini applications.