Today was our first orientation for the National Service Training Program (NSTP) as freshmen. All the freshmen gathered to learn about NSTP, its vision, mission, goals, and expected outcomes.
They also discussed the do's and don'ts during classes. NSTP has three components: ROTC, CWTS, and LTS. Before allowing us to choose, they first explained each component and what we would be expected to do in each.
After that, they gave us a form to fill out with our personal information and our preferred service. It also served as a survey to determine which service most students preferred and which was the least popular.
It turned out that CWTS was the most popular among the three. However, the heads of each program decided which program students should take based on their courses.
Despite that, we still had the freedom to choose, as long as it didn't lead to an overload.Since my course is related to education, I chose TLS, which was also suggested by our head.
LTS, or Literacy Training Service, involves teaching children, especially in rural areas, how to read and write. On the other hand, CWTS, or Community Welfare Training Service, involves responding to disasters or calamities by providing goods and assistance to affected areas.
They gave us time to choose, and afterward, they handed us a form that included personal information and required us to agree to the terms and policies of NSTP. As we reviewed the policy, we noticed it was quite strict, especially regarding haircuts, nails, dress code, and punctuality. However, it’s a way to instill discipline in students.
It is such an honor to serve the community, knowing that we, as students and citizens, have something valuable to contribute to our country. We're looking forward to the upcoming training. I know it will be fun yet challenging, and we will learn something new in the process.