Academic Mentoring Program

The Academic Mentoring Program is a project of the University of the Philippines High School Student Council. This project is supported by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Incorporated or popularly known as RAFI. RAFI has already made several programs for the development of the youth, which includes the Young Minds Academy and Kool Adventure Camp, assistance of cancer patients, and also in the field of education. This mentoring program will help students who have difficulties in the academics and also to enhance their knowledge and boost their interests on the academic subjects.

For the first mentoring, the Hipodromo Elementary School is the chosen beneficiary. This program focuses on the development of the knowledge of the students in Mathematics. Most of us find Math as a very hard and uninteresting subject, but in the mentoring program, we encourage the students to love Math because it will be very easy to learn something if you love it. We give the students the simplest ways to learn Math and make the learning an enjoyable activity by giving them fun and exciting exercises. We also treat the students very well so that if they want to ask something about the discussion, they will feel free to ask it. It is very important that the students will be comfortable with the mentors so that they will really enjoy learning Math.

I am one of the mentors chosen in this Academic Mentoring Program. It is not that easy to be mentor, because first of all, I do not have the experience of teaching and it is also my first time of meeting the students. There are a lot of adjustments in my part because I committed so I really have to attend in all the sessions. The sessions are every Saturday from eight in the morning until twelve noon. I always wake up early in the morning in order to prepare. And before appearing in front of the students, I make it to a point that I have studied the lessons that I will be going to discuss.

In a classroom, there are three mentors and ten students. My group mates are Eldee and Rowella. Though we are three it is still not that easy to control the students because there are some who are very naughty. Sometimes your patience will already be gone and you will end up scolding the students. But it is really part of my commitment, so I really should control my temper and be more patient in teaching them. I should not show my temper because if I will do it, they will just tease me and laugh at me. They will already disrespect me.

But I am still very glad to be part of the Academic Mentoring Program. This will give me a new experience and a chance to meet other people. This experience is truly unique because I have already taught students and help them in their difficulties even though I am still a high school student. This is definitely an achievement for me. I will really treasure this once in ablue moon experience.