The Story of My Life

Summary

Serafin Arviola, an associate professor of history and pedagogy at the Philippine Normal University, shares his journey from humble beginnings as a garbage boy to achieving academic excellence and becoming a peace educator. His initial dream was to become rich in America, but life took a dramatic turn when he witnessed the 9/11 tragedy, leading him to focus on peace education and conflict resolution in Mindanao. Today, he finds fulfillment as a teacher and peacemaker, fostering empathy and understanding among his diverse students.

Takeaways

• 🎓 Serafin Aviola is an associate professor of history and pedagogy at the Philippine Normal University.
• 💭 From a young age, Serafin had dreams of helping his family and becoming rich by studying and going to America.
• 🏢 He initially worked in humble jobs like a garbage boy and selling various items in the market.
• 🤝 Serafin's life took a turn when his grandmother introduced him to Bukaspalan, a social center for the poor.
• 🎓 He earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education in Social Science with honors, which fueled his ambition to study further.
• 🌟 He was invited by the United Nations to speak on youth empowerment and peace education in the Philippines.
• 💔 A significant life event was witnessing the World Trade Center bombing on his first day in the U.S., which affected his perspective.
• 📝 Serafin wrote and defended his thesis on peace education in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao, which led to international recognition.
• 👥 He faced and overcame animosity among his students of different beliefs, promoting empathy and understanding.
• 👨‍🏫 Serafin finds fulfillment in his life as a teacher and peacemaker in the Philippines, influencing others to be agents of change.
• 🔄 His childhood dream was different, but he now sees himself as a 'teacher of teachers,' embracing the opportunity to make a difference.

Q & A

Who is Serafin Arviola?

Serafin Arviola is an associate professor of history and pedagogy at the Philippine Normal University.

What was Serafin Arviola's childhood dream?

Serafin Arviola's childhood dream was to help his family and himself by going to America to become rich, like his neighbor.

What jobs did Serafin Arviola do before studying?

Serafin Arviola worked as a garbage boy and sold chopao meat buns and lemons in the market before he had the opportunity to study.

How did Serafin Arviola's life change after losing his business?

After losing his business, Serafin Arviola's grandmother brought him to Bukaspalan, a social center that helps poor people.

What degree did Serafin Arviola earn and how did he perform?

Serafin Arviola earned a Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Science with flying colors, graduating laude.

Why was Serafin Arviola invited by the United Nations?

Serafin Arviola was invited by the United Nations to speak on youth empowerment and peace education in the Philippines.

What significant event did Serafin Arviola witness on his first day in the U.S.?

On his first day in the U.S., Serafin Arviola witnessed the plane striking the World Trade Center.

What was the subject of Serafin Arviola's thesis?

Serafin Arviola's thesis was on peace education in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao.

How did Serafin Arviola's experience in the U.S. influence his work in the Philippines?

Serafin Arviola's experience in the U.S., particularly witnessing the World Trade Center bombing, motivated him to return to the Philippines to understand the Muslim community and work on conflict resolution strategies.

What role does Serafin Arviola play in the university?

Serafin Arviola plays the role of a teacher and peacemaker at the university, fostering empathy and encouraging others to be agents of change.

What is Serafin Arviola's current perspective on his life and work?

Serafin Arviola is very happy and fulfilled with his life and work in the Philippines as a teacher of teachers, contributing to peace and understanding.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Journey to Academic and Personal Fulfillment

Serafin Arviola, an associate professor of history and pedagogy at the Philippine Normal University, shares his inspiring journey from a humble beginning. As a child, he dreamt of helping his family and becoming rich, inspired by his wealthy neighbors. Despite facing challenges such as working as a garbage boy and selling goods in the market, he pursued education as a means to achieve his dreams. After losing his business, he found support at Bukaspalan, a social center for the poor. His determination led him to graduate with honors in Bachelor of Secondary Education, majoring in social science. His academic excellence and ambition were recognized when he was invited by the United Nations to speak on youth empowerment and peace education. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he witnessed the World Trade Center bombing on his first day in the U.S., which led him to reflect on his purpose and ultimately return to the Philippines to focus on peace education and conflict resolution in Mindanao. His work has since been influential, and he has been invited to speak in various countries about his experiences and strategies for peace.

05:02

👨‍🏫 From Childhood Dreams to Teaching and Peacemaking

In the second paragraph, Arviola transitions from recounting his personal journey to discussing his current role and aspirations. Initially, he had different dreams, but life presented him with the opportunity to become a teacher of teachers, which he has embraced wholeheartedly. He now finds happiness and fulfillment in his life as an educator and peacemaker in the Philippines. His experiences, including the aftermath of the World Trade Center bombing and his work in Mindanao, have shaped his perspective on empathy and the importance of understanding different cultures and beliefs. He has successfully fostered an environment of understanding and friendship among his diverse students, including non-believers, conservative Catholics, and a Muslim student. Arviola's story is a testament to the power of education and the impact one can have as an agent of change.

Keywords

💡Pedagogy

Pedagogy refers to the method and practice of teaching, involving the strategies used to facilitate learning. In the video's context, the speaker works as an associate professor of history and pedagogy, indicating their expertise in both the content of history and the techniques of teaching. The theme of education and its impact on personal and societal development is central to the video's narrative.

💡Ambition

Ambition is a strong desire to achieve something, often requiring determination and hard work. The speaker's ambition to study and eventually become rich, like their neighbor, is a driving force in their life story. This ambition leads to various challenges and opportunities, such as studying in America and becoming a teacher and peacemaker, which are central to the video's message of personal growth and societal contribution.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. The lack of opportunities for the speaker to study initially is a significant barrier they face. However, opportunities arise when they are invited to speak at the United Nations and when they are invited to work in the U.S., illustrating the video's theme of overcoming adversity and seizing life-changing moments.

💡Youth Empowerment

Youth empowerment is the process of enabling young people to take control of their lives and make informed decisions. The speaker is invited by the United Nations to speak on this topic, highlighting its importance in the video. It is a key concept that ties into the speaker's journey from a disadvantaged background to becoming an influential figure in education and peacebuilding.

💡Peace Education

Peace education is an educational process that aims to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to prevent conflicts and violence. The speaker's thesis on peace education in conflict-affected areas of Mindanao is a significant part of their academic work and personal mission. It exemplifies the video's theme of using education as a tool for social change and conflict resolution.

💡Conflict Resolution

Conflict resolution is the process of resolving disputes or disagreements in a peaceful and constructive manner. The speaker's paper on conflict resolution strategies in Mindanao is a direct application of peace education. It is a key outcome of their research and a practical example of how theoretical knowledge can be applied to real-world problems.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. In the video, the speaker describes how students from different backgrounds become friends through empathy, despite initial animosity. This concept is central to the video's message about the power of understanding and compassion in building harmonious relationships.

💡Catastrophe

Catastrophe refers to a sudden disaster or tragic event. The speaker's firsthand experience of the World Trade Center bombing is a pivotal moment in the video, serving as a stark reminder of the destructive power of violence and conflict. It also acts as a catalyst for the speaker's introspection and redirection towards peace education.

💡Agent of Change

An agent of change is someone who actively works to bring about positive change in society. The speaker encourages others to become agents of change, reflecting the video's overarching theme of personal empowerment and social responsibility. This concept is exemplified by the speaker's own transformation from a dream of wealth to becoming a teacher and peacemaker.

💡Fulfillment

Fulfillment is a state of being satisfied and happy, often as a result of achieving one's goals or finding meaning in one's life. The speaker expresses a sense of fulfillment in their life as a teacher and peacemaker in the Philippines. This reflects the video's theme of finding purpose beyond material success and contributing positively to society.

Highlights

Serafin Arviola is an associate professor of history and pedagogy at the Philippine Normal University.

Arviola had a childhood dream of helping his family and becoming rich by studying in America.

He initially worked as a garbage boy and sold various goods in the market.

Arviola's life took a turn when he lost his business and was introduced to Bukaspalan, a social center for the poor.

He expressed a strong desire to earn money and help his grandmother while pursuing education.

Arviola completed his Bachelor of Secondary Education with honors, driven by personal and family ambitions.

He was invited by the United Nations to speak on youth empowerment and peace education in the Philippines.

Upon arriving in the U.S., he experienced the World Trade Center bombing on his first day.

The traumatic event led Arviola to reflect on his purpose and redirected his focus to understanding the Muslim community in Mindanao.

He completed his thesis on peace education in conflict-affected areas in Mindanao with honors.

Arviola's work led to invitations to speak in different countries about his experiences and insights.

He fosters empathy and understanding among his diverse students, promoting friendship despite differences.

Arviola finds fulfillment in his role as a teacher and peacemaker in the Philippines.

He encourages others to become agents of change, reflecting on his journey from a different childhood dream to becoming a teacher of teachers.

Arviola's story emphasizes the power of education and personal transformation in achieving one's goals and making a difference.

Transcripts

[Music]

i am serafin arviola

this is the philippine normal university

i work here

as a an associate professor of history

and pedagogy when i was a child i have a

dream of

of helping me family of helping myself

i wanted to go to america to become rich

like our neighbor

one way for me to get rich is to study

but there is no opportunity for me to

study

i work as a garbage boy and then i sold

chopao meat buns lemons

in the market but apparently

life is uh not very good with with me

and when i lost my business

in the market my grandmother brought me

to bukaspalan

a social center helping the

poor people i remember that day i said

to one of the staff there

yes i want to earn money i want to help

my grandmother but i am doing everything

because i want to study

[Music]

i finished bachelor of secondary

education major in social science

with flying colors laude

all of these things i did

not only for my family for myself but

for my ambition to really to

to go to maybe america

to become rich

[Music]

i was invited by the united nations to

speak

on youth empowerment and peace education

in the philippines

and then in the afternoon i met a

filipina and she said if you like to

work here

let's meet tomorrow at the world trade

center

my heart was really was really

jumping for joy because finally i'm

just the first day in the us i i i met

somebody

and i think god is leading the way

on the following day i went to the world

trade center

i saw the plane struck the world trading

center

i see people jumping out of the window i

see catastrophe

and i told myself i think god is telling

me something

[Music]

before going to the u.s i was

finishing my thesis on

peace education in the

conflict affected areas in mindanao but

i forgot

everything when i went to the u.s

because

of the of of internal problem on my part

because of this

of these issues with me regarding the

muslims

but during those days that i was in the

u.s

i told myself the main reason why i

wanted to go back to the philippines

is to go to mindanao to understand

really the muslim this person this

this person

this other person from my point of view

after three months i wrote my paper i

defended it

and i graduated with honors and

the output of that paper is really a

conflict

resolution strategies that is happening

right

there in the midst of war i was invited

in different countries

to talk about my experience in mindanao

and at the same time

my reflection about the world trade

center bombing

i have some students that are

non-believers

and some students that are a

conservative catholic

and i have one one muslim student there

is an animosity

inside the class but after one semester

eventually they are friends because what

important

is how they will relate with one another

here in the university it is empathy

now i am very happy with my with my life

i am fulfilled with all of these

blessings

and this resolution that

i am useful here in the philippines as a

teacher and as a peacemaker

encouraging other people to be

an agent of change when i was a child

i have a different dream but god gave me

this opportunity to really

become a teacher of teachers

[Music]

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