During my years in graduate and so post graduate schools, words such as transformation and liberation and praxis were overused or over familiarized as some would prefer. More than just knowing their respective connotations, we also had to learn what these words imply in relation to our aspiration becoming an agent of change to insiders we may be serving. Not to deny the fact, I felt like carrying the whole world on my back because these words were just too big and scary at times. They seemed threatening to me at first. I always thought risking my life to be able to stand the gap. And in my innocence, I had this endless thought that I would end up becoming an enemy of the state in my desire to bring a piece of change in the society. But things turned out so differently. I figured out that experiences vary for every individual. No one has the same journey at all. Sorry to say this, but it is not always true to shed blood or risk life or go against the instituted governance to be able to help a society changed. Amidst silent speculations; amidst fears brought by misconceptions, my pursuit of learning more about transformation turned out to be a wonderful opportunity, a journey preparing me becoming what I am today. This what I call it..."on the contrary."
Now those seemingly scary words do not intimidate me anymore. They had become beautiful sounds bringing magic to my ears instead. From threatening assumptions, those words learned had become keys to my volunteering endeavors seeing the world full of oppression. The heart of my subject matter in my pursuit of getting to know the minds, the aspirations of every oppressed I've known. Of course, I do believe in a non-revolutionary transformation or liberation. We don't need to fight violently to liberate people from their oppressors-what and whoever their oppressors are. This is what is known as pedagogy of the oppressed.I strongly buy this idea.
Passed a decade has been, still I am here investing my resources, my time, my life, my services educating learners and even educators in order to share changes in many ways. I am convinced that being engaged in TESOL as a teacher, as an educator, a volunteer is the best passageway at hand when it comes to doing such task. Transformational learning in its simple side and yet very challenging, affecting and effecting lives to the fullest not just feeding mere theories known as banking method. Many years have been gone, yet I could say I am very happy for this fulfillment even though doing the same endeavor. It transformed me first, a lot, and others that I worked with.
The pictures below will explain more words I cannot utter. I will be elaborating more of these transformational endeavors in my future dissertation. On the one hand, I think I already have mentioned this in my previous articles, exemplifying the true essence of what I have been doing in line with transformational learning. This is just the simple side of the whole thing.
Please enjoy!
