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Frankena Model
“If you know the enemy and know
yourself, you need not fear the
result of a hundred battles”.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

This is a paper designed to determine the desired character

trait Alphacrest Academy aims to impart to its students once
they leave the confines of the school. Furthermore, the paper
shall identify the other factors and elements which will
contribute to a better understanding of the goal and a
comprehensive grasp of the desired outcome.

Gerthrode Charlotte Tan

EDFD 201
22 August 2009
“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know
yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the
enemy nor yourself, you will
Frankena succumb in every battle.”
Model
Sun Tzu, The Art of War

Alphacrest Academy is an institution that prides itself in being able to inculcate life-
long and non-negotiable Christian values to its students not limited to teacher-
student-interaction inside the classroom but also through relationships built outside
its confines. The school has created an environment, a culture that opens an
opportunity for students to be close to their teachers in a way that is life-changing
for those who come from broken or problematic homes, students who are not
getting enough attention and affection from their parents, children who may be
emotionally disturbed even, and those who, at a very young age, have been
influenced by peer pressure resulting to vices such as smoking and drinking.

In addition to this vital goal, Alphacrest also upholds the philosophy and objective
that it wants to be able to produce critical-thinkers, young people who are
committed to service and students who have the initiative that will allow them to
excel in their respective chosen fields later in life when they leave the academy.

It is my personal opinion that to enable these students to contend with the

challenges of life and survive them at the same time, they most importantly need to
know themselves---their capacities and limitations, their strengths and weaknesses.
By being cognizant of these factors, then and only then, can they identify their
other needs in building their character and self-confidence.

Sun Tzu’s basic teaching about warfare is summarized in the quote stated above as
indicated in his world-famous book The Art of War. It is my personal belief that his
teaching can be of valuable aid to accomplishing what Alphacrest aims to impart to
its students, that is, critical-mindedness, commitment to serve and initiative to start
from knowing one’s self. In the line: “If you know the enemy and know
yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles”, it alone already
presents a specific guiding principle that can be acquired and expanded. In the
phrase “if you know the enemy”, the word enemy, that comes from the Latin
word inimicus (“not a friend”), does not only literally mean an adversary in the
form of a person, but may also be considered the various difficulties and problems
that one person will encounter in life. One’s enemy can also simply be in the form
of the individual’s physical frailty, financial constraints, mental health, social class,
or even himself. In saying that one person can consider himself as his possible
enemy, I mean that in many actual cases in society, many individuals find it difficult
to find their way in life simply because they do not know themselves---what they
want, what their purpose is, what their special skills and capabilities are, and even
the truest desires of their hearts. The phrase a hundred battles, this may refer
not only to the literal meaning of the word battle but also our daily struggles in life
that would include battling with a disease, contending with poverty and financial
constraints, dealing with abuse and injustice, living with faulty relationships and
other forms of circumstances that forces a person to exert added effort in order to
survive and come out unscathed.

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Simply put, the essence of the statement “If you know the enemy and know
yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles”, tells us that if
you know the situation you are in (dealing with sickness, joblessness, poverty, other
disabilities, etc.) and parallel to it you also know what you’re capable of doing in
order to address these problems, then an individual need not be concerned or be
worried about the endpoint of the journey. At some point, I would like to believe, no
matter how hopeless a situation may seem, a person who knows himself always
finds a way to find that glint of hope at the end of the long, dark tunnel and by
doing so will decide to tread the unknown path knowing that it (the problem or
situation) too, shall pass. As an added reading to this thought, I would like to include
the poem of Robert Frost entitled The Road Not Taken:

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair

And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that, the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:
two roads diverged in a wood, and I --
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

Just as the poem describes a person’s dilemma when he arrives at a crossroad,

several paths with various opportunities and threats lying in wait, a person is still
capable of pursuing any unknown destination without hesitation mainly because he
knows he can make a difference therefore illustrating that he truly knows his
capacity to deal with any circumstance that lies ahead. Without even probably
knowing everything about one’s self, just basing from how a person survived past
experiences, he makes a leap of faith armed with his memory and understanding of
past accomplishments and victories and chooses a direction without completely
knowing what will meet him in the end. He may meet adversities along the way, but
still, he takes heart to tread the path.

Arthur Golden gives life to the character of Nitta Sayuri in Memoirs of a Geisha and
identifies her strengths detail by detail as she overcomes one adversity after the

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other which opened more promising doors for this heroine in the end of her
abstruse and hapless life.

• "Adversity is like a strong wind. I don't mean just that it holds us back
from places we might otherwise go. It also tears away from us all but
the things that cannot be torn, so that afterward we see ourselves as
we really are, and not merely as we might like to be.”

(Memoirs of a Geisha, p.348), Arthur Golden

This paper aims to expound further on Sun Tzu’s philosophy stated above and
determine how it can best be applied to meet the goal intended by Alphacrest
Academy. The school shall endeavour to be able to produce students who are well-
equipped not only academically but also socially, emotionally and spiritually.

It is imperative that in this process terms are defined comprehensively and

accordingly as this will ensure the complete grasp of the concept being stated. In
the attempt to understand the self, let us first be able to define what self is. Self is
said to be:

• the individual as the object of his own reflective consciousness;

• the man viewed by his own cognition as the subject of all his mental
phenomena, the agent in his own activities, the subject of his own
feelings, and the possessor of capacities and character;
• a person as a distinct individual; a being regarded as having a personality.
(SOURCE: http://www.equilibrium.org/glad/definitions.html)

Considering the above stated definitions, self therefore is our concept of our
individuality based on our reflective consciousness, simply put, we are who we think
we are. The self is also considered the possessor of capacities and character. The
new international version Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the English
Language defines capacity as the ability to receive or contain or adequate
mental power to receive or understand. Moreover, the same reference
describes character as the combination of qualities distinguishing any
person or class of persons. In addition, it is also being defined as:

• any distinctive mark or trait, or such marks and traits collectively,

belonging to any person, class, or race
• the individuality which is the product of nature, habits, and environment
• high qualities; moral force

Understanding what self is also being aware that it is the person as a distinct (clear
to the sense or mind; plain; unmistakable) individual (pertaining, belonging, or
peculiar to one person or thing). The self is further regarded as a being having a
personality. To have an even clearer picture of the self, let us define what
personality is as well. Personality is defined as that which constitutes a person.
(Webster’s Comprehensive Dictionary of the English Language)

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A brief definition would be that personality is made up the characteristic patterns of

thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that make a person unique. In addition to this,
personality arises from within the individual and remains fairly consistent
throughout life. Some of the fundamental characteristics of personality include:

• Consistency - There is generally a recognizable order and regularity to

behaviors. Essentially, people act in the same ways or similar ways in a variety of
situations.
• Psychological and physiological -
Personality is a psychological construct, but
research suggests that it is also influenced The self is the friend of
by biological processes and needs.
a man who masters
• Impact behaviors and actions -
Personality does not just influence how we himself through the
move and respond in our environment; it also self, but for a man
causes us to act in certain ways. without self-mastery,
• Multiple expressions - Personality is the self is like an
displayed in more than just behavior. It can enemy at war.
also be seen in our thoughts, feelings, close
relationships, and other social interactions. THE BHAGAVAD GITA, INDIA

(SOURCE:http://psychology.about.com/od/overviewofpe
rsonality/a/persondef.htm)

In several personality development seminars I have handled with college students

from various schools in the city and province of Iloilo while connected with GMA-Iloilo
as supervising producer and news anchor at the same time, recipients very often
expect their personalities to change/ improve overnight after they have assimilated
the ideas and strategies they can employ. I had to emphasize that their acquisition
or the development of their personality took many years since their birth to be
formed and were influenced by some, if not all, of these factors: their parents and
probably siblings, upbringing, religious beliefs and convictions, traditions, and
culture they were exposed to growing up. As an example, I would illustrate that in
most cases, we become the replica of the personality of our parents or the parent
that is more dominant or significant to us. Outgoing children who may also be
outspoken and fun-loving most likely have parents who are also of the same
character or make up. The child, having been exposed to their parents for so many
years, tends to acquire the same characteristics apart from the very obvious ones
which the child is most likely to inherit such as mannerisms, physical structure,
expressions, and other unique traits.

In the same manner, the discovery of the self is a lengthy process. Even in the
hierarchy of needs illustrated by Abraham Maslow, the last being self-actualization,
most people do not reach that level even when they reach a very ripe age of
maturity. Maslow describes self-actualization as:

“…the desire for self-fulfillment, namely, to the tendency for a man to

become actualized in what he is potentially. This tendency might be phrased
as the desire to become more and more what one is, to become everything
that one is capable of becoming.”

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(SOURCE: http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm)

Quite ironically, a lot of individuals who journey into the discovery of their true self
end up with no answers at all mainly because they may not really know the
recommended process to take or that they eventually find undesirable truths about
their truest nature that make them decide it would be better off to leave things as
they are. As a result, they remain in conflict with themselves for the longest time
hindering them from reaching their full potential as a person no matter what role in
life they may play (parent, spouse, friend, businessman, politician, etc.).

A self-actualized person according to Abraham Maslow is said to have the following

characteristics:

• Acceptance and Realism: Self-actualized people have realistic perceptions

of themselves, others and the world around them.
• Problem-centering: Self-actualized individuals are concerned with solving
problems outside of themselves, including helping others and finding solutions to
problems in the external world. These people are often motivated by a sense of
personal responsibility and ethics.
• Spontaneity: Self-actualized people are spontaneous in their internal
thoughts and outward behavior. While they can conform to rules and social
expectations, they also tend to be open and unconventional.
• Autonomy and Solitude: Other characteristics of self-actualized people are
the needs for independence and privacy. While they enjoy the company of others,
these individuals need time to focus on developing their own individual potential.
• Continued Freshness of Appreciation: Self-actualized people tend to view
the world with a continual sense of appreciation, wonder and awe. Even simple
experiences continue to be a source of inspiration and pleasure.
• Peak Experiences: Individuals who are self-actualized often have what
Maslow termed peak experiences, or moments of intense joy, wonder, awe and
ecstasy. After these experiences, people feel inspired, strengthened, renewed or
transformed.

(SOURCE: http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm)

Taking into account the six characteristics mentioned above, it would seem tedious
to impress it upon students about to leave high school, those who are getting ready
to engage in the exciting and challenging experience of college life. Most teenagers
(13-17 years old) go through a stage where they are not mindful of how they will
impact society with their contributions and opinions, but rather, are more concerned
about being accepted by the people around them, pleasing their peers and
achieving a sense of belongingness. But, I strongly believe that individuals are
never too young to be engaged in exercises where they are taught to reflect on
their inner person---how they react to certain situations, their innermost desires and
fears, their apprehensions in life, their personal stand on specific incidents and
subjects. Students who are in their teens, I believe, are capable of assessing
themselves up to a certain degree which of course does not end their upon realizing
that they want to be responsible members of society, but instead, becomes a
starting point for continuous self-exploration that will eventually ensure their
happiness and success in life when used in the right context.

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Young people are easier taught, generally speaking, compared to those who may
already have had a rich collection of experiences in life. Too often, adults are the
ones who are in a constant state of denial about knowing themselves the way they
ideally should, not cognizant that there are several areas in their lives that they do
not understand fully well. It is therefore recommended that young people early on
in life are taught methods of self-evaluation to prepare them for future tasks and to
give them an early grasp of how they can know their inner person the correct way
and not just be influence by peers and eventually stagnate in a state of confusion
because they later realize they have no true identity but rather just a mirror of who
and what their closest friends are.

Psychology will give us more interesting insights in our quest for understanding the
self. Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, describes self in the approach of
psychology as:

The self is a key construct in several schools of psychology, broadly referring

to the cognitive representation of one's identity. The earliest formulation of
the self in modern psychology
from the distinction between the
self as I, the subjective knower,
and the self as Me, the object
that is known. Current views of
the self in psychology diverge
greatly from this early
conception, positioning the self
as playing an integral part in
human motivation, cognition,
affect, and social identity.
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung
whose works rival that of Sigmund
Freud having been the founder of
modern depth psychology describes the uprootedness and identification with his
self as:
• The self represents the striving
for unity of all parts of the
personality.
Nothing estranges man more
from the ground plan of his instincts
than his learning capacity, which turns
out to be a genuine drive toward
progressive transformations of human
modes of behaviour. It, more than
anything else, is responsible for the
altered conditions of our existence and
the need for new adaptations which
civilization brings. It is also the source
of numerous psychic disturbances and
difficulties occasioned by man's
progressive alienation from his
instinctual foundation, i.e., by his
conscious knowledge of himself, by his
concern with consciousness at the
expense of the unconscious. The result
is that modern man can know himself
only in so far as he can become
conscious of himself.

• It is the organizing principle of (Carl Jung, The Undiscovered Self)

the psyche that draws unto itself
and harmonizes all the
archetypes and their
expressions in complexes and consciousness.

• The self directs an orderly allotment of psychic energy so that different parts
of the personality are expressed appropriately.

• The self, rather than the ego, is the true midpoint of personality. The center
of one’s personality is not to be found in rational ego consciousness.
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[According to some, Freud had already begun to discover this truth, but he
wanted to rescue human beings from irrationality and so he made ego
consciousness central.]

• The true self lies on the boundary between conscious and unconscious,
reason and unreason.

Dr.Phil McGraw who practices clinical psychology in the US presents an even more
interesting definition of the self. Unknown to many of us, he says, when we are
asked the question “who are you?” we tend to answer, “I am the daughter of so and
so...”, “I am the assistant of Mr.Garcia”. Often the answer is not who you are, but
what you do, what your social station is, or how you see your function in life. You
can't answer who you are, because you don't know. Dr.McGraw says that there is
what we call authentic self and the fictional self. The authentic self is the you that
can be found at your absolute core. It is the part of you not defined by your job,
function or role. It is the composite of all your skills, talents and wisdom. It is all of
the things that are uniquely yours and need expression, rather than what you
believe you are supposed to be and do. In contrast to the authentic self, fictional
self sends you false information about who you are and what you should be doing
with your life. It blocks the information you need in order to maintain the connection
with your authentic identity. Relying on information from the fictional self means
you're putting your trust in a broken compass.

“When you're not living faithfully to your authentic self, you find yourself
feeling incomplete, as if there is a hole in your soul. You may have found that
it's easier to fill the roles your family and friends expect of you, rather than
becoming who you really want to be. Living this way drains you of the critical
life energy you need to pursue the things you truly value.”

Dr.Phil McGraw
(SOURCE: http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/73)

Our main goal therefore is to identify our authentic self as prescribed by the theory
of Dr.McGraw. We are so caught up with our social affiliations sometimes that we
begin to lose our true identity because we become what other people expect us to
become or assume that we become. We overlook that in all truth, all that really
matters is our understanding of ourselves so that we can establish better
relationships with others.

Now, we more or less have a grasp of what comprises the self. In knowing one’s
self, it is to be cognizant that each person is unique and created apart from the rest
and therefore, it is utterly impossible to expect someone to behave, act and even
think in the like manner as his/ her counterparts. In knowing these facts, we can
begin to appreciate the person as he is, understand his make-up and work around
these details to aid him in knowing best what he is capable of achieving in life.

Apparently, not only Sun Tzu believes in the importance of knowing one’s self.
Several known people and personalities in history have also impressed the need to
know ourselves as it is of grave importance to our survival. Here are some who have
opined on the need to know one’s self:

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Plato I must first know myself, as the Delphian inscription says; to

(427?-347 B.C.) be curious about that which is not my concern, while I am still
in ignorance of my own self would be ridiculous.
Richard of Saint- The high peak of knowledge is perfect self-knowledge.
Victor
Lord Chesterfield Study the heart and the mind of man, and begin with your
Letter to his son, own. Meditation and reflection must lay the foundation of that
June 6, 1751 knowledge, but experience and practice must, and alone can,
complete it.
Lao-Tzu It is wisdom to know others;
(6th century B.C.) It is enlightenment to know one's self.
The Way of Life
Sir Joshua Reynolds And he who does not know himself does not know others, so
(1723-1792) it may be said with equal truth, that he who does not know
Discourses on Art: others knows himself but very imperfectly.
Discourse7
Walter Lippmann Our greatest instrument for understanding the world—
(1889-1974) introspection . . . . The best way of knowing the inwardness of
A Preface to Politics our neighbor is to know ourselves.
Baltasar Gracián Self-knowledge is the beginning of self-improvement.
(1601-1658)
Larry Bossidy and Self-awareness gives you the capacity to learn from your
Ram Charan mistakes as well as your successes. It enables you to keep
Execution: The growing.
Discipline of Getting
Things Done
The most successful people are those who don't have any
illusions about who they are. They know themselves well and
Bud Bray they can move in the direction of their best talents. They
Quoted in Is it too know the kind of culture they thrive in and how they can
Late to Run Away benefit from that culture. Unfortunately, most people don't
and Join the Circus? understand themselves. Most people don't want to lose their
illusions about themselves, although they say they want to
take charge of their career.
Napoleon Hill If you do not conquer self, you will be conquered by self.
Kahlil Gibran Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is
incumbent on me to know my self, to know it completely, to
know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its
very atoms.

Another famous author by the name of Robert Greene, who is also one of my
favourite contemporary writers, wrote 4 chapters in his book The 33 Strategies of
War dedicated to self-directed warfare. He points out that: “Your mind is the
starting point of all war and all strategy. A mind that is easily overwhelmed by
emotion, that is rooted in the past instead of the present, that cannot see the world
with clarity and urgency, will create strategies that will always miss the mark.” If we
are to dissect the content of this single influential statement, it already points out to
us that knowing ourselves results to:

1. a mind that is not easily overwhelmed by emotion;

2. a mind that is not rooted in the past but in the present; and
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3. a mind that can see the world with clarity and urgency.

In addition, he states clearly in his book that before we wage war on others, to
include our daily struggles, we have to win the battle within us. We will constantly
find ourselves, he adds, facing bad situations, destructive relationships, and
dangerous engagements.

“If you cannot tell the difference between friend and foe, you have only
yourself to blame. Think of yourself as always about to go into battle.
Everything depends on your frame of mind and on how you look at the world.
A shift of perspective can transform you from a passive and confused
mercenary into a motivated and creative fighter.” Robert Greene

Just as we intend to wage all-out war against our enemies, we must be able to
overcome our personal misgivings so that by the time we expose ourselves to
danger, we are confident and unwavering for we know that no amount of
intimidation or hint of hopelessness will deter us from pursuing our objectives,
which is, to win the battle.

“What most often weighs you down and brings you misery is the past, in the
form of unnecessary attachments, repetitions of tired formulas, and the
memory of old victories and defeats. You must consciously wage war against
the past and force yourself to react to the present moment. Be ruthless on
yourself; do not repeat the same tired methods. Sometimes you must force
yourself to strike out in new directions, even if they involve risk. What you
may lose in comfort and security, you will gain in surprise, making it harder
for your enemies to tell what you will do. Wage guerrilla war on your mind,
allowing no static lines of defense, no exposed citadels---make everything
fluid and mobile.” Robert Greene

After having defined the relevant terms mentioned in this paper and after
establishing the justification for the aim, which is to prepare the students of
Alphacrest for what is in store for them in the future by teaching them to get to
know themselves in an in depth manner, we now come to the competencies need
by each individual in order for this aim to be possible in their lives. It is my personal
conviction that RESILIENCE is a vital characteristic that one student should possess
in order for him to absorb the teachings that are to be imparted to him.

Based on my personal experience, the journey towards knowing my own strengths

and weaknesses has proven to be painful at times because of the admission that I
am still in lack in some areas of my life. Furthermore, the pursuit of self-
understanding or self-knowledge is very often a traumatic experience as persons
are subjected to exercises where they have to recall painful past experiences which
at times may result to the awakening of old grudges, anger, fear, and even hatred
forcing the person in a very uncomfortable and precarious situation.

Once an individual is resilient, he can be subjected to a series of emotionally and

mentally stressful methods, but yet, will still come out unscathed in a sense
because he can look beyond the experience and view it in a positive way---in a
constructive manner. By doing so, the person opens himself to possibilities and

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welcomes the changes that can possibly take place in his life so that he can become
a more productive and promising individual.

Filipinos, I believe, are one of the most resilient types of people in the world if not
the most resilient. Even at the height of corruption in government, we can still
manage to make jokes concerning our president, even after a strong storm signal
hits a locality that eventually results to mudslides and flashfloods, the Filipino will
manage to survive and rise from his lowly state. Just
like the story of Job in the Bible, a Filipino may lose a
member of his family during a calamity, his property

Buckminster Fuller

made so many mistakes.

much is because I have
The reason I know so
you can only learn more.
You can never learn less;
and source of livelihood, but he will continue to press
on, believing that he can start once more. He will
literally dust himself off, wipe the blood from his face
and begin to rebuild anew.

Apart from resilience, persons who intend to take the

journey towards self-understanding must be
RECEPTIVE. Receptive as an adjective literally
means ready and willing to receive favourably, its
synonyms include amenable, open-minded,
acceptant, and responsive. When students are open
to the idea of learning something new and accepting
truths as a way to expand their knowledge and not
take it as a destructive criticism of themselves, the
self-understanding process will be very easy to
impart to them. Very often, the unwillingness of the
person to learn and delve deeper into his
individuality makes the whole exercise futile as it will only waste the time of the
teacher. Although there may be some individuals who along the way, with a little
patience and encouragement, will change their minds about their pessimism
towards the whole exercise mainly because a realization hits them. Along the way,
the student can look beyond the negative criticisms and see a potential for change
and improvement, he then is able to receive it as something that will not break his
mettle and spirit, but rather, something that will inevitably fortify his character and
values.

Another trait that will greatly help the student
Resilience in psychology is the
throughout the process is TEACHABILITY or a
positive capacity of people to cope
person’s capability to be taught or instructed.
with stress and catastrophe. It is also
Teenagers nowadays are very self-opinionated,
used to indicate a characteristic of
which to some degree is also a good thing, but
resistance to future negative events. too often, this characteristic is abused and used
In this sense "resilience" corresponds wrongly. Some of them think that at their age
to cumulative "protective factors" and they know all there is to know about life, that in
is used in opposition to cumulative the end, they are still capable of designing their
"risk factors". The phrase "risk and own destinies without the help and intervention of
resilience” in this area of study is significant others. It is vital for any person, not
quite common. limited to teenagers alone, to accept that he does
not have control over everything most especially
 the circumstances in his life and by doing so also
accept that there are things that he can learn
from others and that, in fact, there is nothing
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wrong with it. Having others teach you is not a sign of weakness but rather of
maturity.

To summarize, I would recommend that the ideal traits to be considered to ensure

the success of this exercise or journey will be a person who is:

1. resilient;
2. receptive; and
3. teachable.

In Alphacrest Academy the class adviser is primarily tasked to conduct counselling

sessions with his students mainly because among the many other teachers in the
school, he is expected to be the one who knows his students the most. The adviser
is tasked to reach out to the child especially when his grades are not at par with the
expectations of his teachers. Considerably, there may be external factors affecting
his learning and therefore, the adviser comes in to help the child reflect on these
factors and hopefully come up with a solution that will not only ensure the learning
of the child but the boosting of his morale as well. In some cases, the adviser also
handles the Values Education subject of his advisory class giving the teacher more
avenue to bond with his students and get to know them better. The time the
teacher spends with his students during Values Education can be used as an
opportunity to introduce to the students the need for self-understanding most
especially among junior and senior high school students. At this age, the students
are opening up to their emotional needs and a strong need for belongingness. This
is the stage when they start to fall in love and aspire for what they want to become
when they finish school. This is also the stage when they become fully aware of
their personal opinions regarding their relationship with their parents, the need to
feel respected and accepted and at the same time, the many undesirable events in
their lives that they wish they could run away from.

Furthermore, here is the list of knowledge that the school wishes to impart to the
students before they graduate:

1. the importance of taking responsibility for one’s self

2. the advantages of knowing one’s self
3. the intricacies of self-discovery.

It is vital that these truths are presented to the graduating students so that they
can best understand that this endeavour is not something that should be taken
lately, that in fact, it is considered by many psychologists as one of the most
difficult journeys an individual can ever engage in. The students should know the
effects of taking responsibility for one’s self. It fortifies their sense of independence
and in the process strengthens the trust of their parents to them giving them more
opportunities to engage on college activities without being strictly monitored of
their parents out of distrust.

In addition, the following skills are expected out of the students in the process of
their journey:

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Frankena Model

1. a confident communicator
2. people skills

• sympathetic to others/ compassionate

• connects well with people
• intuitive

3. critical-thinker (being able to respond effectively and responsibly during

critical situations)

I believe that this stage is the best time to fortify their mettle starting off with
getting to know who they really are, what is there purpose in life and what do they
want to become in the end of it all. The students can start the journey by engaging
in the exercises indicated below.

METHODOLOGIES

(To be facilitated by the teacher.)

EXERCISE CONTRIBUTION

1. The person expresses himself Based on my observation, some people

through:
• One on one interaction with a peer
during class sessions. They can
ask one another the questions:
What is it like growing up in your
home? What do you like the most
about yourself? If there is
something you can change about
yourself and the way you are,
what would it be? The facilitator
should be able to give thought-
provoking questions that will allow
the student to reflect first before
answering.
• Journaling.
• Membership in the recently
established clubs in Alphacrest.
(journalism club, arts club, dance
club, sports club, and glee club)
readily say that they don’t know
themselves too well or enough to be
confident about their capabilities as
individuals mainly because no one
taught them how to start looking into
their inner person. Here are some
recommended methods that can be used
and integrated in the academic system.
Some people just need someone to talk
to so that they can start going inside the
intricacies of their minds and their
personalities. For some, as in my case,
journaling or keeping a diary helps in
evaluating our strengths and
weaknesses as we document events and
emotions, immortalize thoughts and
opinions. For others still, they need a
different avenue to be able to express
themselves, be it in visual form, dance or
singing, and other physical and mental
activities that can inspire them to act. By
providing these opportunities, Alphacrest
now creates a culture that a child can
belong to something inside the school.
This boosts the person’s self-confidence.

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Frankena Model
2. Regular counselling with the class
adviser or closest teacher in
school. (In the presence of a
guidance counsellor, he may also
take part in the process and assist
the adviser.)
3. Lectures on ideal traits and
characteristics. Refer the students
to reading assignments about
influential and even ordinary
persons who have inspiring stories
to tell about life and have them
report about them in class or
submit a review or reaction paper.
4. Annual retreats to be conducted in
serene and non-distractive venues
so as to create a conducive mood
for reflection.
5. Community outreach activities to
be done at least twice a year
before every school year ends.
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In some conditions, students choose to
become introverts mainly because they
feel nobody took the time out to listen to
their stories or be mindful of their
concerns in life. During one on one
counselling sessions, the teacher can
establish his trustworthiness to the
student and the student therefore will
begin to feel secure and comforted
giving him the confidence to open up
allowing the teacher to determine areas
for improvement and areas of strength.
By utilizing the classroom set up, the
teacher can impart concepts and
examples that the students can learn
from. By doing so the students become
aware that the world does not revolve
around them, that in fact, other peoples’
experiences in life are more crippling
and more difficult compared to theirs
and this will eventually lead to a
realization that they can still count
themselves lucky in some areas. It then
becomes a source of inspiration that
they can look back on every now and
then whenever life becomes difficult to
handle. By having the student react to
the experiences of other people, they
can reflect on the limitless possibilities
that lie in wait for them to grab a hold of.
The student can begin to appreciate the
value of “quiet time” and time away
from the bray of city life. This is an
opportunity to connect with his inner
self. This will be a contributing factor to
his attempt to achieve a changed or
renewed mindset.
I believe that one of the ways a person
can magnify his knowledge of himself is
by connecting with other people and
experience for himself how others live
their lives. By exposing the students to
community outreach programs in slum
areas or far-flung communities, the
student will begin to experience for
himself reality and how it has affected
the lives of other less-fortunate
individuals.
Frankena Model

It will also aid greatly if we outline to the students the detailed steps that he can
take even on a personal level to begin to understand his inner self. Here are a few
tips from Evelyn Lim, a Singaporean life coach:

1. Face your demons.

2. Recognize your strengths.
3. Ask yourself: what is your life purpose?
4. Clarify your core values.
5. Find inspiration from things around you.
6. Spend time alone.
7. Journaling.

(SOURCE: http://www.attractionmindmap.com/7-steps-to-self-discovery/)

In the book of Serge Prengel called The Proactive 12 Steps, he outlines the following
steps as a means to get to self-discovery: (SOURCE:
http://proactivechange.com/12steps/list.htm)

Step 1:

I realize I'm stuck. It makes no sense to keep trying to solve my problems with
"solutions" that aren't working.

Step 2:

I'm willing to let go of my usual ways, in the hope that this will help me see things
from a broader perspective.

Step 3:

I shift my focus, from being fixated on my problems, to seeking a sense of

wholeness and contentment in my life.

Step 4:

I honestly look at the effects of my actions on others and myself.

Step 5:

I take responsibility for my actions.

Step 6:

I see that my knee-jerk reactions have to do with being in the grip of more or less
conscious fears.

Step 7:

I strive to find my motivation in a deeper sense of who I really am, rather than fear
and defensiveness.
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Frankena Model

Step 8:

I stop blaming and feeling blamed, with a willingness to heal the wounds.

Step 9:

I swallow my pride, and sincerely apologize to people I've hurt, except when it
would be counterproductive.

Step 10:

I live mindfully, paying attention to the motives and effects of my actions.

Step 11:

I stay tuned inside, in touch with a broader sense of who I really am, and a deeper
sense of what I really want.

Step 12:

As I feel better about myself, I reach out to others who feel stuck.

There are a lot of concepts and theories, strategies that can be employed in order
to come to a better understanding of one’s self. It is very crucial that we teach our
students the right ones which will make them better persons and not bitter in the
end. The process may get confusing and even hurtful at some point but then, there
is an assurance that the exercises towards self-discovery and understanding will, in
the end, arm the individual for even greater and more challenging experience in the
future.

The purpose of this paper is to prepare the students of Alphacrest in such a way
that may not be practiced in so many other institutions. They may find the process
untimely, having different concerns at their age, but when they mature into
productive adults in the end, they will begin to appreciate the effort that the school
put in. It is important that each person knows himself fully well in order for
him to wade through life with confidence and hopefulness.

KSA MATRIX

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & METHODOLOGIES/ SAMPLE SCHOOL

ATTITUDES STRATEGIES ACTIVITIES
KNOWLEDGE
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Frankena Model
1.The importance of • Peer counselling
taking responsibility for • Participating/
one’s self exposure to
community outreach
activities
• Regular counselling
with the teachers
• Journaling
• Regular counselling
2.The advantages of with the teachers
knowing one’s self • Writing a reaction
paper or review on
reading assignments
about people who have
lived influential and
inspiring lives
• Annual retreats
• Active participation in
the non-academic clubs
of Alphacrest
• Reading
recommended books
3.The intricacies of self on inspiring lives
discovery • Journaling
• Active participation in
the non-academic
clubs of Alphacrest
• Participating/
exposure to
community outreach
activities
• Annual retreats
SKILLS
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1.Student Council events
such as the annual
Sportsfest (senior
students take charge of
younger students who
are members of their
respective teams)
2.Homeroom period
(students spend time
with their class adviser)
3.Feeding program in an
adopted barangay
(outreach activity of
graduating students)
1.Class discussion on the
book The Diary of Anne
Frank and the life story of
Helen Keller (inspirational
stories that the students
can compare their
experiences with)
2.Singing in the Glee
Club/ Joining the school
choir (allows them to
strengthen their self-
confidence)
3. Emcee during the PTA
assembly
1.Holding a committee
during the feeding
program in an adopted
community
2.Joining a sports
competition in the annual
PRISAA as a result of
being part of the school’s
sports club
3.Essay writing: My Most
Unforgettable Experience
(to be inputted in the
journal)
Frankena Model
1. A confident • Participating/
communicator exposure to
community outreach
activities
• Peer counselling
• Active participation in
the non-academic
clubs of Alphacrest
2. People skills
• Sympathetic to • Participating/
others/ exposure to
compassionate community outreach
• Connect well activities
with people • Peer counselling
• Intuitive
3. Critical- thinker • Participating/
exposure to
community outreach
activities
• Reading
recommended books
on inspiring lives
ATTITUDES
• Resilience • Regular counselling
• Receptive/ with the teachers
receptiven • Participating/
ess exposure to
community outreach
• Teachable/ activities
teachabilit
y
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1.Hosting the games
during the Christmas gift-
giving program in an
adopted community
2.Facilitating the eating
session of the recipients
during the feeding
program
3.Making friends with
students from other
schools during the Boys’
and Girls’ Week
Celebration
4.Getting along well with
other players during the
annual PRISAA events
1.Immersion activity in
the slum area as part of
the requirements in the
Social Studies Subject
(topic: overpopulation)
2.Listening to a
classmate’s dilemma on
the separation of his/ her
parents
1.Write a reaction paper
on the movie FREEDOM
WRITERS starring Hilary
Swank
2.Come up with a
recommended outreach
program for the
graduating class based
on observations during
the immersion activity
1.Subjecting to
community service after
having been caught
smoking outside the
campus/ coming to class
late/ skipping class to
play video games
Frankena Model

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Greene, R. (2007) The 33 Strategies of War. USA: Viking Penguin.

INTERNET SOURCES:

http://www.equilibrium.org/glad/definitions.html

http://psychology.about.com/od/overviewofpersonality/a/persondef.htm

http://psychology.about.com/od/theoriesofpersonality/a/hierarchyneeds_2.htm

http://www.drphil.com/articles/article/73

www.attractionmindmap.com/7-steps-to-self-discovery

http://proactivechange.com/12steps/list.htm

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