I first learned this story from my third choice, i.e., my teacher who I used to call master.

That was supposed to be a

life-changing tale for me because I was very stubborn and unreceptive back then. But, my master taught me to be more
Name:
open with ____________________________
new perspectives and continue to seek Year/Section:inspirations from___________
other people who Date: ________
I can call masters, too, and to
absorb and just filter later. As Bruce Lee said, “Absorb what is useful.” Hopefully, after I have taken everything in, I
will have evolved into a better educator, just like Activity
my master #2and ultimately, a better creative person. I want to reach that
“zen point”, where everything is intuitive and instinctive, where teaching and I are one (like the samurai and the sword
Direction:
are one), where ReadI cantheseesample
beyondspeech
what my below, andme
eyes tell then, using
as what the Six Power
swordsman MiyamotoPrinciples
Musashifor Speech
said.
Editing, edit the speech. Underline the part which you think needs editing for
Yes, I am aware of the dangers of having too many masters. But mixed martial arts taught us that we can learn focus, clarity,
concision,
different fightingcontinuity, variety,
styles from and masters,
different impact and andeventually,
beauty. Then,evolvewrite
into a the revised version
well-rounded warrior. Iinguess
the the secret lies
space
in keepingprovided.
an open mind. I learned that from my master. So, I just make sure that when I meet other people and listen to
their stories, I go with an empty cup.
May 15 of this year,she
Nevertheless, I woke up Again,
left me. with a it happy
brokeheart. I thought to myself, “when I reach 50 years old, 60 or beyond, I
my heart.
will look back to this day and smile.” Then, I paid attention
Right after I signed on my journal entry, I heard euphonous to my college
voicesgraduation picture,
of these three framed onfused
personalities a 4x6into
decorative
one calling
wood my edging emblazoned with beautiful memories. I reached for it, and held it closely, and uttered,
name. It was my mom. She came in to my room with two pieces of cake each shaped with letters P and J enough “10 years, and I think to
you did a pretty good job!” I slowly put it back to the side table, off to my working station across
be carried by her hands. The letters are initials of my first name- Philippe John. Planted on the edge of each cake were my sliding window to
fulfillfive
one tiny
in my daily routine:
well-lit candles. journal
I stood writing.
from my post, grabbed the pieces from my mom’s shaky hands, and put them on my
Then, I started: Dear journal,
desk. Then, I hugged her. It was “Inonemy of 10
the years
tightestashugs
a member
I had givenof the
her.noblest
And, sheprofession in the universe,
told me, “You’re I have
now a decade young
encountered
teacher.several
Way toinfluential,
go, my love, inspiring and fabulous
and I promise people.
I will not leave So,
you today,
anymore. as aNever.”
tribute, I’m going to write about them,
starting offI couldn’t
with my thank
top threeher favorites”.
more. May 15 of this year, I woke up with a happy heart. And, again. I thought to myself,
To“when
beginI with,
reachI50 didyears
not like
old, my first
60 or pick. She
beyond, I willwas someone
look back towho would
this day always,
again always
and again anddisagree
again.” with my ideas and
decisions. I remember one time while I asked her to sign my college admission papers, she was infuriated because of my
choice because I ticked Mass Communications as my priority. It was a very long battle of verbal argument. As expected, I
did not win. Another, I came home from school sharing I would want to extract the tooth of my lab partner without an
anesthesia because he’s irresponsible and ridiculous. Instead of letting me vent and giving me a back rub, she defended
the behavior of my lab partner saying, “He must have a bad day. You have to understand.” Precisely, she’s a devil’s
advocate.
But, I have loved her. In fact, I have been playing as a devil’s advocate since college. I think it’s important to see a
situation from different perspectives. In that sense, I can think critically and make reasonable decisions. In the academic
context, I employ it as a strategy to make my students be effective communicators, critical and creative thinkers, service-
driven citizens, and reflective life-long learners through exposing them to several relevant activities. I learned this from
her, from someone I know a devil’s advocate.
However, she left me. And for once, it broke my heart.
If United Kingdom has the late Margaret Thatcher, and China has Wu Yi, I have a friend, too, an Iron Lady who is
my second choice. And, I’m lucky to have known her. Coined by Russian journalist Captain Yuri Gavrilov in 1976, the
iron metaphor is used to describe a lady who is “strong-willed”. Strong-willed, that’s a perfect word that describes my
friend. I was in grade six back then when I witnessed the misery that happened to her family. I knew how it felt though I
was still younger. Their business went bankrupt; her husband was hospitalized fighting against death; and, she was falling
downward spiral. But, she did not let go. She stood her ground, fought back, and turned every tragedy into triumph.
That’s why she’s an Iron Lady to me.
Being strong-willed and turning tragedy into triumph are lessons which I learned from my Iron Lady friend. Had I not
applied these lessons to my personal and professional life, I would have lost my sanity and remained miserable.
However, she left me. And for the second time, it broke my heart.
Of course, we all have heard the story about a university professor who sought a Japanese master for enlightenment
about his questions on Zen. The master served the professor with tea, poured the cup full, and kept on pouring. The
professor suddenly said, “It is overflowing”. The master replied, “You are like this cup. I cannot show you Zen unless
you empty your cup.”