Choosing Right: Equipping the Youth for What is to Come
The Grade 9 students and parents of MGC New Life Christian Academy (MGCNLCA) vowed to choose right in the school’s first-ever Choosing Right program held last February 14.
Organized by the Guidance & Testing Center (GTC), this event aimed to allow the students to learn to make choices that are right and God-honoring as well as equip both students and parents alike with the necessary tools to navigate the challenges faced by the youth in this ever-changing world.
Parents and students first broke out into separate talks. Several guest speakers were invited to share their own personal experiences in hopes of inspiring the youth as they make many crucial decisions at this stage of their lives.
Senior High School teacher Kristine Zurbano and her husband, Carlo, shed light on relationships and the importance of choosing the right partner. MGCNL alumnus Frederick Ivan Ho offered perspective on adulthood and growing up, while fellow alumnus Tristan Jay Lao spoke about his experiences in choosing the right college and career.
On the other hand, Dr. Grace Shangkuan-Koo, PhD, a professor of educational psychology at the University of the Philippines (UP), shared some insights with the parents on how to raise and guide their teenage children in navigating this digital world.
The Choosing Right program ended with a plenary session led by Ptr. Jeanette Yu-Chua where students were given the chance to sit down and have time to talk with their parents. During this parent-child encounter, Yu-Chua led everyone into what they would share with their families. To conclude the session, parents gave their children a letter of encouragement and a small token to mark this event, as well as given the opportunity to pray for them.
GTC Head and parent Daphne Uang expressed how, despite the lack of time, the messages and sessions were still very meaningful and helpful to both the students and parents. “I believe that learning and improving never end. Things in the world are constantly changing and we need to learn to keep up with the times,” concluded Uang.
“It was a great time for me to spend time with my family. [...] They managed to make it entertaining the entire time,” said Caleb Brian Gubat of Damascus B. He also added that he learned the importance of quality time with family, knowing your priorities, and maintaining healthy relationships.
Meanwhile, positive feedback was also given by the parents.
Damascus A parent Thomas Garcia commented, “I like this event because it gives us an opportunity to spend more time as a family. It’s an opportunity for me to share what I feel about my son, and it’s an opportunity for me to hear what he actually thinks of me. Mental health is really affecting a lot of the youth now and parents are up against different threats to their families and they have to adjust if they want to succeed. [...] But the most important thing here is that communication is always important. The moment that you stop communicating means it’s the moment you stop caring.”
“The talk also lets you realize that the current situation now really is a situation wherein you need to look deeper to see what are the concerns of society [and] the concerns of teens and parents. [...] It’s an eye-opener for us to spend more time with [our] teens and with all the business that we do, we really need to sit down, find time, and communicate. Choosing Right [taught] me that if you want to do something, you have to find time,” stated Damascus D parent Helen Oleta.
