PEER COUNSELING SYMPOSIUM (July 11, 2010)

One Saturday, on July 11, 2010 a Peer Counseling Symposium was conducted by the Students’ Peer Assistance Club (SPAC), headed by the School Guidance In-Charge in coordination with the 4^th year Class Advisers.

Our clients were the 160 4^th year students enlisted during the enrollm

ent period by the 4^th year teachers for having failed grades (red marks) in their 3^rd year form 137. These students were then obliged to come school on the said date and attend a Peer Counseling Symposium.

The SPAC members were assigned to tasks according to their talents and capabilities. Some were assigned as Registration attendants, others as ice breakers and the carefully selected and trained few – as speakers.

As per detailed instruction and extensive training, the lecture focused more on anti-vices topics and motivating the students to improve their academic performance. They were also encouraged not to underestimate the power

of prayer or attend to the spiritual aspect of their lives.

After the lecture, the participants were made to watch inspirational films, e.g., the life of Nick Vujicic. An Australian limbless person but manage to attain a college degree and become a successful individual in spite of his being handicapped/physically challenged. The film was explained further by the School Guidance In-Charge, Mr. Marieto Lozada.

After watching the film, the participants were divided into several groups where two to three trained SPAC members were assigned to conduct debriefing and interactive peer counseling.

The participants were encouraged to voice out the root cause of their problems as to why they were not performing well academically.

There were participants, male and female, who shed tears and confided their problems to the SPAC debriefing facilitators.

Before the concluding prayer, the participants were asked

to pledge for their own sake that the more they may have problems (financially/motivation-wise) presently, the more they should make an effort to attain a decent life someday by studying well.

After the symposium, headed by the School Guidance In-Charge, the SPAC facilitators convened in one room to “un-stress” themselves after undergoing a stressful day.

Without any budget for snacks or dinner for the facilitators, at the end of the day we all felt so hungry and tired. And, we all went home at around 7:30pm.

Indeed, it was a very tiring but self-filling day.