... because I need more than one photo to make a point.
================================================================================
by PAM
That decision meant that I had to continue leading the Faculty to this...
Joining the Engineering Education 'Big League'
I had to follow through the work that I put on with my Team for the past six years, and bring the vision to fruition. Of course, prior to making that decision, I finished my second Term with an all-system-go towards accomplishing the task. All the buttons are set, we only had to turn the key to the button guards and press them when the time is right.
After the decision was made, and while mingling with colleagues of equivalent designation from different universities in the United States of America and in other parts of the world, I momentarily doubted my motivation in deciding to stay. I asked myself, what else was my motivation other than service? Was it the prestige of being at the helm when this happened, even if I did build the foundation 'brick-by-brick' - at many points, against the current and against the direction of the wind - leading to this and, therefore, in all fairness, deserve to claim the credit? I searched my heart... and no, claiming credit is not there. After all, true credit is given, not claimed. All I found was still the desire to continue serving, and making sure that, when the time is right, I can turnover the helm to someone with all the creases smoothened so that he or she, can begin to lay down a foundation for another monument of progress, building upon what we have built over the last six years and the three years in front of us.
My Team was off to a terribly busy start, and I was running and 'shooting' with my 'big guns' as I sprinted from one goal to another. I was enjoying a momentary respite when this happened...
...132 new Registered Mechanical Engineers:
our gift to the society, the fruits of our collective labor.
No, there is nothing like seeing dreams coming true... keys turning, doors opening - for our students and their parents, and for all their loved ones; and knowing that, somehow, in the smallest of ways, you were instrumental in having them realized their dreams. To know in your heart that you can do this, and choosing otherwise because your own dream is 'bigger' than theirs is, I can imagine, a lifetime without peace of mind.
I choose peace of mind. So, I chose what I do now: service. And, I shall keep persevering in service. Until when? I'll keep searching for the answer because, I know that when you search, you shall find.
***
Image credit: The first photo was taken at the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) Institutional Representatives Meeting in Baltimore, Maryland in July 2019 by an ABET staff; and the second photo is a collage of images from the website of the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) of the Republic of the Philippines.
***
