Week 4: Discussion#4

 Situation No. 1

John is an active member of school organizations. He has a lot of talents to share and ideas to contribute to their club. Aside from that, he is known for his good looks, neatness, and tidiness. However, these seemingly likeable characteristics became the very reasons for rumors and gossips-- that he is a member of the LGBTQ+I community. This hurt him so much that he almost wanted to drop from schooling.

Give your reaction:

I feel pity for him although he shouldn't have to feel that hurt because of that. It may feel bad but if I were him and others are talking behind my back, I'd still be at least still okay with it as long as I have some true friends and my family that would believe the truth coming from me. Also, even if the rumors were true that he is part of the said community, there's no reason to feel hurt.

Situation No. 2

Erica is a Grade 11 student. Although she is quite plump, she is undeniably pretty. Since she is sociable, she became popular and gained a lot of friends in school. She is just an average student but having a crush on her Top one classmate urged her to spend late nights studying to keep up with him. However, all her efforts still fell short and she did not make it to the cut of students with honors. Because of this, she developed an eating disorder that caused her to lose huge weight. She also started to have breakouts. With these, the then friendly Erica became aloof and self-conscious.

Give your reaction:

I'd say that the part where she got motivated is good. That's the point of crushes, they serve as an inspiration to make the current version of yourself better in order for you to have a higher probability of being liked back. If they still don't, then at least you're better and still have a higher probability of being like by others compared to your state before. Although others seem to improve theirselves just to impress others and I think that's not good. Be proud, take care, and value yourself.

Processing Questions:

1. What kind of adolescent did the two students portray in the two situations?

They are adolescents who are still too mindful of others' opinions.

2. What challenges did John and Erica experience?

They faced cognitive (since they became mindful of others' opinions and felt that others are watching them), and psychological challenges (since they felt stressed and anxious on socially adjusting with the new environment and experiences that they are dealing with).

3. What challenges do Filipino adolescents face most?

Filipino adolescents face cognitive and psychological challenges since this journey to adulthood can be disrupted by various factors in our environment. Since we are developing and changing the way we think or perceive things, we also become aware that others are observing this development and not much from those others have an open mind about these said changes. This could then lead to being too much self-conscious about ourselves. Moreover, the the rules, consequences, and responsibilities that we once grown upon are changing. With this, we feel the need to be accountable at all times and those who can't may feel anxious or overwhelmed about all of this.