I Hear Ya', La Sallians!

As an undergraduate lecturer, I always strive to encourage my students to go beyond the four walls of the classroom and to think outside the box. This week, I was blown away by how far my students have gone.

Let me backtrack to a few weeks ago. You see, I attended the launch of The Rock Ed Original Project in partnership with Havaianas, where I found out about their contest for a grant for a youth oriented project. At first, I thought the event that I had attended was just a simple product launch, perhaps for a new line of flip flops or what not. However, as I went through the press kit and tried to get into what they meant with their "Original" campaign, I realized it was not just another way to get the public to buy flip flops, but there was something much more!

The whole idea for the grant project is quite interesting. To be honest, I started thinking myself what I would like to do, especially in light of research findings about mental health and the Filipino youth (Yes...I do get involved in research...I just don't like it!!!). If I were to propose a project myself, it would most likely have something to do with computer literacy, internet access, and the youth. Anyway, getting back on track, the launch happened to coincide with the class modules on Service Commitment and Leadership.

With those in my mind, I got the idea to require my students to identify an advocacy they would like to push for and to design a campaign for their message.

This week was presentation week. I was simply amazed! So much so that at the end of the class sessions, I flashed the project site, rockedoriginalgrant.multiply.com. I encouraged my students to pursue their advocacy's and to not just make it a class exercise, but to use it and go beyond my classroom.

I hope to see one of my students end up as the grant winner...this would be a true testament to learning outside the classroom!!!

Whether or not they win (or submit for that matter) I have to say being in my classes this week made me once again proud of my chosen profession.