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Illumina Mundi | Arlene Gregorio-de Castro | TEDxBinusSchool


so going to begin my talk with a Greek

so going to begin my talk with a Greek story between it’s actually in a movie

story between it’s actually in a movie

story between it’s actually in a movie Troy and it’s a talk between it’s a

Troy and it’s a talk between it’s a

Troy and it’s a talk between it’s a discussion between Achilles and his

discussion between Achilles and his

discussion between Achilles and his mother Thetis Achilles is asking his mom

mother Thetis Achilles is asking his mom

mother Thetis Achilles is asking his mom what to do it was going to join the

what to do it was going to join the

what to do it was going to join the Trojan War or will stay in their place

Trojan War or will stay in their place

Trojan War or will stay in their place so the mom says there are two things

so the mom says there are two things

so the mom says there are two things that you can actually do the first you

that you can actually do the first you

that you can actually do the first you stay here you get married your wife will

stay here you get married your wife will

stay here you get married your wife will love you you’ll have kids and your kids

love you you’ll have kids and your kids

love you you’ll have kids and your kids will follow you but when you die that’s

will follow you but when you die that’s

will follow you but when you die that’s it

it

it no one will actually remember you the

no one will actually remember you the

no one will actually remember you the other one the other option is that you

other one the other option is that you

other one the other option is that you can go to Troy and fight for Greece but

can go to Troy and fight for Greece but

can go to Troy and fight for Greece but and in in the process you’re going your

and in in the process you’re going your

and in in the process you’re going your name will be known your story will be

name will be known your story will be

name will be known your story will be told over and over again and you will be

told over and over again and you will be

told over and over again and you will be immortalized by that but in that glory

immortalized by that but in that glory

immortalized by that but in that glory comes your doom and we know what

comes your doom and we know what

comes your doom and we know what achilles what’s the decision of achilles

achilles what’s the decision of achilles

achilles what’s the decision of achilles right it’s the latter he chooses the

right it’s the latter he chooses the

right it’s the latter he chooses the glory and doom now I’m not going to UM I

glory and doom now I’m not going to UM I

glory and doom now I’m not going to UM I don’t want to concentrate on the doom

don’t want to concentrate on the doom

don’t want to concentrate on the doom but the glory itself because optimism is

but the glory itself because optimism is

but the glory itself because optimism is a good trait right so immortality is a

a good trait right so immortality is a

a good trait right so immortality is a hankering dream that was and is dreamt

hankering dream that was and is dreamt

hankering dream that was and is dreamt by a lot of people you can see this in

by a lot of people you can see this in

by a lot of people you can see this in ancient history books it is a recurring

ancient history books it is a recurring

ancient history books it is a recurring theme in ancient literature but it’s

theme in ancient literature but it’s

theme in ancient literature but it’s anything but ancient we can still see it

anything but ancient we can still see it

anything but ancient we can still see it today it lingers in our generation today

today it lingers in our generation today

today it lingers in our generation today we can see it in the horizon saying take

we can see it in the horizon saying take

we can see it in the horizon saying take it it’s yours it’s a part of the script

it it’s yours it’s a part of the script

it it’s yours it’s a part of the script in an Android so how can we actually

in an Android so how can we actually

in an Android so how can we actually achieve immortality I’m an English

achieve immortality I’m an English

achieve immortality I’m an English literature teacher so you know that I’m

literature teacher so you know that I’m

literature teacher so you know that I’m talking about metaphors right so some

talking about metaphors right so some

talking about metaphors right so some people decided to write books invent

people decided to write books invent

people decided to write books invent things create and do things and in the

things create and do things and in the

things create and do things and in the process if it ludes death itself

process if it ludes death itself

process if it ludes death itself the people like William Shakespeare

the people like William Shakespeare

the people like William Shakespeare Mahatma Gandhi Karl Marx Marie Curie an

Mahatma Gandhi Karl Marx Marie Curie an

Mahatma Gandhi Karl Marx Marie Curie an Albert Einstein mother Teresa those are

Albert Einstein mother Teresa those are

Albert Einstein mother Teresa those are the names that you know immortalizes

the names that you know immortalizes

the names that you know immortalizes themselves with the things that they

themselves with the things that they

themselves with the things that they actually did that make us remember them

actually did that make us remember them

actually did that make us remember them but there are also some people that’s

but there are also some people that’s

but there are also some people that’s actually unknown and they are unsung

actually unknown and they are unsung

actually unknown and they are unsung heroes who did things to help create the

heroes who did things to help create the

heroes who did things to help create the narrative of the world today and that’s

narrative of the world today and that’s

narrative of the world today and that’s what we’re going to discuss further

what we’re going to discuss further

what we’re going to discuss further that’s what I’m going to elaborate

that’s what I’m going to elaborate

that’s what I’m going to elaborate further let me start with my own story I

further let me start with my own story I

further let me start with my own story I was an average student my my brothers

was an average student my my brothers

was an average student my my brothers and sisters are the one who’s you know

and sisters are the one who’s you know

and sisters are the one who’s you know constant constant under students they’re

constant constant under students they’re

constant constant under students they’re always on stage because they’re been

always on stage because they’re been

always on stage because they’re been giving medals and I’m always on the side

giving medals and I’m always on the side

giving medals and I’m always on the side clapping at them I love it because they

clapping at them I love it because they

clapping at them I love it because they are make my brothers they are my

are make my brothers they are my

are make my brothers they are my siblings but it doesn’t mean that even

siblings but it doesn’t mean that even

siblings but it doesn’t mean that even if I’m actually an average student it

if I’m actually an average student it

if I’m actually an average student it doesn’t mean that they have an average

doesn’t mean that they have an average

doesn’t mean that they have an average dream I want to change the world

dream I want to change the world

dream I want to change the world probably some of you will laugh how can

probably some of you will laugh how can

probably some of you will laugh how can I possibly change the world I’m just one

I possibly change the world I’m just one

I possibly change the world I’m just one person after graduating the University I

person after graduating the University I

person after graduating the University I immediately landed a job an 8 to 5 job

immediately landed a job an 8 to 5 job

immediately landed a job an 8 to 5 job and it was actually then it’s a pivotal

and it was actually then it’s a pivotal

and it was actually then it’s a pivotal moment in my life where I actually

moment in my life where I actually

moment in my life where I actually started asking myself what is it really

started asking myself what is it really

started asking myself what is it really that I want to do with my life because 8

that I want to do with my life because 8

that I want to do with my life because 8 to 5 job is like you know imprisoning me

to 5 job is like you know imprisoning me

to 5 job is like you know imprisoning me – what I really wanted to do so is this

– what I really wanted to do so is this

– what I really wanted to do so is this what I really wanted to you know

what I really wanted to you know

what I really wanted to you know continue this kind of life and to

continue this kind of life and to

continue this kind of life and to dissolve later on it was then the

dissolve later on it was then the

dissolve later on it was then the teaching comes along for some people

teaching comes along for some people

teaching comes along for some people teaching is another noble profession but

teaching is another noble profession but

teaching is another noble profession but for me it’s more than that I I’m not

for me it’s more than that I I’m not

for me it’s more than that I I’m not sure but I hope that most of the

sure but I hope that most of the

sure but I hope that most of the teachers that we have we hear known that

teachers that we have we hear known that

teachers that we have we hear known that know this fact that we are actually

know this fact that we are actually

know this fact that we are actually crafting the future we

crafting the future we

crafting the future we the architect of the future because it’s

the architect of the future because it’s

the architect of the future because it’s in actually in us we could basically try

in actually in us we could basically try

in actually in us we could basically try to engage kids to do different things so

to engage kids to do different things so

to engage kids to do different things so that they can they will basically know

that they can they will basically know

that they can they will basically know what they want but when I say engaging

what they want but when I say engaging

what they want but when I say engaging them what kind of things do we actually

them what kind of things do we actually

them what kind of things do we actually need to do henry adams once said that

teacher affects eternity we can never

teacher affects eternity we can never tell when their influence stops and i

tell when their influence stops and i

tell when their influence stops and i believe in that because i remember

believe in that because i remember

believe in that because i remember some part of me is this professor of

some part of me is this professor of

some part of me is this professor of mine way back in the university who

mine way back in the university who

mine way back in the university who teaches me the beauty of teaching he’s

teaches me the beauty of teaching he’s

teaches me the beauty of teaching he’s an atheist i was born and raised

an atheist i was born and raised

an atheist i was born and raised Catholic but it’s it’s never an issue

Catholic but it’s it’s never an issue

Catholic but it’s it’s never an issue how we can actually understand each

how we can actually understand each

how we can actually understand each other

so what happened then is that I remember

so what happened then is that I remember again another well-known person is

again another well-known person is

again another well-known person is Aristotle he said that educating the

Aristotle he said that educating the

Aristotle he said that educating the mind without educating the heart is no

mind without educating the heart is no

mind without educating the heart is no education at all

education at all

education at all that is my advocacy I’ve been teaching

that is my advocacy I’ve been teaching

that is my advocacy I’ve been teaching for more than 10 years in fact this is

for more than 10 years in fact this is

for more than 10 years in fact this is my tenth year here in beams and every

my tenth year here in beams and every

my tenth year here in beams and every year I keep on thinking what are the

year I keep on thinking what are the

year I keep on thinking what are the ways that I can make the assessment

ways that I can make the assessment

ways that I can make the assessment different from one another I cannot just

different from one another I cannot just

different from one another I cannot just give them you know an essay which is

give them you know an essay which is

give them you know an essay which is inherently English so I try to do

inherently English so I try to do

inherently English so I try to do certain things and I tried to remember

certain things and I tried to remember

certain things and I tried to remember what’s the reason why I’m teaching and

what’s the reason why I’m teaching and

what’s the reason why I’m teaching and so one time five years ago I remember I

so one time five years ago I remember I

so one time five years ago I remember I created an assessment entitled Heroes

created an assessment entitled Heroes

created an assessment entitled Heroes project I the reason why I come up with

project I the reason why I come up with

project I the reason why I come up with that one is because I’m teaching Greek

that one is because I’m teaching Greek

that one is because I’m teaching Greek heroes during the time so this here what

heroes during the time so this here what

heroes during the time so this here what is this project about this year is this

is this project about this year is this

is this project about this year is this Heroes project is about kids doing

Heroes project is about kids doing

Heroes project is about kids doing heroic things but then when I say heroic

heroic things but then when I say heroic

heroic things but then when I say heroic it doesn’t have to rip they don’t need

it doesn’t have to rip they don’t need

it doesn’t have to rip they don’t need to risk their life to do certain things

to risk their life to do certain things

to risk their life to do certain things the only thing that they have to do is

the only thing that they have to do is

the only thing that they have to do is to help somebody that is not their

to help somebody that is not their

to help somebody that is not their friend

friend

friend that is not a member of the family

that is not a member of the family

that is not a member of the family somebody that they don’t know and so

somebody that they don’t know and so

somebody that they don’t know and so after that they need to come back to

after that they need to come back to

after that they need to come back to class and explain what they did the

class and explain what they did the

class and explain what they did the process what they learned the reflection

process what they learned the reflection

process what they learned the reflection of what they did now a lot of students

of what they did now a lot of students

of what they did now a lot of students it’s actually an enlightening thing for

it’s actually an enlightening thing for

it’s actually an enlightening thing for me as well because I realized that most

me as well because I realized that most

me as well because I realized that most of the kids want those kind of

of the kids want those kind of

of the kids want those kind of assessments but the reason I’m telling

assessments but the reason I’m telling

assessments but the reason I’m telling you the story is because of this one

you the story is because of this one

you the story is because of this one student I remembered

student I remembered

student I remembered he’s now in grade in week 12 I’m not

he’s now in grade in week 12 I’m not

he’s now in grade in week 12 I’m not gonna tell you his name he’s a big

gonna tell you his name he’s a big

gonna tell you his name he’s a big student tall big student and when he

student tall big student and when he

student tall big student and when he started explaining his project he

started explaining his project he

started explaining his project he started crying and I said why but all

started crying and I said why but all

started crying and I said why but all the kids knows the story I’m the only

the kids knows the story I’m the only

the kids knows the story I’m the only one who don’t and then I asked why he

one who don’t and then I asked why he

one who don’t and then I asked why he said their project they went to an

said their project they went to an

said their project they went to an orphanage and so they actually were

orphanage and so they actually were

orphanage and so they actually were assigned different kind of tasks and

assigned different kind of tasks and

assigned different kind of tasks and he’s assigned to play with kids and he

he’s assigned to play with kids and he

he’s assigned to play with kids and he saw this two-year-old blind orphan who

saw this two-year-old blind orphan who

saw this two-year-old blind orphan who likes to play with him but every time he

likes to play with him but every time he

likes to play with him but every time he touches his hand this two-year-old will

touches his hand this two-year-old will

touches his hand this two-year-old will run away he doesn’t want his hand to be

run away he doesn’t want his hand to be

run away he doesn’t want his hand to be held and he said that that’s actually

held and he said that that’s actually

held and he said that that’s actually the pivotal moment in his life in which

the pivotal moment in his life in which

the pivotal moment in his life in which he realizes that here he is big tall and

he realizes that here he is big tall and

he realizes that here he is big tall and burly guy who’s always dependent to his

burly guy who’s always dependent to his

burly guy who’s always dependent to his parents and to his friends and here

parents and to his friends and here

parents and to his friends and here comes his two year old blind kid who

comes his two year old blind kid who

comes his two year old blind kid who wants to be independent this is what I

wants to be independent this is what I

wants to be independent this is what I am looking for in teaching this what

am looking for in teaching this what

am looking for in teaching this what feeds me as a teacher I know that I we

feeds me as a teacher I know that I we

feeds me as a teacher I know that I we cannot actually earn a lot of money in

cannot actually earn a lot of money in

cannot actually earn a lot of money in teaching but this what makes me this is

teaching but this what makes me this is

teaching but this what makes me this is the very reason why I am teaching and so

the very reason why I am teaching and so

the very reason why I am teaching and so ultimately the goal of my talk today is

ultimately the goal of my talk today is

ultimately the goal of my talk today is to encourage everyone to pursue an

to encourage everyone to pursue an

to encourage everyone to pursue an advocacy something that could bring back

advocacy something that could bring back

advocacy something that could bring back the trust in humanity

the trust in humanity

the trust in humanity why am I actually doing this I was

why am I actually doing this I was

why am I actually doing this I was actually like I grew up discussing with

actually like I grew up discussing with

actually like I grew up discussing with my dad about you know what’s happening

my dad about you know what’s happening

my dad about you know what’s happening in the world today he’s actually the one

in the world today he’s actually the one

in the world today he’s actually the one who who opened my eyes that the world is

who who opened my eyes that the world is

who who opened my eyes that the world is actually how we see it on television the

actually how we see it on television the

actually how we see it on television the politics is so different from how we

politics is so different from how we

politics is so different from how we understand it we talk about different

understand it we talk about different

understand it we talk about different kinds of things religious talk social

kinds of things religious talk social

kinds of things religious talk social social events and politics and he’s the

social events and politics and he’s the

social events and politics and he’s the one who opened my mind that we need

one who opened my mind that we need

one who opened my mind that we need people to actually do positive things so

people to actually do positive things so

people to actually do positive things so that we can see that the future is not

that we can see that the future is not

that we can see that the future is not going to be that blick but the future is

going to be that blick but the future is

going to be that blick but the future is actually good so my goal

actually good so my goal

actually good so my goal I’m not asking everyone to be like

I’m not asking everyone to be like

I’m not asking everyone to be like Mahatma Gandhi or mother Teresa but it

Mahatma Gandhi or mother Teresa but it

Mahatma Gandhi or mother Teresa but it should be we should do something that we

should be we should do something that we

should be we should do something that we really care about something that comes

really care about something that comes

really care about something that comes from our heart something that we care

from our heart something that we care

from our heart something that we care passionately why why do we need to do

passionately why why do we need to do

passionately why why do we need to do that because if not us again I’m going

that because if not us again I’m going

that because if not us again I’m going to quote um what if this person said if

to quote um what if this person said if

to quote um what if this person said if not me who

not me who

not me who if not us who so um the the process of

if not us who so um the the process of

if not us who so um the the process of this project is that we when we actually

this project is that we when we actually

this project is that we when we actually do things that comes from the heart it

do things that comes from the heart it

do things that comes from the heart it doesn’t matter if we only affect it if

doesn’t matter if we only affect it if

doesn’t matter if we only affect it if it only affects the life of 1% because

it only affects the life of 1% because

it only affects the life of 1% because if this person what if this person will

if this person what if this person will

if this person what if this person will actually motivate another person to

actually motivate another person to

actually motivate another person to follow the lead and this person will

follow the lead and this person will

follow the lead and this person will enlighten another one to continue can

enlighten another one to continue can

enlighten another one to continue can you imagine the infinite possibility the

you imagine the infinite possibility the

you imagine the infinite possibility the positive thing that would happen to our

positive thing that would happen to our

positive thing that would happen to our world if that same thing could actually

world if that same thing could actually

world if that same thing could actually happen I believe that human that we

happen I believe that human that we

happen I believe that human that we human is bestowed with boundless

human is bestowed with boundless

human is bestowed with boundless compassion

compassion

compassion it is only in times in which we put

it is only in times in which we put

it is only in times in which we put ourselves first diminishes that empathy

ourselves first diminishes that empathy

ourselves first diminishes that empathy that is known to exist in us all we will

that is known to exist in us all we will

that is known to exist in us all we will all die eventually all of us our

all die eventually all of us our

all die eventually all of us our physical body at least

physical body at least

physical body at least but if dying would leave an energy that

but if dying would leave an energy that

but if dying would leave an energy that will be used and will continuously used

will be used and will continuously used

will be used and will continuously used to continue the flow or the cycle those

to continue the flow or the cycle those

to continue the flow or the cycle those small energies would serve like a small

small energies would serve like a small

small energies would serve like a small conduits of light that would link that

conduits of light that would link that

conduits of light that would link that would link us to the very core of

would link us to the very core of

would link us to the very core of humanity again it’s it’s it’s like how

humanity again it’s it’s it’s like how

humanity again it’s it’s it’s like how can we say no to that if that force

can we say no to that if that force

can we say no to that if that force would actually be the constant force

would actually be the constant force

would actually be the constant force that will drive the humanity to its

that will drive the humanity to its

that will drive the humanity to its glory or doom what will you choose I

glory or doom what will you choose I

glory or doom what will you choose I choose glory what about you thank you

choose glory what about you thank you

choose glory what about you thank you very much

very much

very much [Applause]

”

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