THE BIOGRAPHY INTERVIEW
Creative NonFiction
Biography Interview
Questionnaire:
What is your name? Age?
Zaira Joyce C. Samson, 24 years old
When and where were you born?
December 5, 1998, General Trias, Cavite
How are you?
We can't avoid problems, the ups and downs, and struggles in life. Whether personal, psychological, family, or financial problems. But when it refers to me, I think if I'll answer the question "how are you?" I can say that I am still handling the problems that I have right now well and "kaya pa naman".
Can you describe what life is? If there are words that could describe your life, what could it be?
"Nowadays life is hard because we are facing reality. At my age, during the early adulthood phase, this stage of life feels like an exploration stage where you really struggle. When you're in your teenage days, you think everything is perfect, everything is in an idealistic phase. But once you step outside your comfort zone, it feels like you're carrying the weight of the world. There's a lot of responsibility. And there's a responsibility that can be a culture shock because you encounter it for the first time, along with the culture shock of the workplace and the new people you'll be with. If I were to describe life in one word, it would be all about survival because, let's admit it, having money is important. We have to face the reality that everything revolves around money. Honestly, nowadays, when choosing between Religion (Faith) or Money, in order for you to survive, the only thing you need to embrace is money. Well, it really depends because in this day and age, if you don't have money, you have nothing. But then, it's not just money that you're looking for; your passion for life and surviving your struggles is still there, but you need financial resources or utilities to sustain yourself."
How was life for you growing up? Any moment in your younger years that made you think "so this is life"?
Yes, always. I can say that what I grew up with is completely different. But before, I can say that I was a strong independent woman because I didn't depend on people, especially during my college or high school days. As an introverted person, I didn't rely on others, as I believed I could do things on my own. But sometimes, I felt like I was too much of a loner back then because I thought I could do everything by myself. As they say, "no man is an island," so I'm not saying that you should always be an introvert or always stand on your own feet. Because in reality, that's not how it works. In the end, it's all about yourself and depending on yourself. Well, I'm not saying that I'm selfish, but in reality, if you look at it, we need to rely on our connections or networks, on people. We need to socialize with others, whether they're friends or colleagues at work. In my life as I grew up, as an adult, there was a definite transition phase. In the past, it felt like everything was free, like everything you consumed was free. But nowadays, if you look at it, it's not like that because you need to provide. Let's say, financially, you need to provide. There's also a culture shock in the sense that I said, "So this is life." In the past, I felt like I was carefree, but now you really need to rely on your responsibilities. Because as you grow older, your responsibilities grow bigger as well.
What is it like growing up in your household?
"I'm an only child, so it feels like all the attention should be on me. That's how it is when you're an only child and don't have siblings—it's like everyone's world must revolve around you. As a result, I became an attention seeker. It's inevitable to struggle in family relationships, with my mother and father, because I feel that their attention should be focused on me. At the same time, it is also confusing and sometimes conflicting, because I want to be independent in my life. But I need to mature, and they need to feel that I can handle things and make decisions without them."
Did your parents have a hard time letting go of you?
Yes, it was somewhat like that. I was 24 years old and still had a curfew. But now, I think, in the three years that I've been working here, they have come to understand that. Because you also need to step out of your comfort zone.
So you were sheltered during your younger years?
Yes, exactly. It was like they didn't want me to be bitten even by a mosquito; my mother was really keeping a close eye on me. She was very hands-on.
Do you have something you regret doing or not doing when you were younger?
So far, there's none. I think the decisions I made before were right, and I have no regrets. I believe my life is headed in the right direction, of course guided by my parents. I don't regret anything.
Have you encountered experiences that make you think about your life choices?
Yes, When it comes to choosing my school for college. yes, When it comes to education.
Were your family supportive of your dream? In what way did they show their support?
Yes, definitely. They are very supportive. It's good that they didn't force me into a course I didn't like. They were supportive of whatever I wanted. So, I think they are very supportive in providing for my needs or demands when it comes to school. Actually, they don't have much to spend on because I'm just on an allowance since they don't have to pay any tuition fees. And they can see that my academic standing is okay.
Was there any time that you considered giving up your dream? What can you remember from it? How did you cope up?
Actually, no. There haven't been any opportunities or thoughts of giving up or feeling like I failed in pursuing what I wanted to do. Because from the very beginning, I truly felt, not just in words, that teaching is my passion. So, I never doubted the course I chose because it was truly what I wanted. When you have that kind of passion for something, you pursue it, and when you don't, you give it up. I've seen from my own experience that when I don't like something, I won't continue with it. So, now, I have been teaching for 4 years, and I'm still here. I haven't grown tired of teaching.
Do you have someone with you as a support system in times of your life crisis?
Of course, there are family, friends, students, right? Nowadays, when you're a teacher, I feel like you shouldn't just treat them as students. You need to make them feel like family, like, just because you're a teacher doesn't mean you should only have boundaries with them. Well, you do need to establish boundaries when it comes to respecting teachers, but what I mean is, you should be strict about building a family inside the classroom, whether it's your section or subject class, something like that. You need to have a good relationship with your students so that there's still a sense of belongingness or love when it comes to how you treat each other. So, I think that's one thing that supports me during crises, like I still have inspiration. That's it.
Can you tell us a little summary of your college life before?
OMG, so during college, I was somewhat of a bossy type because I was always a leader. I felt like they should obey my discretion or follow my instructions. Actually, I used to be a member of our college student council, so I had some experience with leadership roles. I was also part of the school's leadership team, and I almost graduated magna cum laude, just one step away, because our religion subject was so frustrating. Can you believe it? It was religion that really gave me a hard time. In college, I was somewhat introverted, but I still had a circle of friends, especially in my major subjects. We would eat together since my habit was to stay in the library, but they were always with me. One of the things that energized my college life was Korean Pop, Kpop, of course. So, during our free time in college, we would look for vacant rooms and dance to Kpop songs to relieve stress. For example, we would dance to Twice. It felt like my college experience was really focused on college itself. Sorry, I didn't go out much because I lived far from school, and my parents were strict. It was embarrassing to travel such a long distance from home, and they didn't even know what I was doing at school. I would just come home and they thought I was studying, and that was true. I didn't waste the money they gave me for my expenses or what they spent on me. So, I guess I can describe my college life as a serious stage because it felt like it was me against the world. I didn't know who to trust, so I had to rely on my own foundation and believe that I could do it and finish college without depending on others, who could potentially bring me down.
Just to follow up on the Magna Cum Laude part, did you grieve about it?
No, I didn't grieve because I felt like I already accepted it. When you mention La Salle, it's known to be challenging. Well, I have a cousin who was my classmate and she graduated Magna Cum Laude there. She was really intelligent. As for me, sorry to say this, but I really disliked mathematics, and the religion subject was also difficult because the professor had a difficult attitude, so it became a problem for all of us in our section. That religion subject, not to be an atheist, but i just gave that up. I accepted what happened, and at least I still received some awards.
Was there ever a time when you doubted yourself, your capabilities, and the course you pursue?
In myself, sometimes I doubt myself. What I mean is how people perceive me. I tend to be an overthinker. It's like I feel that people see me as insignificant like I'm dumb or something. But it's also difficult to lift myself up when I know deep down that I'm doing well, I have good credentials and a good image. Maybe it's just an overthinking factor for me. Sometimes I doubt myself because I feel like I can't go beyond my capabilities. It's not something that goes away, but in the course, I chose, education or teaching, I never doubted this course. In the first place, it was my priority course. Actually, I also wanted to be a lawyer. I initially chose AB Political Science, but I found out about it late from the school that offered it. I thought they didn't have AB Political Science. However, when I was in my fourth year of high school, I really chose education and social studies. I believe that is my forte since elementary school. My forte has always been focused on education. Maybe because the people around me influenced me, or maybe I saw that education or the course is the best thing to do. Actually, I applied to many schools, but I wasn't the one handling the applications, it was my father. At first, I wanted to go to state colleges, like CVSU, but they didn't offer the major I wanted, which was social studies back then, but now they do. So what happened was my father applied at LPU, but I really didn't want to go there. I was forced to try their entrance exam. Actually, when I'm not in the right condition to do something, I don't take it seriously. During that time, in 2015, I was forced to take the entrance exam at LPU, and I failed. When I really don't like something, I deliberately fail it. I really didn't like it. I mean, answering 150 items in 30 minutes, could you do it? Definitely, I failed the exam. Next, I was torn between PCU and De La Salle University-Dasma. My father applied for me at DLSU-D for a scholarship because my grades were good. I was an Academic Scholar and also worked as a student assistant. The result from DLSU came out first, and my preferred course was available there, so that's where I studied. One important thing is that the school really changed me. I was truly transformed. Aside from being disciplined, it showed me how I could be molded as a teacher. I think that was also an opportunity because for four years, I had a free education there. I didn't have to pay a single peso, except for field trips or seminars where I had to cover my expenses. But in terms of tuition, I didn't have to pay anything, so I think it was a four-year opportunity that I maintained as a scholar.
Have you experienced rejections in life? What are your thoughts or reflections about it?
Yes, yes, I think their perception that I can't handle things is like a sign of rejection. It's like they doubt that I can be taken for this or that, as if they feel that I can't do it. At the same time, there's also rejection from my friends. I have friends who, let's say, we have the same vibes, but not all the time. Because they, sorry to say, are the partying type, and I'm not that kind of person because I'm very introverted. I prefer being in a corner, reading, studying. I feel like such a nerd that's why I get rejected. So it's like I isolated myself, and that's why I experience rejection within my circle of friends, a rejection of friendship within the circle of friends. As for my family, I don't feel any rejection because they are very supportive in various aspects. Perhaps this is also influenced by overthinking or psychological issues sometimes when I have breakdowns.
What motivates you in teaching?
It's like you're asking me for whom do I wake up in the morning. Actually, it's true that it was one of the first questions we were asked in college, "For whom do you wake up in the morning?" Who motivates you in doing your profession, your passion. Actually, of course, it's for the students because before I started working, I already taught in ALS, Alternative Learning System. It was like an after-class program in college, and there was an ALS program in our school, so I taught there for two years. We taught out-of-school youth there, right? So I think what motivates me in pursuing it is, of course, the students themselves. Also, I used to have a dream to change, although it may be idealistic, to change the education system in the Philippines. Because we can see now that the education system in the Philippines is very far behind compared to other Southeast Asian countries, especially Singapore. Look at the setup of the education system in the Philippines, it's those kinds of things, very idealistic.
What are the things that you want people to learn from your life?
It's all about discipline, let's say it's very idealistic, wherein nowadays I see that people, I'm not saying that they're not serious about what they're doing. It's about having a sense of discipline as an independent person in performing tasks, something like that. You know, they should have the initiative to learn and explore things that they haven't seen yet or what we call standards. They must follow the standards, just like how it is in the Philippines, right? So, do you want to be like everyone else? That's what I want to convey to them. You know, it's like complacency, being satisfied with just that, reaching your limit there. What I mean is, why not go beyond your limitations, think outside the box. Are you content with just that if you're not going to explore or improve yourself? So that's what I mean, don't settle for just that. You must break your limitations. You must break your capabilities. You must go beyond.
Interview: Raw answers of the Interview
Interview Video: Interview
Group Members:
Brioso, Hyacinth Mae
Canlas. Samantha Joei
Ceriales, Kurt
Fatingana, Ashley Jake
Joson, Diane
Laurino, Kyle Hero
Pacillos, John Seth
Pausal, Nuresa
Peji, Kharell
Roguel, Karylle
Sabale, Julie Ann
Suansing, Kurt Deaniel
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