Two
years
of
constant
education

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My next school was called Philippine Embassy School in the same city of Jeddah. My father thought I would get a good western education in a school with English as the medium of instruction.

Instruction in English was much sought after in Jeddah and still is that is why English Medium schools are in huge demand there. English is considered some sort of universal language that many parents like my parents feel is the most important language to master. I am not the least bit upset with my parents for having put me through an English education system.

Philippine Embassy school was a strange mix of Filipino standards mixed in with English Instruction. In civic education, I had to memorize such facts at the three main Islands that make up the Philippines, and about the hero who killed Magellan. I learned about the American rule of Philippines, which the Filipinos seemed to resent; yet, they wanted to be American in many ways. I learned the Filipino name of the flower China rose, and I was told that is the correct English term.

In my first year there, 3rd grade, I had this wonderful teacher Mrs. Maute. Mrs. Maute did manage to implant quite a few important values into me. I was at the apex of my lifetime academic success in her class. I was ranked best in my small class for four quarters of a year in a row. Of all that it is not the success that I am proud of most, but how I got to the stage with Mrs. Maute's help.

I was not a bit prepared for an exam. I could not understand anything nor cared to. Everyone left the class after completing the exam, but I was left behind. Then Mrs. Maute came along and began to help me; she gave slight hints that made me recall words from the lectures. It was good enough for me to do well in the exam. Then came another exam that I dreaded. I do not know what seized me, but I felt compelled to attempt cheating. Therefore, I cheated in the exam conveniently, only to end up with the highest grade in the class. It was then Mrs. Maute waved the exam around in class showing how excellent I did, which made me so proud of the success, that I never cheated in an exam since, better, I aced her class .

Another thing Mrs. Maute implanted into my head was that conceit is not a positive thing at all. She simply said how being excessively proud of oneself was not at all a positive thing, which had such an effect on me since that at times I would be too embarrassed to mention any success to people.

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