I've been trying to look for a certain word to describe my experience but the only word that I truly felt would justify it is "short." It was short because I feel like I learned so much, but I'm no wear near where I want to be. I've been working on my physical project ever since January, but hilot has been in my life even before I've arrived in America back in 1999. It was already embedded in my culture. My father often spoke of it when I was young and I remember massaging him back in elementary school. Before the Capstone, I was massaging my friends and family without any training because I was already engaged to the art. The "Gaea" massages grew and improved into actual hilot. And that's all thanks to my mentor, Adriano Mata.
As for the Capstone Project as a whole, it has been stressful. Dating back to October 24, 2012, the day all seniors were assigned the Capstone and coincidentally my birthday, I knew that I wanted to work with eastern medicine. Moreover, I wanted to learn how to help people feel better with the culture I was born in.
The Capstone got me to get to know myself a little better. I learned to keep calm under pressure, even when I'm a nervous wreck. I gained a lot of experience with hilot and with people. I got to know how to comfort people through touch, I learned comparisons and contrasts between eastern and western medicine, and pushed me to reconnect with my culture.
The most challenging part of the Capstone for me was the paper. I have always been able to write, but I had a really hard time figuring out what I was going to talk about and how I was going to write an effective argumentative paper. I knew that I was going to do hilot before I thought about my paper but I had a lot of trouble figuring out how I was going to incorporate that in my paper topic. After a dead end outline, a confusing peer draft, and a mediocre teacher draft, I finally got it right. I rewrote the entire structure and content of my paper and earned a 92%. Although Mr. Migdail spelled my name wrong on the grading rubric, I did not care one bit. The frustration and stress was worth it when I took that gasp of surprise when Ms. Wenzell handed me that rubric. Although the heaviest percentage of the project was over, I still had to follow through with the physical portion of the project.
In the beginning, I was really uncomfortable and awkward with my mentor because we could not even communicate. When it came down to business, however, all he needed to do was show me how to do it and I needed to follow. As the months past, I got more comfortable visiting Mang Adring, whether it was for a massage after one of my tournaments or him evaluating me, I really felt myself grow. I did a lot of practice by myself and when I felt ready, I started massaging my friends more. It became a habit. When I noticed someone uncomfortable, I massaged their shoulders. From quick shoulder massages to full on body massages with oil and the table, I improved a lot. As my blogs reflect, my hands did get stronger and I got more familiar with the techniques and the body. At the end, Mang Adring told me that I'm the only one he was and is willing to teach. Since he won't be here for ever, I will do my best to perfect my technique to become a manghihilot.
Now I plan to continue my apprenticeship with Mang Adring. I know that I won't be able to become a professional manghihilot here, but I will certainly take these unique skills to medical offices as well as my daily life. I still plan to pursue a career in the medical industry, but maybe take a different turn and do business managing or computer managing in hospitals and things in that direction.
My Capstone experience has been short, but it was not at all empty. This past school year has been filled with papers, typing, massaging, and experiencing all that I can. Capstone has taught me a lot about myself, where I'm lacking, and what and how I can improve. I have a lot to learn, and I feel like the Capstone was the intro class to something a lot bigger than a senior exit project. It introduced me to the human body, my culture, my mentor, myself, and a simple way to make people feel better on a daily basis. I just want to say a maraming salamat (thank you very much) to those who I massaged, to April Dela Fuente, to Mang Adring, to Mr. Migdail, and to Ms. Wenzell. Maraming Salamat, Po!!
No comments:
Post a Comment