What I learned from teaching drums to an 11-year old.

Every Tuesday, I get the opportunity to teach drums to an 11-year old boy and his name is Jethro. I was a bit worried during our first meeting because he was a bit shorter than I expected for the reason that he might not be able to reach the drum heads properly. Ever since day one, I would always tell him that whenever he learns new things in drums, it is important to learn it slowly and properly. Whenever he gets impatient with the basics, I would always tell him those things in a low and calm voice: Jethro, do it slowly and properly.

My sessions with him progressed and he really learned very quick. Everytime I would check on his progress at the beginning of our session, I would get surprised because he really improves quickly. If we were on the same age, I think he would be better than me. At the end of our 1-hour session, I would always remind him to practice, practice and practice.

Last Saturday, we had our session again (because I had an interview last Tuesday so I moved it on a Saturday, just for that specific week). I was teaching him the 16th note beat. I know most of you don't know what it sounds like, don't worry it's not an important information but what's important is what Jethro told me while trying to do the 16th note beat. I noticed that he's having a hard time doing a rim shot (it's technique used whenever you hit the snare drum) so I told him not to do the rim shot first and just get used to the 16th note beat. Our conversation went like this:

Me: (Looking at Jethro while playing the drums and noticing he's not doing the rim shot)
Jethro: (trying and struggling)
Me: Jethro, don't do the rim shot anymore. Just do the 16th note beat. You don't have to do the rim shot.
Jethro: (Paused after what I said) No, you told me to do it "slowly and properly" right? So I'll have to do it. (Staring me down like a boss).

When he turned towards the drums, I smiled. I told myself: "I can't believe he really remembered it." 

It felt so good. For someone to remind me of the things that I firmly believe in. For someone to grasp the idea of what you are trying to teach them. For someone to remind me of the value of listening and many other things. Jethro's two-sentenced reply really made me thinking after our session. I can learn so much from that conversation and Jethro's reply but here's my ultimate take home:

Make every effort to live a consistent life. I don't mean a comforted life. Live with consistency but not for consistency. People are looking at us and listening to us if we are living a consistent life. People are looking if we remain true to ourselves, to our friends, to our family and to God. They are looking if we remain true to our claims. Living a consistent life is not a carefree life nor a comfortable life - it's a hard life to live. Being consistent is not being conventional. A consistent person acknowledges changes and embraces it but he makes sure that his principles are still in place and that he guards the things that matter the most. A consistent life is not a boring life contrary to popular belief. How hard it is to walk in a narrow path! A consistent life is for the weak and for the strong but not for the proud because it takes so much humility to surrender and admit mistakes in order to be consistent.

2 Corinthians 10:15

Neither do we go beyond our limits by boasting of work done by others. Our hope is that, as your faith continues to grow, our sphere of activity among you will greatly expand, so that we preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you. 

Resumption of Classes and Job application.

3 months and 4 years ago, I was a freshman of UST taking up AB Communication Arts. New place. New school. New people. New challenges. Almost everything is new. I remember during our first semester as freshmen, we had a professor named Leah Estacio. She was our professor in Economics 101. One of the best professors I had. Normally, professors won't attend classes during the first week - but she's not like that. During our first day, she already entered our class and gave a short introduction about what she would be expecting on our next meeting. 1x1 Picture. Index Card. Notebook and an assignment. She is one of those professors that has the right to be strict (and sometimes discipline us) because she really teaches well and she makes sure that all of us are on our toes from 10am to 11am MWF. I thought I was going to fail her subject. Seriously. I felt like everything that I was able to achieve during HS no longer mattered every time I would come to her class. It was back to zero. I would study her subject on my way to school while riding LRT2 and I will do the same thing on my way home. I failed on my first quiz and vowed to do better. I memorized the definition of different terms in basic Economics without really knowing what it really means.

During all these pressures from just one subject, I recalled telling myself: Isn't this just a minor subject? 

Then other reasons began to follow: I don't need this. I don't plan to be a businessman someday. I just need to learn to basics of managing money: Earn. Save. Earn. Save. Earn. Save. Avoid debts. I'm good to go, right? WRONG. Thank God I didn't give in to this kind of reasoning but it sure made some sense and during that time - it was a perfect reason for a perfect escape from studying her subject.

During my 4 years of stay in UST, with all humility and respect, I realized that there are subjects that I really don't understand why I needed to take. I didn't understand why I needed to study something that I won't use. Honestly, I didn't see the purpose of taking care of a hamster.

Back in 2012, during my second year in college, I wrote a blog entry entitled: "Classes Resume". It was about students no longer just coming to class to study but to build their dreams. It was about challenging students to wake up early and go to class so that they can start building their dreams early. It was a challenge to see "minor subjects" as avenues of personal growth and maturity.

Fast forward to the present. Still a fresh graduate and still unemployed but never losing hope. I decided (with the blessings and provisions from my parents) to rest for 2 months and go to different places to have a vacation. I went to Pampanga, La Union, Vigan, Ilocos Sur, Baler, Quezon, Tagaytay and Tanay.

I asked myself: Does my blog entry 2 years ago, after graduating, still applies to me? YES and NO.

No because I am no longer a student. Yes because I am still building my dreams and pursuing my purpose.

When I wake up in the morning and walk in a company for an exam and interview - I'm not just applying to their company - I'm not just building my dreams (you see when you get older, things start to get more detailed), I'm building my character, I'm testing my calling and pursuing my purpose.

A student and a working person have many differences but both of them have this in common:

They are both building their dreams on a daily basis. 

I realized just now that building our dreams is messy. Building our dreams requires a lifestyle of not giving up - not on ourselves, not on our families, not on our loved ones. Building our dreams requires us to be deliberate and intentional. It requires time, money (but not all the money in world), effort and of course, God's Divine guidance.

It may be a different season for me but it is the same purpose and the same God to honor.

The question now is this: When does building our dreams end? 
It doesn't end with a dream house. It doesn't end with a dream family. It doesn't end with dream wife or husband. It doesn't end with a dream job.

Let me answer that with another question:
Do you want a kind of dream that merely happens in your life time? Or do you want to see it in Heaven's point of view with the Master Builder telling you "Well done good and faithful servant"? 

To complete the statement:

Build your dreams on a daily basis with Eternity's Perspective. 


Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, 
whose architect and builder is God.