Final Blog: My Philosophical Journey

Final Blog: My Philosophical Journey

This will be my last blog for my Philosophy course, and I can just say that it was a great experience to have set up a blogger page and publish blogs because of it. I never done this before, as well as posting vlogs on YouTube. It has been a wonderful journey indeed. I am beyond grateful.

enough of the sad part, here's my final blog entry:

1. INFORM: What are your most significant learnings in your study of Philosophy for the entire semester? 

ANSWER: 

          First and foremost, I learned that reflection on your life is very important because of the philosophy of Socrates. It helps you know yourself more, know your strengths and weaknesses, where you lack and have too much of, and what kind of person you are in the lives of others. Having known this, I am able to value myself more and generally be better for the people around me.

          Second is Thomas Aquinas. I learned from him that choices pave our way to our goal--which is eternal happiness. Being influenced by Aristotle, he agreed that happiness is a goal, but the ultimate one is to achieve happiness that never goes away, one that will stay with us and we can benefit from until the end of time. This taught me to pay attention to what really matters, make decisions that will make a huge impact in my life for the good, and to be inspired to work hard for my actions to lead me to a successful life.

          Last philosopher that I learned a lot from is one from the Modern era, Martin Heidegger. He taught about living authentically. What inspired me the most about his teaching is that every second of our lives is important. To live authentically, we have to appreciate our time living in this world, we have to be aware of the end of this all-- of death. Once we do, we see all the possibilities of our lives, and this makes us want to go beyond our limits as human beings. Heidegger taught us to avoid regrets by giving value to each and every second of our lives.

2. FORM: How did these key lessons form the way you think, act, speak, and act at present?

          I actually noticed big changes in myself after having this course. Like how before, I was not that open to the people around me, especially to my family. I only ever stay in my room during weekends, the only time of the week when we're all under one roof. I open to my mom about peers, terror and difficult-to-understand professors, and the times I am at my lowest. I developed a inability to lie to my family because I realized and saw my role as a daughter and sister.

          I also became more close towards God, that to achieve a live with him in Heaven after death is the only ultimate goal that I should have. I personally think that the whole-day-of-only-praying to Him before finals was what made me get a 48/50. I really did not study much, and just prayed a lot for His guidance. I was unprepared, but He moved mountains and gave me the question I knew most about. He is great.

          Lastly, I learned that every single thing has importance, a deeper meaning behind. A thing is not merely a thing, but there's always history behind it. Something might mean very little to you (or not at all), but in a different place and time, a parallel universe perhaps, it might have saved a life. This taught me to see value in everything, it taught me to appreciate the little things. Now, after learning this, I have too many stuff I hold onto because of sentimental value, even a mere receipt. I think of everything as good things with purpose.

3. TRANSFORM: Did your study of Philosophy change you? Did it help you grow and mature as a student and as a person in general? Why then is studying and doing Philosophy important in your preparation for college and eventually, in the pursuit of your life goals, plans, and dreams?

          After the few months of studying about Philosophy, I can say that I have matured and grown as a person. I have always been told that I am mature for my age, since I am younger than most of my friends. But only then, after studying about Philosophy that I realized how to be more mature that how I already am. It taught me to think, think more, think a lot and allow myself to see everything in all aspects. For college, I learned that I should be curious, and eager to learn because it will eventually take me to places that I want to be.

          Philosophy engraved this thinking in my head that there are so many possibilities out there for me, to see failure as an opportunity for something better. Since in this course, I was taught to work really hard to achieve a decent grade more than ever, I was prone to more failures that I ever been. It was tough, but it was a great push to be a hard-working student. Ever since then, I have now accepted my mistakes and learned from them in the best way possible. Philosophy taught me to do well in all I do, to be better and go beyond my limits, and try to be boundless, but also to learn and accept criticism. My bar of standards wasn't raised, it is not there anymore. This inspires me to find it at the highest point, where I cannot see it from where I am, but be content and fine with what I am at the same time. I loved myself more, and appreciated every single ounce of effort I exerted when I do not fulfill achievements.