what did you learn in nstp essay

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• Reflection Paper
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Nstp Reflection Paper

Fhritzie Lee: There are a lot of good things that I can learn and do with my life; I know that from the moment that I was born, I am destined for a purpose. Living on purpose is the only way to really live, everything else just exists. Once I know what God wants me to do, the blessing comes in actually doing it. It defines success for me. It will show me that what I truly believe is what is important, not what the world says. As a girl with dreams of having my own charity foundation, I wanted to have a concrete and can’t-be-ruined faith & confidence.

Every day I have the opportunity to learn and experience something new. I should seize that opportunity, learn from it and use it to change the world even in little things that I do. NSTP had served as a stepping stone for me to see new things outside my boundary. I learned that I don’t have to get higher grades nor solve and analyze Accounting problems to help . . . for all I needed is a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love. It seems like another school break is nearing its end. At first, it seems just like any other school break.

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But looking back, it did have its ups and downs. One part of it is my NSTP class. NSTP was a one big rollercoaster ride. It was fine with me going to our designated area although it was costly because of the fare we have to pay, but I realized that I did actually had fun in one way or another. Despite my initial bitterness against having to wake up early on Saturday for NSTP class since I’ve been usually tired from Monday to Friday, still I found a sense of fulfillment as I enjoyed every lessons and activities we had. Those times I had with our NSTP class belongs now to my memories.

I strongly believe that those memories help me in my effort to learn from it and succeed in the future. The very essence of those things is the effects it had on me and what it was like to help and go out of my boundaries. It was actually the idea of helping which is weighing on my mind and heart right now. I promised to take it upon myself the lessons, friendship and teamwork that I had learned and experienced to build my dream charity foundation in the future. I may not have that one magical effect to the society, but with the things I plan to do, society can slowly and surely change.

In the activities we had, I had commit and share the life lessons and godly passions God has given for me to share with. The activities had shaped me to know the combination of spiritual gifts, heart, ability, personality, talents and experiences that God had offered and given to me. I also learned that I should not get discouraged and give up easily every time I stumble. It has been a bridge for my spiritual, emotional and personality development. It had shown to me that whatever our aspects in life – rich or poor, powerful or not – we were all equal and the same, for we are all people of God.

The experiences I had served as an eye-opener for me, to be aware of the current situation not just in the community we have visited, but for the whole country. It was a process of influencing and directing activities towards goal accomplishment. By visiting the area, I realized that I had a purpose to do and it inspires me to be more confident about myself. I am now more aware of what is going around and how to make a difference in it. It had greater impact on the leadership and teamwork skills I’d learn, both of which are vital in the world of work.

It has really been a great way for me to step outside my comfort zone and reach out others. All through my experience, there are various occasions when I had to make decisions. A number of them present in difficult forms and at crucial points, most of it eventually figure and describe the track of my life; but I refer to them as lessons and experiences which I will forever remember. I also learned that in some instance there will always be a time where I will be forced to pay a price to achieve something. This only implies that in life, I have to trade for the outcome I am seeking.

Aside from the activities we had, the film showings that we watched perked up my consciousness as to what is really happening around. I learned a lot of things about the church and the life of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. before he died. I knew how hard his life was, still he show much love and care for our country. But as of now, my NSTP days are soon finally over. No more morning alarms on Saturdays. I was looking forward for this day so I can have a rest since I’ve been sick lately, but I never imagined that seeing it slightly ending is heartbreaking and a little painful.

I’m looking forward for the next upcoming NSTP class in the second term of the school year; I know it will be a beginning of a new chapter in the book of my life. New events and experiences will happen, but I am ready and open for that. Most of all, I know NSTP will be my stepping stone to build my future charity foundation. Through this, I am beginning to know my real purpose and I know that one of my purposes in life is to help and serve the people of God; NSTP as my starting point.

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A JOURNAL: THE BENEFITS OF NSTP-LTS TO ME AS A STUDENT

NSTP-LTS benefited me in many ways and I will list it down in the later part but before that, I want to define first what NSTP-LTS is from what I have learned in module 1.

What is NSTP-LTS?

The National Service Training Program or NSTP is a program established to promote patriotism among the Filipino Youth. This program aimed at enhancing the civic consciousness and preparedness program to the youth by developing the ethics of service and patriotism while undergoing training in any of its three program components. The Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC), Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS), and the Literacy Training Service (LTS).

As a pre-service teacher, I am taking the Literacy Training Service program or LTS. LTS is one of the program components of NSTP that focuses on training students with skills and potentials in teaching literacy and numeracy. It aims to strengthen the knowledge, skills, and values of the future educators to be used not only in the field of teaching, but also in volunteering to teach literacy and numeracy to young ones, out-of-school-youth and indigenous children.

The benefit of NSTP-LTS to me as a student is that it gives me knowledge not only about the course subject matter, but also more things about volunteerism and serving the country. Aside from that, I can feel that this program will truly help in enhancing my skills and developing my potentials as an aspiring teacher. The program was established to train the youth for defense and preparedness to serve the country in times of disaster or calamity, but the one who will benefit the most in this program are the student and youth like me who will be receiving the training to become one of those the country will need. I am grateful to the things I have learned and will be learning in this program.

Furthermore, I list the other benefits of NSTP-LTS to me as a student and these are the following:

• Become knowledgeable about the purpose of NSTP-LTS to the Filipino youth
• NSTP-LTS will help enhance my skills in basic leadership. Since most students taking NSTP-LTS are future educators we are trained to enhance our basic leadership so as to prepare for the future because I am not only going to teach inside the classroom but also to help, volunteer and lead in the country in times of need.
• Develop my skills and potentials to teach literacy and numeracy among the other youth, especially to the Badjao children of Puerto Princesa.
• Unlock new sets of skills and abilities in teaching
• Experience real-time teaching to the Filipino Youth by the next semester
• Explore the duty of serving and volunteering for the country

And many more…

I can’t count on how NSTP-LTS benefit me as a student, but as for now I am really grateful to be a Filipino Youth.

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What Is NSTP? Essay Sample and Writing Tips

Introduction to NSTP

NSTP, shortened for National Service Training Program, is an essential part of education in the Philippines. It is a program that combines classroom instruction and community service to provide students with opportunities for civic engagement, character and leadership development, and nation-building.

Importance of NSTP

The NSTP program aims to enhance the social consciousness and patriotism of students, encouraging them to actively participate in addressing societal issues and contributing to the betterment of their communities. It promotes values such as empathy, compassion, and volunteerism. By engaging in various community service activities, students develop a sense of civic responsibility and learn to collaborate with diverse groups of people.

NSTP Essay Sample

To better understand the concept of NSTP, let's take a look at an essay sample:

The Importance of Community Involvement through NSTP

Community involvement plays a crucial role in society's development and progress. The National Service Training Program (NSTP) serves as a vehicle for students to actively participate in community service and contribute to nation-building. Through NSTP, students have a unique opportunity to develop their character, skills, and sense of responsibility while making a positive impact on the lives of others.

One of the key benefits of NSTP is its emphasis on experiential learning. Students engage in various activities, such as environmental clean-ups, disaster preparedness drills, and outreach programs, allowing them to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-life situations. By actively participating in these activities, students not only gain a deeper understanding of societal issues but also develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Moreover, NSTP promotes social awareness and empathy. Students are exposed to different communities, cultures, and lifestyles, fostering an appreciation for diversity and inclusivity. By interacting with individuals from different backgrounds, students learn to embrace differences and develop a sense of respect and tolerance. This exposure helps shape their worldview and prepares them to be responsible global citizens.

Another significant aspect of NSTP is the opportunity it provides for personal growth and self-discovery. Students often find themselves stepping out of their comfort zones, facing challenges, and overcoming obstacles. These experiences build resilience, confidence, and leadership qualities. As they take on leadership roles within their chosen community service projects, students learn to effectively manage teams, delegate responsibilities, and create positive change.

In conclusion, NSTP is a vital program that equips students with the necessary skills, values, and mindset to become active contributors to society. It fosters a culture of civic engagement, encourages empathy and compassion, and promotes personal and character development. Through NSTP, students gain hands-on experiences, develop critical skills, and become socially responsible individuals who are ready to tackle the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

Writing Tips for NSTP Essay

If you are tasked with writing an essay about NSTP, consider the following tips:

1. Understand the Program

Before writing your essay, ensure you have a clear understanding of the NSTP program, its objectives, and the impact it has on students and communities. Conduct thorough research and gather relevant information to support your arguments and provide a comprehensive analysis.

2. Structure Your Essay

Organize your essay in a logical and coherent manner. Start with an engaging introduction that introduces the topic and provides context. Follow with well-developed paragraphs that present your arguments, supported by evidence and examples. Conclude your essay by summarizing your main points and reinforcing the significance of NSTP.

3. Use Appropriate Language

Ensure your essay is written in a clear, concise, and formal manner. Use proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Avoid slang or colloquialisms, and maintain a professional tone throughout.

4. Incorporate Personal Experiences

Draw from your own NSTP experiences to strengthen your essay. Reflect on the lessons learned, challenges faced, and personal growth you experienced during your involvement in community service activities. This will add authenticity and depth to your writing.

5. Support Your Arguments

Back up your statements with evidence, facts, and examples. Use credible sources to support your claims and provide a balanced perspective. This will enhance the credibility and persuasiveness of your essay.

6. Edit and Proofread

Finally, remember to edit and proofread your essay before submitting it. Check for any grammatical errors, inconsistencies, or unclear passages. Ensure your writing flows smoothly and concisely, making it easy for readers to follow your arguments.

As you can see, NSTP is a significant program that offers students the opportunity to engage in community service, develop invaluable skills, and contribute to nation-building. By understanding the importance of NSTP and following the provided writing tips, you can create a compelling essay that showcases your knowledge, critical thinking, and commitment to community involvement.

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The National Service Training Program

The National Service Training Program was also known as “ An Act Establishing the National Service Training Program (NSTP) for Tertiary Level Students, Amending for the Purpose Republic Act No. 7077 and Presidential Decree no. 1706, and for other Purposes ” or Republic Act No. 9163 . It was signed into law in January 23, 2002 amidst the various calls of dissenting sectors for its abolition or reform.

It invoked the constitutional provision regarding the “duty of the state to serve and protect its citizens,” specifically Article II (Declaration of Principles and State Policies), Section 2, which states that “The prime duty of the government is to serve and protect the people. The government may call upon the people to defend the state, and in fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required under conditions provided by law, to render personal military or civil service” (italics supplied). This is the same principle that created and sustained the Reserve Officers Training Corps.

The primary objective of the NSTP law is to promote the role of the youth in nation-building. As such, it aims to encourage the youth to become civic and/or military leaders and volunteers whom could be called upon by the nation in cases their services are needed.

Compared with the ROTC which specializes in military training, and the E-ROTC which granted three options for students yet was limited in implementation, the NSTP law ensured that the three components – Civic Welfare Service, Literacy Training Service, and Reserve Officers Training Corps – will be given the same and equal implementation in educational institutions. Moreover, it defined the different components, the duration of the training, coverage, etc.

The Three NSTP Components

The National Service Training Program is composed of three different components.

The Civic Welfare Training Service is geared towards activities that have social impact through activities that could contribute to “health, education, environment, entrepreneurship, safety, recreation and morals of the citizenry”, thus the CWTS component of the NSTP stressed the importance of youth involvement in broad programs or activities that will benefit the people. While the CWTS focused on programs to enhance the living conditions of the people, the Literacy Training Service has a more limited yet equally useful objective that is to “train students to become teachers of literacy and numeracy skills to school children, out of school youth, and other segments of society in need of their service”. LTS thus specializes in the education of the people, strengthening the education sector to empower the people through education.

Meanwhile, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, while deemed equally important by the NSTP law (it maintained its existence and nature mentioned in RA 7077 having the primary objective to prepare the youth in national defense, became merely a component of the program.

The NSTP required male and female students to undergo the program they have chosen for two (2) semesters or one (1) academic year in contrast with the ROTC which required males to take military training for four (4) semesters or two (2) academic years. Students taking NSTP will get three (3) units from taking the program; equivalent of 1.5 units every semester. Thus, in contrast to the mandatory – yet free – ROTC, students will now have to pay for their NSTP. This included the former cadets of the ROTC who enjoyed the free reservist program. Also, the law states that private learning institutions could offer one of the three options but required state colleges and universities to maintain their ROTC units together with an alternative unit from the two other options. The law also limited the existence of the ROTC in private and vocational institutions requiring it to have 350 cadets for it to be called a unit, otherwise – and considering other factors such as insufficient cadet number, lack of logistics to support ROTC program of instruction (POI), etc. – cross-enrolling the students to other schools for their NSTP is an option.

The goal of the law and of the program is to harness the strength and capacity of the youth to contribute to nation-building, thus the National Service Reserve Force was created to enlist CWTS and LTS graduates which is also equivalent to the Citizen Armed Force of the ROTC. In the event that the state will need people for its civic and literacy activities, it will merely utilize the personnel of the reserve force, the student volunteers the NSTP-CWTS and the NSTP-LTS has produced. As with the need of the Armed Forces for additional force for its defense campaigns, it can easily use its body of reservists in the Reserve Command.

• National Defense Act of 1935
• National Service Law
• Citizen Armed Force or Armed Forces of the Philippines Reservist Act
• National Service Training Program (NSTP) Act of 2001
• Implementing Guidelines on NSTP-ROTC Component

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What Is NSTP? Meaning Of This Subject In Tertiary Level

NSTP – In this topic, we are going to learn and discuss a subject in the tertiary level called NSTP (RA 9163).

As we begin our college life, early on, we are mandated to take the subject called NSTP. But what is it, really?

An acronym for N ational S ervice T raining P rogram, Basically, it is a program aimed at strengthen civic consciousness and defense preparedness while they are still young.

This can be achieved via developing the ethics of service and patriotism, according to the University of the Philippines Visayas.

It was established via Republic Act No. 9163 or known as “An Act Establishing The National Service Training Program (Nstp) For Tertiary Level Students, Amending For The Purpose Republic Act No. 7077 And Presidential Decree No. 1706, And For Other Purposes” on January 23, 2002.

This program have three components:

• Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC)
• Literacy Training Service (LTS) 
• Civic Welfare Training Service (CWTS)

The ones who usually take this program are all incoming freshmen students (First Year college, basically) of all gender who are enrolled in the degree programs of the institution.

Freshmen are required to finish only one component of their choice as a requirement in graduation.

The program will be taken for an academic period of two semesters and credited for three units per semester with 54 to 90 hours of training each, so basically the whole school year with 6 units overall.

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• Solar Eclipse 2024

What the World Has Learned From Past Eclipses

C louds scudded over the small volcanic island of Principe, off the western coast of Africa, on the afternoon of May 29, 1919. Arthur Eddington, director of the Cambridge Observatory in the U.K., waited for the Sun to emerge. The remains of a morning thunderstorm could ruin everything.

The island was about to experience the rare and overwhelming sight of a total solar eclipse. For six minutes, the longest eclipse since 1416, the Moon would completely block the face of the Sun, pulling a curtain of darkness over a thin stripe of Earth. Eddington traveled into the eclipse path to try and prove one of the most consequential ideas of his age: Albert Einstein’s new theory of general relativity.

Eddington, a physicist, was one of the few people at the time who understood the theory, which Einstein proposed in 1915. But many other scientists were stymied by the bizarre idea that gravity is not a mutual attraction, but a warping of spacetime. Light itself would be subject to this warping, too. So an eclipse would be the best way to prove whether the theory was true, because with the Sun’s light blocked by the Moon, astronomers would be able to see whether the Sun’s gravity bent the light of distant stars behind it.

Two teams of astronomers boarded ships steaming from Liverpool, England, in March 1919 to watch the eclipse and take the measure of the stars. Eddington and his team went to Principe, and another team led by Frank Dyson of the Greenwich Observatory went to Sobral, Brazil.

Totality, the complete obscuration of the Sun, would be at 2:13 local time in Principe. Moments before the Moon slid in front of the Sun, the clouds finally began breaking up. For a moment, it was totally clear. Eddington and his group hastily captured images of a star cluster found near the Sun that day, called the Hyades, found in the constellation of Taurus. The astronomers were using the best astronomical technology of the time, photographic plates, which are large exposures taken on glass instead of film. Stars appeared on seven of the plates, and solar “prominences,” filaments of gas streaming from the Sun, appeared on others.

Eddington wanted to stay in Principe to measure the Hyades when there was no eclipse, but a ship workers’ strike made him leave early. Later, Eddington and Dyson both compared the glass plates taken during the eclipse to other glass plates captured of the Hyades in a different part of the sky, when there was no eclipse. On the images from Eddington’s and Dyson’s expeditions, the stars were not aligned. The 40-year-old Einstein was right.

“Lights All Askew In the Heavens,” the New York Times proclaimed when the scientific papers were published. The eclipse was the key to the discovery—as so many solar eclipses before and since have illuminated new findings about our universe.

To understand why Eddington and Dyson traveled such distances to watch the eclipse, we need to talk about gravity.

Since at least the days of Isaac Newton, who wrote in 1687, scientists thought gravity was a simple force of mutual attraction. Newton proposed that every object in the universe attracts every other object in the universe, and that the strength of this attraction is related to the size of the objects and the distances among them. This is mostly true, actually, but it’s a little more nuanced than that.

On much larger scales, like among black holes or galaxy clusters, Newtonian gravity falls short. It also can’t accurately account for the movement of large objects that are close together, such as how the orbit of Mercury is affected by its proximity the Sun.

Albert Einstein’s most consequential breakthrough solved these problems. General relativity holds that gravity is not really an invisible force of mutual attraction, but a distortion. Rather than some kind of mutual tug-of-war, large objects like the Sun and other stars respond relative to each other because the space they are in has been altered. Their mass is so great that they bend the fabric of space and time around themselves.

Read More: 10 Surprising Facts About the 2024 Solar Eclipse

This was a weird concept, and many scientists thought Einstein’s ideas and equations were ridiculous. But others thought it sounded reasonable. Einstein and others knew that if the theory was correct, and the fabric of reality is bending around large objects, then light itself would have to follow that bend. The light of a star in the great distance, for instance, would seem to curve around a large object in front of it, nearer to us—like our Sun. But normally, it’s impossible to study stars behind the Sun to measure this effect. Enter an eclipse.

Einstein’s theory gives an equation for how much the Sun’s gravity would displace the images of background stars. Newton’s theory predicts only half that amount of displacement.

Eddington and Dyson measured the Hyades cluster because it contains many stars; the more stars to distort, the better the comparison. Both teams of scientists encountered strange political and natural obstacles in making the discovery, which are chronicled beautifully in the book No Shadow of a Doubt: The 1919 Eclipse That Confirmed Einstein's Theory of Relativity , by the physicist Daniel Kennefick. But the confirmation of Einstein’s ideas was worth it. Eddington said as much in a letter to his mother: “The one good plate that I measured gave a result agreeing with Einstein,” he wrote , “and I think I have got a little confirmation from a second plate.”

The Eddington-Dyson experiments were hardly the first time scientists used eclipses to make profound new discoveries. The idea dates to the beginnings of human civilization.

Careful records of lunar and solar eclipses are one of the greatest legacies of ancient Babylon. Astronomers—or astrologers, really, but the goal was the same—were able to predict both lunar and solar eclipses with impressive accuracy. They worked out what we now call the Saros Cycle, a repeating period of 18 years, 11 days, and 8 hours in which eclipses appear to repeat. One Saros cycle is equal to 223 synodic months, which is the time it takes the Moon to return to the same phase as seen from Earth. They also figured out, though may not have understood it completely, the geometry that enables eclipses to happen.

The path we trace around the Sun is called the ecliptic. Our planet’s axis is tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane, which is why we have seasons, and why the other celestial bodies seem to cross the same general path in our sky.

As the Moon goes around Earth, it, too, crosses the plane of the ecliptic twice in a year. The ascending node is where the Moon moves into the northern ecliptic. The descending node is where the Moon enters the southern ecliptic. When the Moon crosses a node, a total solar eclipse can happen. Ancient astronomers were aware of these points in the sky, and by the apex of Babylonian civilization, they were very good at predicting when eclipses would occur.

Two and a half millennia later, in 2016, astronomers used these same ancient records to measure the change in the rate at which Earth’s rotation is slowing—which is to say, the amount by which are days are lengthening, over thousands of years.

By the middle of the 19 th century, scientific discoveries came at a frenetic pace, and eclipses powered many of them. In October 1868, two astronomers, Pierre Jules César Janssen and Joseph Norman Lockyer, separately measured the colors of sunlight during a total eclipse. Each found evidence of an unknown element, indicating a new discovery: Helium, named for the Greek god of the Sun. In another eclipse in 1869, astronomers found convincing evidence of another new element, which they nicknamed coronium—before learning a few decades later that it was not a new element, but highly ionized iron, indicating that the Sun’s atmosphere is exceptionally, bizarrely hot. This oddity led to the prediction, in the 1950s, of a continual outflow that we now call the solar wind.

And during solar eclipses between 1878 and 1908, astronomers searched in vain for a proposed extra planet within the orbit of Mercury. Provisionally named Vulcan, this planet was thought to exist because Newtonian gravity could not fully describe Mercury’s strange orbit. The matter of the innermost planet’s path was settled, finally, in 1915, when Einstein used general relativity equations to explain it.

Many eclipse expeditions were intended to learn something new, or to prove an idea right—or wrong. But many of these discoveries have major practical effects on us. Understanding the Sun, and why its atmosphere gets so hot, can help us predict solar outbursts that could disrupt the power grid and communications satellites. Understanding gravity, at all scales, allows us to know and to navigate the cosmos.

GPS satellites, for instance, provide accurate measurements down to inches on Earth. Relativity equations account for the effects of the Earth’s gravity and the distances between the satellites and their receivers on the ground. Special relativity holds that the clocks on satellites, which experience weaker gravity, seem to run slower than clocks under the stronger force of gravity on Earth. From the point of view of the satellite, Earth clocks seem to run faster. We can use different satellites in different positions, and different ground stations, to accurately triangulate our positions on Earth down to inches. Without those calculations, GPS satellites would be far less precise.

This year, scientists fanned out across North America and in the skies above it will continue the legacy of eclipse science. Scientists from NASA and several universities and other research institutions will study Earth’s atmosphere; the Sun’s atmosphere; the Sun’s magnetic fields; and the Sun’s atmospheric outbursts, called coronal mass ejections.

When you look up at the Sun and Moon on the eclipse , the Moon’s day — or just observe its shadow darkening the ground beneath the clouds, which seems more likely — think about all the discoveries still yet waiting to happen, just behind the shadow of the Moon.

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Guest Essay

Do You Have a Family Story That Defines Who You Are?

By Meher Ahmad

Ms. Ahmad is a staff editor in Opinion.

American history is often recounted through major events. But every family has its own stories, moments that were perhaps never recorded in a history book — the purchase of a home, a hometown disaster, a death, a move — yet speak to the events that define the United States.

Times Opinion wants to know about the story, whether passed down through generations at family gatherings or something shared quietly, that has influenced choices you or your family has made.

It doesn’t matter how small or how specific to your family, or how much the story has become myth as much as fact: We want to hear the story that your family has passed on from generation to generation.

In 300 words or less, tell us a story about a moment that significantly shaped your family’s history.

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