20 Jun ICA Faculty Takes the First Step for HyFlex with “The Story of Us”

ICA Faculty Takes the First Step for HyFlex with “The Story of Us”

by Ms. Johanna Paula F. Malabonga

Dr. Sabrina Tan, an ICA alumna of batch 1998, gave a meaningful discussion in the Delia Tetreault Arts and Sports Center last June 7, 2022 on handling stress and anxiety. The topic in general was understanding and managing anxiety or stress at work and in one’s personal life. This was anchored on sense of coherence, a framework by Anton Antonovsky. The encounter was catered especially to the ICA Faculty in both Grade School and High School to prepare themselves to the new normal as school year 2022-2023 opens with HyFlex.

The talk was aptly entitled “The Story of Us” where the participants engaged themselves with journal breaks and sharing as Dr. Tan facilitated the presentation on the sense of coherence. The framework consisted of three parts. The first part, Comprehensibility, is about making sense of what is happening. Participants were asked to recall challenges experienced during the ODL school years and how the experiences impacted them.  Manageability is part of comprehensibility where one manages the self, within-self, and the self in the world. Another key idea that Dr. Tan presented is that stress or anxiety can be energizing or overwhelming. The Yerkes Dodson Inverted U Model of Stress/Anxiety was presented to show how stress/anxiety affects a person depending on how one manages it. Dr. Tan mentioned that determining the right balance to regulate and fix the stressor or source of anxiety is key in managing stress or anxiety in the new normal. The participants were asked to determine their stressors and how they manage to counter negative thought patterns. The discussion moved to the second part, Cognitive Flexibility, where it is the ability to shift (mindset, emotions, actions) to creative problem solving (being solution-focused). Dr. Tan mentioned that to accept certain things, to let go of certain things, and to stop being problem-focused are keys to avoiding one’s stress or anxiety. She further detailed that one is to accept that reality has changed, so mourn for it, hate it, but accept it, and let go of what is no longer. She also added that one should resign with action and hope. The third part is Meaningful where tragic optimism takes place. Dr. Tan quoted Victor Frankl, a medical doctor and philosopher who survived the Holocaust, that one remains optimistic in times of difficulty. After one has gone through the process, post-traumatic growth happens where there is improvement in relationships, self, and life philosophy. One bounces back and develops gratitude for what has happened even in times of difficulty. After the presentation, the participants were asked to accomplish life crafting where they recall purpose, renew meaning, re-commit to purpose, re-define action steps, and perceive obstacles and solutions. Sr. Irene M. Ferrer, MIC, the school president, awarded Dr. Tan with a certificate in being the guest speaker in this event.

ICA will start anew with the HyFlex modality and the faculty is being equipped not only in technology and academics, but also in psyche. The constant support of the ICA administration to its faculty like the talk given by Dr. Tan is truly a gracious gift. It offered a well-rounded formation of the faculty as they move forward to a new beginning this school year. As the faculty learned more about handling stress or anxiety, they join the rest of the community, the country, and the world as the journey is the story of all.