Kirsty Jane L.

Estrella BSBA-FM3 RE108 9:30-10:30am MWF

February 20, 2012

REFLECTION
In Notre Dame of Marbel University, Religious Education or RE is an important part of the curriculum. It is well known as the core of the curriculum which aims and promotes discipline and development of character among the students. In order to put these aims into actions, Religious Education classes conduct pastoral integrations. These pastoral integrations enable the students to reach out to other people and help them in many ways. This is done by deploying students to different communities and institutions. In connection to this, last February 11, 2011, our RE 108 class went to General Santos City for a pastoral integration. In that particular activity we have learned that aside from helping and understanding other peoples lives, R.E. integration is also a way to build close relationships which is also a part of developing character among students. This particular activity binds individuals, provides time to talk and share experiences and thoughts, and provides the mindset to cooperate and work together in helping others. I can barely say this because I was a part of this activity as a student. In building close relationships, R.E. integration binds students through their assigned groups. Since this humanitarian activity groups students for different tasks, they are obliged to relate with others to accomplish their tasks. They are enabled to work together in conducting interviews, taking pictures and most importantly helping others in different communities and institutions. Wherever the group will go, the members should follow. In my own experience during our RE 108 integration, together with my partners, I did many tasks such as taking pictures for documentation. This particular activity obliged me to go together with my partners and also, it provided me the chance to be with them. In situations like this we seem to establish close relationships not only for the reason that we are obliged but also for the reason that we intend it to happen. In our everyday lives we always encounter different people. For a particular student like me, an encounter with others is done with the help of different activities like RE integration. These activities provide the chance and opportunity to mold ones self in terms of developments particularly the social dimension of a person. These activities also bind students together,

provide them the opportunity to understand each other better and lead the way for unity. The only things that the students should do in these types of activities are to open themselves in the reality that people, known or unknown, always surround them; and accept the results of these relationships positively for the betterment of ones self. By doing these things, relationships which are strong and happy could be established successfully.