Republic of the Philippines

ZAMBOANGA CITY STATE POLYTECHNIC COLLEGE

Region IX, Zamboanga Peninsula
R.T. Lim Blvd, Zamboanga City
Name: ROI A. SUAREZ Year and Section: II- G
Course Code: GE 111
Course Description: Understanding the Self
Course Professor: Lisette Garcia

Module 1 Lesson 1

ACTIVITY 1: SPEECH WRITING

Compose a 150-word speech about yourself describing the importance of your personal identity, “who
you are?’’ You can choose to share a personal story or an interesting experience.

Every individual, I believe has its own personal identity. And one good example is having our name.
People have names to be easily identified by others. But beyond the names, what’s more important is your
personal characteristics, attitudes, believe, cultures and traditions. These things will help you become a person
of your choice.
I have very few but good friends in my life who always inspires me and encourages me to do and give
my best. I am a person whom you can easily approach with. I am hundred percent friendly and I can get well
along with others. My friends and classmates usually call me “Kuya” because literally I am really older than
my classmates. So being their Kuya gives a little bit pressure on my part, because I have to set good examples
to my classmates and other fellow students.
I am happily married now to my wife for more than 10 years already. And being with her and spending
my life with her is superb and incomparable. We enjoyed each other’s company more than just a couple. We
may have flaws as a couple, but I guess these flaws and imperfections make us stronger each day. When I am
at home, I love to plant vegetables and ornamental plants. This is how I and my wife usually spent our time.
Well I am contented and happy already for what I am today.
Finally, I am just looking forward to finish my studies and see what awaits me in the future after graduation, in
God’s perfect time

Where you able to write a speech? Did you find it easy or difficult? State your reason
below.

WHY
EASY I find it easy because I am simply discussing my personal identity, and other matters about
me.
DIFFICU
LT

APPLICATION

Explain the statements from the following philosophers. Write your answer on the space provided.

1. “I think therefore I am” – Rene Descartes.

Answer:
Way back 17th century, a French philosopher René Descartes came up with the "explanation for it
all": I think, therefore I am. This has always been discussed in a debate especially in philosophy classes

The statement "I think _________, therefore I am _____________." In other words, "I think I am happy,
therefore I am happy." "I think I am smart, therefore I am smart." "I think I am sleepy, therefore I am sleepy."
And before your mind starts thinking about these statements, let's take a closer look. Maybe an example from
my life might help explain. Few days ago, at the morning as I got up, I thought about all the things I had to do
during the day, and realized it was going to be a very busy day. So my thought was something like "I have too
much to do today." I then thought about my garden and how I like to take a stroll through the garden in the
morning and check out the new growth, and see who needs watering. My next thought, of course, since the
previous thought had been about being too busy, was that I had no time to take a walk in the garden that
morning since I had "too much to do".

Now let's go back to our Descartes statement and fill in the blanks. "I think I am  too busy, therefore I am too
busy." So the usual conclusion to this thought is I'm too busy to go into the garden this morning thus I don't
go. [I think I am too busy to go into the garden, therefore I am too busy to go into the garden.]

However, since I've been working on for my modules for a while, I overrode it that limiting belief, and went
into the garden anyway... and it was a lovely peaceful time for me before starting my "busy" day.
2. “The unexamined life is not worth living” –Socrates

Answer:
The unexamined life is not worth living means if you live in a world without purposed is all useless
maybe you may ask yourself, what really the purposed why am I existing. As an individual we must know the
real beauty of life and what the purpose of being born in this world because without knowing it, life would be
worthless. Living without the knowledge of purpose is pointless. It must be each one of us should have goal in
life. Have an ambition in life is a step in making one’s life worth living. It is the reason why in my age I prefer
to continue my study though it’s maybe hard for me because I can’t go with the youngest of today’s
generation. but because I have my goal in my life that I’m not contented of what I am now so I want to pursue
my dreams. I know the life I choose of today’s the trials and challenge will always be a part of me. But this
trials and challenges will help me molded to be better me. This challenge will make me strong person I am.

3. “He who is not a good servant will not be a good master” – Plato.

The relationship between master and servant seems pretty straightforward: Masters dictates/lead.
Servants serve/obey. Good servants support and aid the master when he or she is doing the right thing, and
stand up to the master–having the courage to let the master know when he or she is doing something wrong
or headed in the wrong direction.
Being a good servant  means having the courage to dissent if you think your master, leader, manager,
or superior, is doing something wrong-headed, “Being a good servant is complicated in ways that are rather
similar to being a good master. It means being engaged. It means paying attention. Being a good servant
doesn’t make you belittle. The truth is that most of us are in servant roles regularly, perhaps in our
families, social circles, religions, or other settings. Some skills of being a good servant that can make you a
good master are awareness, diplomacy, courage collaboration and critical thinking. Today, masters need to
be aware of various audiences including colleagues, coworkers, customers, board members, and the public
at large. As a master, you need to be aware of what it takes to “bring them along. Being a servant teaches
you how to be aware of the needs of other people as well as their potential. Good servants learn to read
people and understand what upsets and motivates them.

Reflection
Choose one philosopher whose concept of the self is closely related to your own notion or life experience.
Explain the reasons of your choice. The essay should not be less than 100 words. You will be evaluated using
this rubric.

Content: 10 points
Coherence: 10 points
Grammar & Neatness:10 points

“He who is not a good servant will not be a good master”

-Plato-

The best way to learn what must be done is to do the work yourself. If for example I owned a
mansion with a dozen full time servants, I might have little real understanding of what goes in to keeping
the mansion clean and running at top efficiency. But I don’t need to know. I have servants who handle such
matters. I only need to be concerned with results. I may know little or nothing about what actually needs to
be done.
 But what if I started out as a servant in a mansion myself? What if I spent years in that role? I would
certainly learn much about what must be done to ensure that a mansion is clean and operates at maximum
level. Then suppose I do something that launches me into a career resulting in great wealth? Suppose I then
purchase a mansion myself? I would be in a far better position to understand what must be DONE in order to
clean and properly maintain my mansion. I would know much better than someone who had never served in a
mansion before.
This principle applies to countless other areas in which servants are needed. We can substitute
employee, worker, associate, soldier, or partner for servant. As long as we understand that we’re not talking
about abusive and forced servitude, but free and voluntary service.
The best leaders tend to be those who rise through the ranks of the organization. Those who start at the
bottom and work their way up. This allows them to see what work must be done.
By serving we learn how it’s done best. But serving doesn’t just help us see and understand what must
be done? it helps us know how the work is done best. that is, we learn the best way to do the required work.
We learn the best methods, the most efficient methods, and the most cost-effective methods. Though it can be
done, it’s more difficult and more time-consuming and more costly for leaders to be educated on how what
must be done should be done. They often lack the required knowledge that someone who has done the work
will have.
Therefore, experienced employees tend to make better managers and company leaders. Servants tend
to make better masters. Good servants and good employees tend to make better masters and better leaders. Of
course, this is why when a leader is being sought; the search is for someone with experience. the search is for
someone who has done the work that the organization will be doing. They don’t want to appoint someone
unfamiliar with the work because they’ve never done the work themselves. It’s those with experience who will
be best equipped to lead well.
By serving we appreciate what’s been done. No one appreciates work that’s been done more than the
one who actually did the work. It’s been said that the world is full of willing people…some willing to work,
and the rest willing to let them. But those who only watch the work, or who are far removed from the work,
will not be as likely to appreciate the work as those who actually do it. Nor will they be aware of what’s
involved in doing the work well. So what does this have to do with good servants becoming good masters or
good employees becoming good managers? Well, the ideal attitude between master and servant, boss and
employee, management and worker, coach and player is this…an appreciation from the top for the work done
at the bottom.
People who serve want to believe their work is appreciated. That those who assign the work have an
appreciation for those assigned the work. That they understand its value. That they’re aware of the ability
involved in doing the work well. That they’re grateful for the quality performance.
So we see why bad servants aren’t inclined to become good masters. Why good servants tend to make
good masters. Why good employees tend to make good managers. Those who do the work know the work that
must be done. Those who do the work know how the work is done best. Those who do the work appreciate the
work that’s done. When we’ve spent time in the trenches, willingly serving and learning. When we strive to
know what work should be done and how to do it well. When we’ve actually seen the work done and done the
work ourselves, we tend to appreciate the work more.