Post #5: Beyond the Looking Glass

1. What social structures help increase your sense of agency?

I base my sense of agency strongly off my faith as especially in a predominantly Catholic nation such as the Philippines, I am able to practice my religion in a setting that encourages the values of God-centeredness and spirituality. From going to mass every weekend to praying before big life events, being Catholic gives me a stronger sense of agency in that I am able to take control of my life and the events may proceed. In conjunction with this, my educational background especially now studying the a Jesuit institution such as the Ateneo de Manila University also strengthens my agentic capacity to enact change and become a man for others.

2. What social structures constrain you from being agentic?

While my aforementioned faith and education are aspects that fortify my agency, I would have to admit the the current political climate in the country is not quite conducive to being an agentic individual. This is because of how Duterte and his administration holds more conservative views where people are not given the liberty to speak their truths thus this in addition with being a teenage means I am not fully in control of what I do and what change I hope to create in my local community.

3. What resources do you lack that keeps you from increasing your self esteem/sense of being agentic?

First and foremost, I am still a teen which means that my overall life experience is quite lacking in order for me to make more concrete change in my community. Furthermore, I feel that in order for me to take on a more agentic role in my life, I require more independence from my family which also comes with age thus I simply need to wait for the right opportunity to eventually arise before I can fulfill these needs in my life.

4. How can you acquire these resources?

As stated, all I need to do is develop a more patient and understanding mindset that wisdom and experience all comes with age and eventually I will be able to take on a more active role in my own life free from the shackles of being in my youth and also being constrained by my family.

5. What resources do you have that allows you to increase your self esteem?

My strong familial connections and my fortunately upper-middle class background work in conjunction to ensure I am placed in a good spot in society wherein I do not need to be as dependent on others for my self-esteem. I am lucky to have been born into a privileged family wherein I need not worry about my everyday necessities thus I can focus on other aspects of my life such as my education and faith in order to increase my self-esteem and agency.