Topic: Academic Pressure
Characters:
Teresa Organisa as Teresa
Cyra Clarriese Busano as the Guidance Counselor
Francis Rey Beroy as the Teacher
Ma. Lourdes Atup and Andrei Jeremy Alsado as Parents
Kiz Jairah Busbus and Jean Natylie Taray as Classmates
Setting: School, Home, Guidance Office
Plot:
Exposition- Teresa and her family are currently eating their breakfast and talks about Teresa’s
performance at school regarding with academics.
Andrei: Teresa, we’ve sacrificed so much for your education, don’t let us down.
Lour: You need to study harder! Your future depends on it!
Andrei: I expect nothing less than perfection from you.
Lour: Look at Jairah, she always excell in your class. You should be like her!
Teresa: Yes Mom and Dad, I will do my best to make you proud.
Teresa: (voiceover) I always give my best at school. But there are times I just feel like after all,
itʼs not enough, I still have this missing piece that needs academic validation, not from other
people but from my family…
Francis: Okay class, we will be having our summative test today, please get a 1 whole sheet of
paper.
Francis: So who got the perfect score?
Jairah and Jean: (*/hands up)
Francis: Very good! How about you Teresa?
Teresa: (*/gave her paper to the teacher)
Francis: You didn’t passed the test? It’s just easy, what happened to you?
Jean: Teresa, are you okay?
Jairah: You’ve been acting so weird lately, what happened?
Teresa: I am so tired of this, I don’t know what to do anymore.
Jairah: Sir, I think Teresa needs our help, she seems so unfocused.
Francis: You’re right, I also noticed her weird behavior. I should refer her to the guidance
counselor of the school.
Francis: Good day, ma’am.
Cyra: Good day, sir. What can I do for you?
Francis: Honestly, I came here to refer Teresa, she is one of my students. Her classmates and I
noticed that she seems so unfocused. She is acting weird lately and I am worried about her. I
know you can help her, so I decided to come here.
Cyra: Oh sure, it’s my pleasure to help. Where is she?
Francis: Here she is.
Cyra: Hello, Teresa. I am Miss Cyra, the guidance counselor of our school. Nice to meet you!
Teresa: (no response)
Cyra: Have you eaten? I have some foods here. Please feel free, whenever you want.
Teresa: Okay, thank you ma’am.
Cyra: Is this your first time for counseling?
Teresa: Yes ma’am.
Cyra: Okay, so before anything else, I want you to know that this session is confidential,
anything you want to say is important and it won’t be shared to anyone unless you have a written
consent. Okay?
Teresa: (*/nods her head)
Cyra: But, the only exception to that is if you will tell me that you will harm yourself or others.
So you would expect that I will be listening to anything that you will tell me, and help you
process your concern. Okay?
Teresa: Okay ma’am.
Cyra: So you are here today because you were referred to by Teacher Francis because he
noticed that you are acting weird lately and you seemed so unfocused. Is that right?
Teresa: Yes ma’am, it’s because of my parents.
Cyra: What about your parents that made you act like that?
Teresa: They are pushing me to study harder and to be more excelled at school. It made me feel
worried that’s why it’s bothering me.
Cyra: That’s tough and it seems like you’re putting too much pressure on yourself.
Teresa: Yes ma’am, and I never talked to someone about it.
Cyra: For that, I appreciate you for coming here for counseling. So you mentioned that you
never told anyone about it, even your parents and your friends?
Teresa: Yes ma’am, I just think that they don’t understand what I’m going through.
Cyra: So, the source of your negative feeling is your parents who pushes you to excell at school
and that you’ve never shared this to anyone.
Teresa: Yes ma’am.
Cyra: And it seems like you are really working hard at school, because you think that it would
make your parents proud.
Teresa: Yes ma’am
Cyra: I understand that you’ve been so unfocused because of your worries. Is it possible to
confront your parents about your feelings?
Teresa: Maybe, I don’t know ma’am. I am scared that they may get angry and just get things
worse.
Cyra: Okay, I understand. What if, let’s take a scenario. Imagine you are talking to your parents
and tell them anything you want to say.
(after the activity)
Cyra: So what’s your body feeling right now?
Teresa: I somewhat feel relieved. I feel lighter this time.
Cyra: Is it possible then to talk to your parents in person?
Teresa: Yes ma’am, it’s possible.
Cyra: Just tell me if you still have any ideas on how to make this work, okay?
Teresa: I think they are really the one to talk to about my concern.
Cyra: Okay, whenever you are ready. You can always come back if you need to.
Teresa: Yes ma’am, thank you so much.
