by Sharon S. Baltazar
Living with vertigo is a struggle that affects not only my professional life but also my passions and daily routines. As a physical education teacher, athlete, and dancer, my life has always been defined by movement, balance, and coordination. But Vertigo has reshaped all of this into a daily test of endurance.
My mornings start with hope, but two hours after waking, I feel the familiar dizziness creep in, making every task—from preparing for classes to moving through the day—a challenge. Teaching physical education while feeling disoriented is especially difficult, yet I try to hide my condition from my students. On particularly difficult days, my colleagues, who know my struggle, step in to help, but I still feel guilty for not being able to fully meet my responsibilities. I’ve sought medical help, and while therapy provided temporary relief, the vertigo always returns.
Losing balance and coordination has meant giving up sports and dance—two activities that were once part of my identity. It’s painful to watch these passions slip away, knowing my body no longer supports the things I love. Simple tasks, like reading messages on my phone, now require me to take screenshots just so I can enlarge the text. These small adjustments are a constant reminder of how deeply vertigo has altered my life.
In my teaching, I’ve learned to adapt, finding ways to support my students without always leading from the front. I’ve become more empathetic and flexible, breaking down activities and encouraging students to demonstrate. This experience has taught me patience, resilience, and the power of perseverance. Living with vertigo is a silent struggle, but each day I choose to keep going, adapting to the limits of my condition and finding strength in each step forward.
Sharon S. Baltazar is the Department Chair of the Physical Education Department of Pampanga State Agricultural University. She Graduated at the Lyceum Northwestern University in Pangasinan with the degree Doctor of Philosophy major in Educational Management.
The Teachers' Guide International Magazine, October 31, 2024 Issue (ISSN 2984-9799)