DUC IN ALTUM!

“Reality changes; in order to represent it, modes of representation must change.”– Bertolt Brecht

I felt ecstatic during the first few weeks. Knowing that entering UP is a dream come true, make it seems so surreal. It’s just too good to be true. Nonetheless, the excitement lasted so soon, I felt nervous, anxious, became oblivious and hesitant that made me lose my track. However, just like what the quotation above says, this is now my reality and to be able to keep up with this reality, there will be a change, and I should ready myself with these transitions to move smoothly forward.

Looking back to my very first semester (and hoping not to be the last) I see lots of things I can change for the better. But let me highlight the top 5 most useful pieces of advice I can share.

1. OPTIMISM IS THE KEY

The moment I land my feet at UPLB, I always ask myself, am I good enough for this university? Do I have what it takes to be one of the well-known Iskolar ng Bayan? Will I fail? Should I pursue it? Lots of questions but hey! Take a deep breath and listen; YOU DESERVE THIS. You worked hard for it and you earned it, so you are deserving of this chance. I don’t want you to go in your first semester like me that has so many doubts, buts, and what-ifs which greatly affects my perception of things. The worst-case scenario is that you lose your self-confidence. To be able to receive good results, one must have a positive mindset. This will boost you up to be eager in studying and discovering new ideas unfamiliar to you.

2. BUILD CONNECTION

Being too shy to approach, I couldn’t make a lot of friends. It was very hard to cope with the changing environment when you know very little about those who surround you. I am not saying that you make it your goal to befriend every one of them, I am just saying that maybe a little smile, a short hi and a wave of a hand will greatly help you to be familiar and comfortable around them. Through this, you’ll feel company, you’ll have a feeling of belongingness that will motivate you to keep pursuing the course, to have someone to go to when you have questions and colleagues that might someday be your friend to conquer and overcome the semester with. Good thing as I start my semester, UPLB gave me a bunch of amazing peeps, my block CD2, to laugh, cram and do things together.

3. ALWAYS TARGET EXCELLENCE

Full of hesitations I started the semester wrong by believing that it’s okay to settle for the least when it is not. Always remember to open your college life with a positive outlook with lots of opportunities and triumphs. Whenever there are things that you needed to accomplish always see to it that you do your 100% so you won’t regret the result afterward. When it comes to your exams always aim for the highest, set your standards high enough so if the results didn’t go exactly the way you wanted it to be, and more likely a little lower than that you can still smile and say that a little room for improvement is not bad, you just need to work harder the next time. Do not be sad and give yourself a tap in the back with the realization that you worked hard for it and that there’s always a next time to do better.

4. RELAX

Do not think too much, keep calm, relax and focus your attention on things approaching ahead of you. I should have advised myself before to do this. I should have not become so worried about everything if I learned how to be calm and to relax. Nevertheless, being too worried about requirements, tasks, and examinations coming doesn’t bring me a hundred percent disaster because it alarmed me in a good way to finish everything, to use my time efficiently and to organize my schedule so I can make sure everything is taken care of and that I left nothing behind. It somehow helped me to accomplish everything. But I believe it could have been less stressful if I manage to do it calmly.

5. KNOW THAT YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Always keep in mind that you are not unaccompanied in your journey. You just need to look around you to see that there are lots of persons willing to walk the path with you and each one of them has stories to share, has values and life principles you can learn to. You just need sometimes to believe in them and show yourself, bits of it. And when you can assure that they are genuine and true to you let them guide you, and always show them as well of the right things. It is a two-way process you know; you give and take. And finally, overcome the semester together with a dream of a young UP aspirant wearing the sought-after sablay walking down the aisle after 4 years with a diploma in hand.

Indeed, college is not easy, but it will always be upon your decisions and ways on how you’ll make the best out of it. Just like one of my favorite teachers used to tell me back then: DUC IN ALTUM; draw into the deep. Sail to the deep and go into the horizon, find yourself and seek the purpose that will bring you excellence. Do your best and never falter, there’s a long way ahead and the journey is just about to start.

Being here is one great achievement already. So, keep sailing my friend and I wish you nothing but excellence as you travel your way Isko and Iska.