Author: Alexil Fajardo

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Time always flies really fast for me. But upon entering UP, everything has changed. It feels like everything happens in a slow motion. Sometimes I thought I’ve already spent months in UP, but looking up at the calendar, I realize that I’ve just spent a month.

Before entering the university, I have spent 4 months doing things that I like; reading books that interest me, watching lots of movies and series, eating, sleeping, and cleaning. Doing all these things didn’t make me feel busy and stressed.

And now that I’ve entered the university, a month of reality has slapped me. A slap that has been forcing me to come out of my comfort zone.

Here are the 5 things that a month has taught me:

A college student has always loads of work. Complaining won’t make any of it finish itself. Well in fact, it will cause you nothing but distraction. Instead of wasting your time complaining, use it in accomplishing your works.

Everyone is different. I have learned that I shouldn’t be comparing myself to others. I shouldn’t feel small just because majority of students taking up development communication already have lots of experience in the field. I should just be myself and continue learning new things without having too much pressure.

You can’t survive college life without making friends.

For the first week of college, I’ve learned to be alone and do things on my own. I thought I can continue my college life doing that. But of course, I thought it wrong. I should be making friends for they make hard things look easy. They support you and understand you because sometimes, you just have the same problems.

Procrastination doesn’t do any good.

Sometimes, I think I still have more time to skip doing my school works early. But it just makes everything harder. It eats my time and leaves me stressed and tired.

Crying doesn’t make you weak.

One of my way in releasing pain, stress, tiredness, and sadness is crying. Every tear that my eyes release signifies those feelings. After crying, I feel okay again and ready to continue my journey.

Photo source: https://www.bing.com/images/search?view=detailV2&id=2BACED11947AA251618A394BFC06B7A49B20F877&thid=OIP.G46JzhEQFs9RL1jThOd3zwHaFj&exph=600&expw=800&q=flipping+calendar+gif&selectedindex=7&vt=0&eim=1,6

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You need to have these five things in order for you to survive the life of being a development communication student.

Gathering data from Barangay Lalakay was our first adventure as a group of development communicators. My groupmates are Hendrix Dulay and Stephen Buenaventura.

I live in Los Baños for almost 14 years now but I don’t know some places here because I prefer staying at home all day. The only barangay hall I know is of course, the barangay where I live in, San Antonio. So before doing the activity, I asked a friend who lives in Lalakay for me to have an idea. I also used google maps to have more ideas about the place we’re heading to. For doing such things, Hendrix and I didn’t get lost and found the barangay hall easily. And the fact that Hendrix’s dad gave us a free ride made everything easy and fast.

The method we used in gathering data was interview method. Our group chose this for the accuracy of the information that can be gathered through this method. Another thing is that, we were able to get the information directly from the source.

Based on what I learned from this activity, here are my three tips on data gathering.

BE RESPECTFUL

Showing respect at all times makes a good communication. And a good communication makes gathering data easily. You should thank people who took part in helping you finish your project or activity.

BE PREPARED

The flow of your plan should be done properly so that you won’t waste your interviewee’s time. One of the barangay captains in Lalakay asked for our ID so that she can write our names clearly. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring mine and Hendrix was the only one who has brought his. But luckily, it didn’t cause me trouble because the barangay kapitan said she just needs it for the spelling of our names. As a development communicator, your ID should always be with you at all times.

BE CONFIDENT

Confidence makes your interviewee think that you’re taking everything seriously. If you’re confident, you can conduct your interview properly without wasting anyone’s time. Confidence leads to success flow of your plan.

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Assessing myself as a media writer was a bit challenging for me because I don’t even know if I possess these qualities and skills. I think of this for I am not a writer; I don’t have any experience being a writer. I mean yes, everyone can write, but not everyone is a writer.

Among the qualities listed, which quality would be the one that you need to work on the most? Why?

I have to work on being inquisitive because sometimes I don’t want asking too much. I just keep my questions to myself because I don’t want people to get mad at me.

Given your ratings, what keeps you from getting that 1.00 self-rating?

Self-confidence. I am not confident enough to do things that can make me have these qualities.

Among the skills listed, which skill have you developed the highest competency? What contributed to the development of that skill?

Honestly, I don’t know. My experiences in doing things like this are not enough for me to determine which skill I’ve developed the highest competency. It’s like everything is new to me.

Among the skills listed, which skill would be the one that you need to work on the most to develop? Why?

Writing clearly and effectively. Because unlike the majority of the students taking Development Communication, I’m not that good in using English and still honing my writing skills.

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There are different types of writers and you’ll identify their differences based on what they write. As a development communicator, the things that you write are mostly about development. You address problems, spread awareness, and come up with a solution. Writing with a purpose is like making a change.

How can we know if a topic is development-oriented? The three characteristics listed below are what I got from Bryan Lawas — a development communication alumna.

Process-based

A development-oriented topic should answer the questions: What is the problem? Why ? How is it done? and What is needed to get it done?

In answering these questions, you’re providing factual information for your audience. You process and present your ideas in detailed. It makes your audience think that your article is real.

highlights positive social change

A development-oriented topic should highlight positive social change where it addresses issues and makes up with different solutions to make a better change.

focuses on the marginalized sector

Marginalized people should be prioritized because they are treated as insignificant by the society. This means that their voices are too weak to be heard. Taking this program for almost two months made me learn that, development communicators’ role is like amplifier’s. We make these voices strong in order for it to be heard.

A topic can be considered as development-oriented if it’s about the problems that the marginalized people are facing; if it’s about poverty. The goal of it is to address problems or raise issues to spread awareness and to seek help.

Living in this world for almost two decades and yet, still clueless about my future.

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Back in my lower years, I have never been this clueless about my future. I have pictured myself being in different professions — chef, soldier, and computer scientist. As I remember, I was in elementary when I wanted to become a chef even though I didn’t have any reason why I wanted to be in that profession. I was still in elementary when my mind has changed and decided to be a soldier in the future. There are two reasons behind this: one because I wanted to help people in need by serving our country and two because my sister told me so. My family was always very supportive of what I want and they never forced me to be someone I don’t want to be. I just said yes on being a soldier because the reason somehow suited what I wanted back then.

I was in high school when I have realized that being a soldier wasn’t even my interest. I loved using computers and had always wondered how things inside it are made. That’s when I have decided that I was going to pursue the course of Computer Science when I go to college. But when my senior high school years were almost meeting its end, I realized that the said course wasn’t the one that was in my heart. Development Communication was one of my choices when I took UPCAT. Unfortunately, I didn’t pass the test so I applied for reconsideration with DevCom being my first choice. And thankfully, the University of the Philippines offered me a slot for this course.

As ironic as it may sound, I love seeing books but I don’t really like reading that much. Books are just pleasing to my eyes. I do read, but only if the book does interest me, but if it does not, I wouldn’t read it unless I have to. And now, I hate myself for not making reading as one of my hobbies for it is very important to a student taking Development Communication.

I do love writing when I don’t have to think about deadlines; when I just have to write things for myself. When I was in eighth grade, I was a blogger in WordPress. I did love posting things that were happening in my everyday life and my opinions about different issues. But I deleted my blog for a reason that I thought my life wasn’t worth sharing yet. And after that, I never wrote any more.

Living in this world is never easy. I am just one of those people who still can’t figure out what they want to be in the future. Those who are still unaware of the skills in them that have to be enhanced. It’s hard to find your place in this world when you, yourself isn’t sure what you’re capable of. But of course, one thing is for sure; I’m open to new learnings and experiences despite of being naive. I want to hone my writing skills and whatever skills I have by also helping people in need. I love the feeling when I see people smile because I have done something for them. I hope that after years of taking Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños, I would be a girl that has finally found my place in this world.

Clueless, no more. Indeed.