Author: gatchaliannikki

Not as bad as I thought it will be

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Saturday morning, I checked my email and didn’t receive an email from UPLB OUR I felt so devastated because my classmates already received theirs but how come I didn’t even receive a single email even the “sorry note”. I really cried that day because UPLB is the only school that I took on the college admission/entrance test, It made me realize how I failure I am and then, on our way home from church I finally received an email from UPLB OUR and said “Congratulations” that was the word I read and started screaming like an animal. I am so proud of myself hehe.

A month full of rollercoaster of events, there are days that was a blessing from God but there are days, well, most of it felt like I’m about to give up since I never knew that I will be able to study in “THE” University of the Philippines – Los Banos. I am aware that studying in UP will be hard, but I didn’t expect this to be THIS HARD. I had a hard time coping with the way they instruct. I am so new to this kind of ambiance where everybody is seems so smart while I look like a stray dog not knowing where to fit in. I am so lost but then I found my super classmates and my bloc mates they became my friends, I’m grateful for them since they made my first month of being an iska memorable and stress-free for they are my source of happiness and became my stress reliever.

A lot of challenges, stress, and breakdowns passed and a lot to come but if you have people that motivates you, believe in you, and be there for you always. UP isn’t bad after all, it will be as easy and fun just like the other universities.

Padayon mga iskolar ng bayan!

As a Development Communicator in training these are the things you should bring during the field work:

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How to be an effective development communicator?

It starts from little tasks that you’ll be doing just like what we did. My groupmates, Gabrielle Allyson Dela Torre and Jullia Minas went to Barangay Mayondon, one of the barangays at Los Banos, Laguna. We were tasked to do a data gathering for a community directory. So, here are some helpful data gathering tips for a newbie in the development communication field:

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Not everything that the eye sees is true

I am Nikki P. Gatchalian, 18 years of age, a freshmen student and will soon be men only not fresh anymore, taking up the best course in the University of the Philippines – Los Baños, Development Communication. Based on the title of my autobiography, it’s funny to think that I hate being alone but I want to be alone at some times. I am a hot and cold friend because I can be super talkative also on the other hand, I can be the quietest person in the class. I love hanging out with my friends but once I see that something is wrong, I tend to lose interest and lie low a bit. But as my friends from high school said, I’m a good friend because I’m the type of “friend” that is easy to approach and you can learn many things from me. I give the best advice and I treasure my friends more than I treasure my favorite pillow. I am always a click away if my friends need me and can do everything just to make them feel complete.

Some would say that devcom fits my personality well and I think so too since I love writing articles (creative articles not academic) for I can express myself even more. I also have a diary so I can write everything what I feel for a day. I know that this course will bring out the best in me since I am in to journalism. I have a little background about my journalism life, I am a feature writer when I was in elementary but I competed for photojournalism in which I don’t have an idea how to do so. When I started journalism in high school, I joined the radiobroadcasting team also the school paper.

Through my experience I can write many stories and articles. I am pretty sure some of the students can relate to my experiences. I believe that this course will mold me to be the person I want me to be. Development Communication will always have a special place in my heart as it planted knowledge and life lessons that will be cherished forever. Iskolar ng bayan, para sa bayan!

Through this activity I was able to asses myself on how am I as a Media Writer, and that hit me and came up with a conclusion that I am still in the process of being a media writer or let’s just say a UP student. I am still learning to cope with what is surrounding me.

This is the result of the survey:

QUALITIES OF A MEDIA WRITER

1. Curious or inquisitive	1
2. Intelligent	3
3. Industrious	3
4. Resourceful	2
5. Persevering	2
6. Imaginative	1
7. Puts premium on accuracy and truth	2
8. Loves to read	4
9. Interested in and loves people	1
10. Service-oriented	1

The quality that I would like to improve is the “loves to read” because I am much aware that the course that I took is more on reading and I am not fond of reading novels or articles that I am not interested in. So, I would like to enhance my reading skill if that makes sense and sharpen my vocabulary.

I am not the kind of person that already know what is being discussed, I am a slow learner and it takes me time to fully understand what is being discussed. I still need to improve myself since there is still a room for improvements and make things right.

SKILLS OF A MEDIA WRITER

1. Gathering data	2
2. Validating and clarifying information	3
3. Organizing information	3
4. Writing clearly and effectively	3
5. Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices	1

The proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices skill developed the highest since we are in the era of technologies, it plays an important role that made me excel in this form with the help of technology I got the chance to discover how these technologies work and how should I use them properly and effectively without harming other people. Since the field that I took is more on communicating with people I should have a better communicating skill.

I have a hard time organizing things, not just information but also in real life. I’m not the kind of person that’s organized with what I am doing but I’m trying my best to make things work and be organized. With regards to information, I have a hard time organizing them if what should go first, what should go next, and what should be the last.

This activity made me realize what should I focus on and what should I improve more. For me, I am still in the process of being a media writer for I lack skills that is needed to be called as a”Media Writer”.