Author: lirafernandez

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

I think the quality that I need to work on the most is number 9, which is “Interested in and loves people”, since I find it hard to approach people. I’m very shy and I lack the confidence needed to interact and create bond with other people, especially if it’s my first time meeting them. This is a real struggle for me since interacting with others is needed to conduct interviews or gather various information.

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

I see myself as an average person. I don’t think I excel in anything, it may be because of my lack of confidence. Also, I know for myself that there should always be room for improvement, and that there’s still a lot for us to discover and learn.

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

Validating and clarifying information, since I know how vital it is to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information that you’re giving out to avoid confusion, misunderstanding, and ambiguity. It’ll be a huge waste of time for the reader if the information that their receiving is not actually true.

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

I think I should develop my skills on writing clearly and effectively. To be honest, writing is not really my genre, words doesn’t just come out easily. Before entering this course I knew to myself that I’ll struggle so much since this course requires lots of reading and writing, but instead of letting the opportunity pass I just took it as a challenge. That I need to grow and come out of my comfort zone, and that I should work extra hard for me to accomplish everything.

Being a Devcom student is hard, so you must have these essential items or tools to help you in your way to becoming a great media writer.

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The first four weeks of my stay here in UPLB as a Development Communication student, i felt as if I was lost. Not knowing what to do next or how to cope up. I constantly question myself if I do really deserve to be here. If I will survive being a student here. My highschool days, I was more of a ‘chill’ student, not really taking my classes that seriously, but that short span of four weeks made me realize the fact that I can not continue doing my old ways here in college. And to make my self a better person, here are some of the insights that I have learned.

1. Attendance is a must
   You should give utmost importance to your attendance in class, avoid being absent or late if it is not really necessary. Don’t sacrifice missing a class just to tend with your requirements for other classes, since you will also suffer in the end if you miss a lecture or an activity. Make sure to attend all of your classes, be physically and mentally present.
2. Don’t hesitate to sleep
   If you’re really tired and need some sleep, do so. Even if you have to review for a quiz or exam, or if you have to finish a long reading, or you have an assignment to finish, it will all mean nothing if you’re not in the right condition to do all those things since your mind can’t think clearly if its tired. Your body and mind needs rest too, you shouldn’t burn out yourself.
3. Manage your time effectively
   Avoid procrastinating, don’t wait for the deadline before you accomplish your tasks as it will just pile up. And also, in order to produce a quality work you should be able to invest your time in it. Procrastinating would only lead to stress and lack of sleep which is not good for any student.
4. It is okay to fail
   Even if you fail a quiz or even an exam, don’t thread on it too much. Just think that there will always be room for improvements. Know where you went wrong, and try to improve it so that next time you won’t be faced with the same problem.
5. Be confident
   I think this one is the most important. Growing up, my social anxiety had always been with me. The simple act of crossing the pedestrian lane would cause my social anxiety to act up, thinking that everyone was looking at me and was judging me, it made me feel small. In this course you will be needed to face and approach lots of people in terms of gathering data and conducting interviews. But if you’re not confident with yourself, how will you be able to accomplish those things? “There is nothing wrong with what your doing. You’re not embarrassing yourself. You can do this” I had to tell myself this everyday, but even then my anxiety would still sometimes get the best of me. So I’m telling you now that, be determined in facing your fears, and be confident with yourself.

The first task that was given to us as a group was to gather information from the Municipal Hall, specifically the offices on the first floor. But in doing so, we were faced with a couple of hindrances.
Coming from different blocs, we had different class schedules and we were also busy with other things. But even so, we we’re able to agree on a specific date and time. In gathering the data that we need, our initial plan was to go through the offices one by one and ask for the information that we need. We successfully gathered data from the first three offices that we went to, but as we go on, one of the personnel told us to go directly to the Office of the Mayor since all of the information that we need can be acquired there but then we would need to present a formal letter. Luckily, we bumped into one the the office head who was a DevCom alumni and she willingly helped us with the letter so that we can submit it immediately that day. As we went back for the complete directory of the offices, we were told that they already gave a copy to a different group which was also from the University, so we had to find that group and asked them for a copy.
Here are some of the tips in data gathering that I can share based on my experience in doing the assigned task:

1. Always be prepared
   Make sure to bring all the necessary tools that you will be needing in gathering data such as cellphone, notebook, ballpen, etc. Also, a formal letter which contains your intent and a signature from your professor since it is sometimes required. You should also know all the informations that you will be needing to gather and make sure to list them down.
2. Be respectful
   Speak and act in a respectful manner. Introduce yourselves properly and be clear with your intentions. You cannot just barge in the offices, and ask disrespectfully for the informations that you need. Always mind your attitude and how you approach people.
3. Teamwork is a must
   Communicate with your teammates. Be clear with your goals and make sure to estblish your plan on how you will accomplish your task. You should also be able to maximize the capabilities of each members of the group, as each individuals has their own set of skills.

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Lira is freshman student from the College of Development Communication in one of the premiere universities in the Philippines, University of the Philippines Los Baños. Despite the hustle and bustle of Metro Manila, where she was born and raised, she did not seem to acquire the rhythms and melodies of it. Growing up, she was known for being a timid young girl, fragile to any form of human communication. With little human communication, desires and aspirations burned out. Anxieties would build up and left little to none for confident and self-care that were supposed to help her kindle the ability to seek passion. Heck, even just a hobby.

Despite the blatant disregard on her own abilities, deep inside, she knows that somehow, someday, she will find that one little push that would kick her out of her comfort zone. Experience all the right and the wrong feelings in the world, and hopefully, bring her back to place wherein she is contented and blissful of what she is and what she has become. A fighter that she is, she tried and pursued studying on university even if she already failed the college admission test. Alas, a little twist of fate has come to her. The greatest irony of her life. The girl who was not able to communicate even her simplest thought, the girl who would tremble with a single hello. Who would’ve thought that this girl would become a student of Development Communication?

The little twist of fate. This was it. A twist. The push that she persistently desire. In years to come, as she studies the concepts of development communication in hope to forward the cause of the marginalized, she aspires to first find the voice within herself in order for her to help others amplify their own.