Being able to survive the first semester here in UPLB is my biggest achievement for this year so far. I’ve learned so many things and discovered so much about myself and my capabilities as well. All the tasks our professors gave us taught me numerous life-changing lessons which I know helped me improve my qualities and skills, not just as a media writer, but also as a person.
With this, I’ve evaluated myself once again to see how much I’ve grown so far. Below are my self-assessment after one semester here in UPLB:
The results clearly show that after my four-month struggle here in the university, I was able to improve myself and my skills as well. With that, I can say that UPLB had me well cultivated.
However, this is just the beginning. There’s still a series of semesters I will have to face. But despite all of it, I know very well that my version 2.0 will be able to ace them all.
My whole semester has been a whirlwind romance. During my stay as a Development Communication student at UPLB it really had helped a lot in fostering my improvement and growth.
The 5 months had been indeed really tough but nonetheless it taught me valuable lessons and visible and positive changes happened to me.
Looking back to my first assessment, one of the qualities that I really need to improve is being interested in and passionate about people. Because as I have mentioned on my first assessment I am kinda introverted and shy as a person but what really amazed me is taking Devcom as a course would really challenge and improve my social and interaction skills. Starting from interviewing different individuals up to professionals which really helped me overcome my fear of talking to others. As a development communicator, I have learned that it is very vital to practice my communication skills because this is essential in our field of experience.
If i would assess myself to this moment, I would still refrain myself from giving a 1.00 rating for the reason that I have always believed that there should be always room for improvement and I myself would never be perfect but my aspiration on being perfect would always be my motivation.
When it comes to skills which I needes to improve the most which is proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices as of the moment I am still learning it and still on the proccess of mastering it.
Finally, I wanna end this by saying that all of this is just still an overview and the begining and I am looking forward for more fruitful semesters tk come.
Christmas is the most awaited season for many. It is the season for hope, peace, joy and love. This year, UPLB’s Christmas Lighting Ceremony highlights Pinoy Christmas– may tatalo pa ba sa pasko sa ‘Pinas?
Watch this video for the highlights of the UPLB Christmas Lighting 2019.
We had questions from our friends and families about Devcom. We invited Prof. Avril Madrid to help us answer all the top three questions– what is devcom, what do we do in devcom, and what is the difference between devcom and masscom.
College is never easy. It will surely test our physical, emotional, and mental capability. Unlike High School, College is extra extra hard for it has so many requirements, readings, quizzes, and exams in just a single day. Being a college student thought us how to multitask in a different level knowing we’ll finish all our outputs in one night.
We all experience heavy loads, I know that some of us wants to quit already, some of us doesn’t have regular sleep, ruin body clock. I know that you are tired. I know the feeling of having sleepless nights because of finishing tons of paper works and readings just to pass the course, or some of us just want to end the semester already.
This might not be effective for all, but it is for me, once you satisfy your craving and your tummy. It feels like you are reenergized as if you now can finish tons of papers in a single seat. Comfort food will throw away all your anxiety (not all).
It is really recommended to have a support system it’s either your siblings or your friends. Let’s be all real, we don’t usually share detailed things to our parent (some do). It is great to have a friend to talk to after a long day, a long week, a long month, a long year. It is great to have someone that understands you, doesn’t judge you, will always be by your side through ups and downs.
I assure you that if you have someone to talk to about your rants, your problems, it will lessen the burden in your heart. There should be a friend that you trust with your problems.
If your world is toxic, find a place for yourself wherein you can go there anytime whenever you feel sad and lonely. It is also great to be alone, sometimes, in some cases. Being alone let’ you think and reminisce all you’ve done for the past months or years. You will have a self-meditation wherein you have to figure out what is wrong. It is sometimes okay to talk to yourself and analyze the year before you let it out to your friend.
At times you feel sad and you feel the world is against you, find your safe place and let all your burden out. Shout if you must. Cry if you want, as long as you’ll stop and continue living.
This is the number 1 thing you should do if you want to relax, talk to Him. He is your friend that will never leave you through ups and downs. He will be there for you if you need someone to talk to (not physically). He will be that friend who will love you no matter how much a failure you are. He is the friend that will guide you through your journey as a college student. NEVER LOOSE HOPE IN HIM.
We had questions from our friends and families about Devcom. We invited Prof. Avril Madrid to help us answer all the top three questions– what is devcom, what do we do in devcom, and what is the difference between devcom and masscom.
Dr. strange used the time stone to peak through the future and go back in time. He also used it to see the 14, 000, 605 possible outcomes of their conflict with Thanos. What if I had the time stone? I would probably go back in time to talk to my first semester self.
I’d tell first semester Aubrey to focus. That’s what I think that I’ve lacked on the first semester. I have not given enough focus on my academics because I was probably overwhelmed with the college life.
Second is, review as early as possible. I do not have the superpowers to memorize a whole lecture in one night. Reviewing earlier will help me to learn the lessons easily because I would have more time to review.
The third thing that I would tell first-sem-Aubrey is not to cram. For the love of your grades, just don’t. Yes, it may be true that cramming may cause some adrenaline rush, making your brain boost more thoughts/ creativities, but it is always better to do your things ahead of the due.
Unfortunately, I do not have the time stone. So, it will be a battle between me and the present and learn my mistakes from the past to improve my future in my academics.
First semester was over, and I can’t believe it. The time goes fast, I remember the time in summer when I keep thinking studying here in UP, and voila, I have survived five freaking and amazing months here.
So many memories and experiences that I will bring and share to Mindoro, things I know have strengthened me and molded my heart and mind in life.
Back in the first month, we were tasked to evaluate our qualities and skills as a media writer. Seriously, it’s so funny rating my self. You know, you were a writer in highschool and felt like it was gone in college. So funny that I ‘ve even forgot my writing styles.
But things here changed, maybe I’m just having a wam-up that time. Devcom taught me so many things to my ‘media writer’ self. And I’m more like confident writing than before. So here it goes, let’s have a reevaluation to our media writer qualities and skills.
For the Curious/ Inquisitive, it remained to 1. I know in my self that I’m curious to know everything in the universe, even when I was still a kid, I am always beside my teacher in the science laboratory and I keep asking her about what she’s doing in her experiment.
In the Intelligent, I know it’s funny but my 2 became 1.75. UP taught me so many things and I know my brain now was bigger than before. I’m proud to say I’m not that intelligent guy, but at least I have improved a little and it will be even bigger because I have years to go.
While for the Industrious, Resourceful and Persevering, my 1.5 changed into 1.25, my 1 remained to 1, and also 1.25, respectively. I can guarantee that I’m not lazy because I do a lot of things here, but I still accomplished my academic tasks. I even have time for Balitang Isko, and it really requires so much energy and power from the human body.
For the Imaginative quality, I rate my self 1. As a self-proclaimed creative person, I know I have a wide imagination for anything. I can also think something that is unique and different from the others. This imagination I think was made even when I was still on elementary.
In the Puts Premium on Accuracy and Truth, it also remained from before, 1.25 to 1.25. As a media writer and a former campus journalist in high school, I’m used to having verified facts as my data for my article. It also reflects on what are you as journalist, if you value the truth, then you are an ethical and an excellent media practitioner.
For the Loves to Read, I rated my self before 2.25, and now 1.5. It’s so tiring to read a long article about something you’re not concerned or interested of. But because of my GE professors like in PI10 and ARTS1, I have also loved it. You know, reading boosts your imagination and introduces you to a new idea or knowledge that will mold your mind.
While for the Interested and Loves People, and Service-Oriented, it goes from 2.5 to 1.5 and 2 to 1.5, respectively. Before I’m so scared or afraid meeting a new person, but because of UP it taught me that our life as a Filipino must serve the people. And to serve them means loving and being interested to them. Dangal at Husay were always engraved in my heart and mind, and it keeps me moving to achieve my goals for the nation.
Now, let’s move on to the skills as a media writer. Gathering Data changed from 1 to 1, Validating and Clarifying Information from 1.5 to 1.25, Organizing Information from 1.25 to 1.25, Writing Clearly and Effectively from 1.75 to 1.5, and Proficiency in the Operation of Communication Tools and Devices from 2.5 to 1.75. You can see here that I have improved my skills as a media writer, and it was all thanks to Ma’am Trina Mendoza and Ma’am Candy Villar. In their lessons for DEVC11, it trained my self and honed my talents as a media practitioner in the future, especially in the Laboratory Class. There are so many exercises that were loaded up every week that teaches me something valuable but enjoying.
I guess it all ends up here, Mission Accomplished: Constructed a Writer. First semester in UP was over and my DEVC11 class too. I’m so thankful I have survived those freaking but amazing days. I have learned a lot, and I want more. To more amazing semesters! To more honor and excellence!
Few days after the start of the semester, we were tasked to assess ourselves of the qualities and skills of a media writer. Looking back at my assessment before, I realized that I lack some qualities and skills that a media writer must possess. But, in comparison to my present assessment, I clearly see my improvements after a few months in DevCom.
Our DEVC11 lab exercises are the primary reason for my improvement in these qualities. Thanks to those, I got more connected to people, I got more curious about my surroundings, and I became more imaginative to mention a few of the changes I developed. I believe being resourceful is the quality I greatly improved because that’s what we’re supposed to do-find all possible ways to overcome challenges and difficulties that arise.
Data, data, data. We need lots of data for our articles. I was able to visit numerous places in gathering the data necessary for my development-oriented news stories. And I was also able to meet and talk to amazing, friendly, and not so friendly people. Gathering data is the skill I improved the most. Along with this, I also became more proficient in the operation of communication tools and devices, developed to organize information and write more clearly and effectively.
A few months later in DEVC11, I got to improve my qualities and skills as a media writer. The academic and practical lessons I learned from this subject will surely be beneficial for me in the future. 🖤
Remember the time in highschool you were awarded best in research, with high honors, and even passed the UP College Admission Test? You were jolly back then; I can see your smile and the excitement that you’ll get studying in the premier state university of the Philippines.
Everytime you imagine studying there you are filled with so much dreams and aspirations in life. You even wish to visit all the UP campuses all over the islands in the country.
But what happened to you now? I know you’re scared right at this point, anxious, disappointed, and down. Who killed those dreams of yours? Tell me, for I’ve been also longing for you all this time.
I have been searching my self every time because I’ve lost it when I started my journey. And I don’t know what happened, I don’t know where the shits came up and consume me even until now.
Hey self, if you ever read this letter in the past, please do something for me in the present. Follow these advices I will keep to you; promise me you’ll be better for the future.
First. The secret to college is genuinely listening. Do everything you can to make sure you capture 100% of the lesson to avoid being left behind. Even if it means having to type a transcript of what your prof is saying just so you can keep up with the explanations, do it. The more lessons you have, the greater chances of passing or even getting a higher remark.
Second. It’s only you from the start. You entered UP by yourself, and it’s only you who you can depend on. Yes, you’ll have friends, orgs, or tropas, but at the end of the day, the real battle will be only for yourself. It is not being selfish or stopping you from socializing with them, what I’m trying to say is, the only person that can help you, boost you, and strengthen you is yourself. Life here is a survival, you’ll experience many failures and stepping ahead independently is a must.
Third. The ground is bigger and competitive. The game changes completely in college in more ways than you’ll ever expect. I remember my prof in one of my class told me, “you excel in your high school years because it’s only a small pond, here in UP we have a great sea full of bigger fishes”. You’ll meet many smart and amazing people that you’ll feel small whenever you’re with them. BUT that’s okay, this is only your freshman year and you still have time to adjust and years to excel in your chosen field. Just remember, learn to humble yourself and work harder than you ever have.
Fourth. UP is hard and dead serious. In junior high school and senior high school, you can get a passing or high grade just by attending class and completing the requirements. In UP, this is a game of the smartest and skillful. Anyone who is intelligent and talented will stand out. Those who remain mediocre will be only at the bottom.
Fifth. There are lots of unique and amazing students in UP. This is the mirror of the real world, you’ll meet extremely liberal people, people who dress differently, people who openly criticize God and, basically every kind of person you’re not used to being around. Hold back on judgments and give everyone a chance. This culture shock because of differences was only in the start, they can be your friends too.
I know you’re trying your best, self, and I know you have that fire in your heart to succeed in everything you want. Just keep going and show them what you’ve got. I know you can do it. I always believe in you.
Remember all the people that are always there for you, the dreams you’ve made when you were still a kid, and the experiences that made you stronger, hold on to them. Padayon Isko! Padayon.
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