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Updated Self-ratings on the Qualities and Skills of a Media Writer

After one semester of staying here in the College of Development Communication, I have to admit that there are certain changes that happened in my life. Changes that challenged my individuality, and changes that contributed to my own character development. Here is my updated self-ratings on the qualities and skills of a media writer:

Qualities

• Curious/Inquisitive – 1
• Intelligent – 1
• Industrious – 1
• Resourceful – 1
• Persevering – 1
• Imaginative – 1
• Puts a premium on accuracy and truth – 1
• Loves to read – 1
• Interested in and loves people – 1
• Service-oriented – 1

After taking DEVC 10 and DEVC 11, My qualities in terms of being industrious, intelligent and loves to read improved. The exercises and activities made me realize that deadlines are very important for journalists. Time is precious most especially for the audience who needs the information that your output has. Being on time to pass your articles is also equals to them knowing the information at the right time and in the right place. All of the improvements in my qualities are all credited to my professors. They taught me a lot of things about how things work in the field of development communication that made me love more this craft.

Skills

• Gathering data – 1
• Validating and clarifying information – 1
• Organizing information – 1
• Writing clearly and effectively – 1
• Proficiency in the operation of communication tools/devices – 1

This semester also helped me to develop my skills in terms of writing and operating communication devices. My professors are good in terms of teaching us what are the techniques that will make things efficient and effective.

Christmas is the best time of the year. It is the season of love and laughter, the sesason of the December lights and the season of toys and joys. Watch how the Los Baños community unwrap the december magic by lighting up the christmas tree found in the University of the Philippines Los Baños!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eteeC7MP3zIXrfysy4wTbJOIg4Hj-mWP/view?usp=sharing

Dear past self,

Having been standing at the periphery of high school and college life, I know you are confused as to what college life has in store for you. Several dramas await you, so I will give you pieces of advice for you to be prepared and to overcome those.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FOUeycvoZXlrV440o1W5ebtUJTPODXyJ/view?usp=sharing

• Take down notes

The first thing you should do is to take down notes because not everything can be found in the powerpoint presentations of your professors. Also, even if you have a great memory, you cannot remember everything your professor says. In taking down notes, jot down only the relevant things and not everything that the professor says. Effective note taking skills will help you focus and remember more.

• Read books, not memes

Sure, memes are a way to find happiness during your dark and gloomy days, however, too much memes can take your focus away from reading books. Books are a gateway to another dimension. When you read, you will get varied thoughts about something because books can show you different perspectives in life.

• Study in advance

Cramming is not effective for you. I have truly realized that after the nonstop “I should have study earlier” mindset that I always think of every time I get to know my exam scores. Study smarter, not harder. Study in advance, and do not pull an all nighter the night before the exams.

• Have enough sleep

If you do not have enough sleep, then you couldn’t focus on everything that you are about to do. The demands of college life may be tough, and you might not have the time to study in advance, or to do the tremendous amount of work, but I think there are situations that could be solved by applying the concept of time management. Getting enough sleep is one of its benefits.

• Be patient enough

Sometimes, things do not go as planned. There will always be rejections, snafus, problems, dramas and many more, and that’s okay. You should be patient enough so that you don’t lose your cool easily. Deciding abruptly and being frustrated will not solve anything. Losing your temper is a way that will make you fail.

Gloria Therese Eusebio (or Thea) from Batch 2019 is known among her peers as the epitome of “Beauty and Brains”, and after recently competing in the Southern Tagalog Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges (STRASUC) Olympics in Batangas City last November 6 and 7, where she won 2 silver and 1 bronze medals for the swimming event, she has proven that she is also a skilled athlete. In this video, Gloria will share her story on how she got into the sport, her experiences in competitions, her love and passion for swimming, and more.

Rewind to a few months ago, we are tasked to rate our skills as media writes. And among the qualities listed, being industrious is the quality that I need to work on the most. I just realized that now that I’m in college, it is important to choose my spare time activities in a manner that enhances my brain function, instead of reducing it.

After Devcom 10, and Devcom 11, I rate myself as follows:

Curious or Inquisitive-1
Intelligent-2
Industrious-2
Resourceful-1
Persevering-1
Imaginative-1
Puts a premium on accuracy and truth-1
Loves to read-1
Interested in and loves people-1
Service-oriented-1

Given my ratings, there are still obstacles that keep me from developing these qualities. One possible reason is social media lurking because it becomes the most common types of communication for my generation. It’s a challenge to stop scrolling your news feed or story because it never ends.

For the skills a Media Writer should possess, I rate myself as follows:

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

Last time, for the skills of the media writer, I needed to work on my way of validating and clarifying information the most. Yes, it’s very easy nowadays to share information on social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook, almost anyone can publish their thoughts and share their stories to the world. But I realized that that’s just my excuse to not double-check the source of the material that I view online before I share it.

It hard for me to identify the source of news stories, particularly on the internet because of the growing number of people who spread fake news and alternative facts. But after Devcom 11, I learned some techniques in finding which sources are credible, so I think I made some progress.

It is true that during your college experience, you’re learning new skills. You’re able to listen to lectures and learn inside and outside the classrooms! In my case, my almost super classmates, my professors, and the forums I’ve attended are the ones contributed and helped to get through this semester.

I’ve learned to develop skills, such as organization, and self-discipline. And I began to understand the hows of complex subjects by thinking analytically and communicate them effectively. In order to improve our chances of success at school, we need to continually develop our skills and knowledge through listening to lectures and talks, attending forums, and engaging in several activities.

The people and events in the video above allowed me to grow and develop even further. There’s a lot of hard work involved, but it’s always good to prepare and improve ourselves.

Rewind to a few months ago, I never thought I could do it. But I made it through, and I learned so much. So, if you are struggling in some of the same ways I am, you definitely can do it too!

Just keep in my mind that if it’s knowledge, it can be acquired. If it’s a skill, it can be learned or improved. Nobody knows everything. Everyone needs further training, both in terms of gaining more knowledge and in terms of gaining additional skills. Be not afraid of growing slowly, progress is still progress.

Dala ang adbokasiyang ilapit sa mga mag-aaral ang siyensiya, teknolohiya at matematika, maging ang pagpapakilala ng STEM strand at mga scholarship ng DOST, isang linggong namalagi ang DOST NULAB BUS: STEM in MOTION and Science Explorer sa University of the Philippines Los Banos. Narito ang ilan sa mga kaganapan sa nasabing pagdalaw na hatid nina Pamela Hornilla, Maria Roliza Sophia Legion, Cherry Marie Baguilat at John Mark Ayap sa Unang Episode ng mas ekslusibo, hindi magpapatalo at masayang kuwentuhan sa SINSAY, TARA!

Narito ang ilan sa mga kaganapan sa CDCiklaban 2019 ng Kolehiyo ng Komunikasyong Pangkaunlaran na hatid nina Pamela Hornilla, Maria Roliza Sophia Legion, Cherry Marie Baguilat at John Mark Ayap sa Episode 2 ng mas ekslusibo, ‘di magpapatalo at masayang kuwentuhan sa SINSAY, TARA!

Gloria Therese Eusebio (or Thea) from Batch 2019 is known among her peers as the epitome of “Beauty and Brains”, and after recently competing in the Southern Tagalog Regional Association of State Universities and Colleges (STRASUC) Olympics in Batangas City last November 6 and 7, where she won 2 silver and 1 bronze medals for the swimming event, she has proven that she is also a skilled athlete. In this video, Gloria will share her story on how she got into the sport, her experiences in competitions, her love and passion for swimming, and more.

Interviewer: Alexandra Gesmundo
Videographers: Daniel Mapanoo
Gherald Navera
Members: Ray Anne Germia
Lawrence Neil Ebueña
Editor: John Gherald Navera

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LABAN PA, Self!

A post shared by Lawrence Neil (@abloyii) on Nov 20, 2019 at 6:01am PST

My life miles away from home just to pursue my dream of studying in the prestigious University of the Philippines has taught me a lot of inevitable things that will really occur as we grow, molding ourselves  to maturity. I was so excited to start another chapter my life in college last August but as my first semester goes by and is coming to end, I discovered a different version of that enthusiastic boy who entered the door of the College of Development Communication with overflowing optimism.  I am not saying that I lost those positive traits, but what I mean is that I learned some realities that only college will teach us. The four-month semester was filled with different emotions dwelling inside me and giving me a lot of anxieties affecting my core badly which sometimes brings me to the point of quitting, but our life journey is a roller coaster ride, thus, instead of giving up we have to learn from it. I had struggles and I have learned too, which I will hopefully use to become more inspired, fighting for my dreams. And so we have to:

 Be Strong but Never Pretend to be Okay Always!

                                Mostly of the freshmen who entered UP were the aces of their respective high schools and are expected to perform well. We are trained differently and are required to offer a lot of time for academics and so we put our best efforts to accomplish everything perfectly but sometimes we fail. I experienced it but I tried not to cry nor accept the failure but as time goes by, the burden in my heart gets heavier and has affected my performance negatively.  That was the time I allowed my self to cry and accept the fact that I cannot be a constant being, I have to grow and I have to face this new word that teaches us not only with technical knowledge but an attitude on how we deal those downhills of our lives. I have decided that as I go, to more semesters ahead, I should put in mind that we all have weaknesses and in order to handle them is through acceptance and being hopeful. It is okay to cry, to call for help and to stand again after a fall.

Engage yourself, don’t be an island!

                                I am an introvert. I am more comfortable with myself. I prefer to work alone and seldom go out of my room. But as the semester ends I found out it is not healthy. I missed a lot of moments (privilege moments) for a freshie to enjoy his stay in college. Which I think has contributed to why I oftentimes feel unhappy and anxious, which almost bring me to a decision of quitting. The university still have a lot of activities to be held on the coming semesters and it is never too late. I still have more opportunities to make more friends because I found out college is not an individual work it is like a group activity that requires collaboration to achieve our purpose.

Never Expect Everyone will stay!

                                As I said I am more comfortable alone, but I also have few friends who I thought will be my constant partners but the reality of life is not what I thought. You should not confine yourself to a certain group only, try to be with more people because college’s circle of friends is constantly changing every semester. Try to be more sociable and make a lot of connections because you are not just building multiple friendships but also preparing to a bigger world ahead. To more friendships, I go.

Let Saving be a Personal Mandate!

                                I am not talking about financial matters alone but also time. Regarding money, I am not used into budgeting because for the past 19 years I was dependent to my parents knowing that I spent my grade school and high school years with them. During my first weeks I am not in control of spending those bills and I keep on eating and purchasing things that are not necessarily needed until I run out of money in a blink of an eye. Maybe this semester my family can send me money whenever I ask for it but it is only applicable in the meantime, what if time comes that they run out of money ? On the other hand, we students, keep on complaining that we have limited time to finish everything we need to do but we allot more time using our phones and doing unimportant things rather than doing our requirements. This truly affects my study habit this semester negatively and I wish to change this attitude to become more productive and have less exhausting days in college.

 Trust Yourself

                                I graduated from a vocational high school, unlike my classmates who had their primary education spent in science- centered curriculum , catholic schools and/or known universities before UP. I get intimidated so much which really affect my confidence to participate during discussions. I always feel down after the exams and I do not volunteer in group works to handle big tasks because I believe I am not competent. But as our examination and other outputs have been rated, I found out that my scores is just the same as them. I never trusted myself and I always think negative about my capabilities. I forgot that we all passed the same entrance exam . That is why I decided to be more confident to participate and offer my ideas next semesters.

College life is truly difficult not as easy as “eating lugaw”. It requires a lot of time and effort but it offers us a lot of lessons to learn. It is not only about the theories and practices but the attitude and character that we’ll be using in our future professions. I have more semesters to survive and I am ever willing to learn from those experiences. Lastly, above all things in re-calibrating our future plans we must remain faithful and never forget to be the unique versions of thy selves.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B5oohbRlNEb/

Almost four months since I entered CDC I can still remember how I fear if I can survive Development Communication in my first semester. The pressure was added after the qualities and skills of a media writer was tackled in the lecture. I am not new to journalism and I also admit that my basic knowledge about writing was limited. It is not enough, knowing that I only write for print in my high school’s publication. Yet, I dared myself to be determined in learning new skills and allow myself to accumulate new ideas in enhancing my writing abilities.

It has always been my biggest predicament since grade school on how to become a keen reader. I only read what is needed for my academic requirements and it bores me lot looking into long blocks of paragraphs. But as a development-communicator-in-training it is my responsibility to practice this attitude which is apparently a big help for gathering data. With the goal that I should instill this character I tried and found out that the interest on reading is also a needed requirement in my other courses.

As the semester’s end approaches, I can already see progress on this personal matter but with a purpose that is not centered for becoming an excellent media writer but also on honing myself to become a critical thinker, as one of the main goals of the university to train their students. It is very essential that we practice reading religiously on our possible sources to produce a more credible and effective outputs. And also be responsible and ethical in everything that we share.

On the other hand when DEVC 11 laboratory exercises started we are immediately tasked to gather development- oriented information for our first journalistic output. I asked myself on that moment if I can, I was not confident if I can talk to several people to interview face-to-face including experts. At the same time I have to encourage myself because this is the path I wanted to pursue and so I tried and I was able to meet wonderful people who were so willing to assist and provide me the information I need.

In my journey as a new freshman of the College of Development Communication, I found out that the qualities and skills of a media writer were already present within us. We only need to trust ourselves and to have a deeper purpose on why we write. I also learned that a development communicator does not only write but we amplify the voice of those who cannot speak for themselves. For the last four months of writing for different media, the quality of having the interest to “read” and the skill on “gathering data” was my goal to achieve and I can say I am so near to fully embody them as part of my DevCom life.

This is only an introduction of the wider and deeper version of DevCom’s mission. But this stage of my pursuit to become an effective and clear writer was indeed an eye-opener to enhance the skills and qualities I am required- to deliver the accurate and purposive message to those who need to hear it. Until now I still consider myself undeserving to have a perfect rate but I am willing and will always be ready for more learnings, for me to become the Development Communicator I aspired to be.

May God Bless Everyone of Us!