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These are the notes to remember for another semester that is coming. These are the things that I should have used/done efficiently before, but I was lacking. And it is better to reflect to avoid another mistake and be wiser the second time. 

A planner is a life-saver

Life duties would be somehow manageable if I had a planner. I was not aware that I would be of need of a planner since I am used to remembering my schedule. But it would not work here in UP. Everyone has tons of obligations that he/she should fulfill later on. And, it has to meet the deadline or else, the work would be less than what you think is its worth. In other words, to avoid missed activities and such, remember to use a planner. It does not mean that you only have to use it, but the more important is, you have done your work promptly through your well-planned and organized schedule.

Finish the work first before the reward

In most cases, we tend to tell ourselves that for us to work well, we first need motivation. It is something that would freshen us up just like watching our favorite TV series, before taking a moment to outline the paper that is to be submitted. And because of that constant alibi, we are always on the edge of cramming. Instead of already revising the work, it would only be the time that you will be thinking of how to start it. It is the habit that we should take focus on to be changed. More time and space create more productive work. 

Study when it’s time to study

I would suggest that if you’re studying for exams, you should avoid taking another task at the same time. It would not be working the way you think it works. Multitasking would eat much time since you have no focus on either task. In that way, instead of working faster for efficiency, you are then consuming more time to a lesser fruitful.

Grab every incentive

It means more incentives, more chances of pulling your grades up, and more additional outdoor learning. Try to attend every activity as much as possible. There’s always good karma that awaits you, after all. It’s a win-win situation. You have gain learning and experiences outside the four corners of the room, you have met professionals aside from your professors, and you have extra credit for attending. It serves as the door for more opportunities that both the college and university will provide for you to grow up and be more ready for the real-life outside the campus.

Stay motivated

Wake up motivated and end your day motivated as well. It is helpful to have the motivation to strive harder and work best every time. It ignites your capability and ability as a person. It drives you to do more and explore things that you’re not comfortable with to better assess yourself. It makes you optimistic. It keeps you away from the feeling of lacking and unloved and being not enough for your dreams.So, always think of why you started: your purpose and goals. At the same time, remember how you started: what you are today because of what you accomplished yesterday and the previous years in your life.  

First semester done, more semesters to come. More experiences, learning, and challenges will come and test us. Better to be equipped with the learning from the past, gifts of the present, and hopes and dreams for the future. 

https://drive.google.com/drive/u/1/folders/1MP7AxJ20ULs3__JWqj3hCUIti3_R0sqp

I am so proud of you for surviving your first semester in UPLB. That was not easy but you made it through. Keep all the lessons in mind and the learning experiences in the heart.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZXtuYc6lGB8c1BY1Oej28k4Nbq1y7tnu/view

1. Believe in yourself

Clichés are clichés for a reason. Yes, UP will break you, tear you down and make you new. During the moments where you feel like you are not good enough, please know that you actually are. Stop comparing yourself to other people. Your journey is different than them. You have something in you that no one ever has. Just keep on believing in yourself and to the fact that you are in UP for a reason. You are worthy and you can accomplish great things.

2. Be mature and responsible enough

Not in a sense that you will lose your sense of wonder but to the idea that you are now an adult. Your family trusts you that you are capable enough to make wise decisions for yourself. Decisions that can help you grow as a person. Being independent and far away from your comfort zone gives you the opportunity to know yourself better. Be responsible in managing your time, your allowance, your tasks and even your emotions.

3. Friends can make your day 10 times better!

You never know the meaningful friendship you can make by just saying ‘Hi’ to your seatmate in a class. I am thankful that my schedule coincidentally matches with some of the most amazing people in the university – my super classmates. I don’t think this first semester of adjusting in ‘the UP life’ would be as fun as it is without them. I loved that we were able to lift each other up in our academics. No competition just pure family. I will miss our lunch and dinners together. The endless rants and laughter. As a new semester begins, do not be afraid to make friends with people. They can help you grow in more ways you could ever imagine.

4. Stay healthy

You are UP students because you have the responsibility to serve the nation in the future. This will only made possible if we look out for our health often. UP Hell weeks composed of multiple exams, group projects and papers in a tight deadline will force you to stay up late (or no sleep at all), intoxicate your system with caffeine, and experience panic attacks. With all the stress and pressure, you sometimes can’t help to breakdown. Cry if you must but get back up again. Do not beat yourself too much. Health must be your number one priority. Take time to rest and relax. Eat fruits and vegetables and avoid junk foods. Do some physical activity every once in a while. Maintaining a healthy spirituality is equally important.

5. All will be worth it someday

All these hardships will pay off someday. Maybe we couldn’t see the silver lining as of today but someday, everything will make sense. Keep on striving and pushing yourself. There are more challenges to come and more struggles to endure. Keep fighting like a true Iskolar ng Bayan!

PADAYON!

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVib6AZFYkqD7sb1dg0mYenidJxbOXOu/view

LEARNING MADE EXTRA FUN!

The Science Explorer and nuLab Buses have arrived at the University of the Philippines Los Baños!

Group (BINHI):

Kate Abulad
Marian Illinon
Louisse Parado
Shann Elyse Pasion
Mark Genesis Topinio
Maria Thresha Ursolino

“Pasko, pasko, pasko na naman muli!“

It’s Christmas time everywhere, and it’s more evident in UPLB as the grand display in front of the campus is officially opened. This year’s Christmas tree lighting had the biggest audience in the history of the traditional ceremony.

Kaye Galler, Cedric Katigbak, Krsitina Perez, and Karen Vargas, freshmen of the College of Development Communication, show the most awaited Christmas event in UPLB on the 2nd episode of UPdates.

Who said that learning is static and will never be fun?

Learning can be more fun and interactive with DOST’s nuLab!

Roella Marcelle Bautista, Kaye Galler, Cedric Katigbak, Kristina Perez, and Karen Vargas, freshmen of the College of Development Communication, showcase the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute’s nuLab or the new mobile science learning facility in UPLB as the 3rd episode of UPdates.

It is so good to reflect about all the wrong things you have done during the semester. XD

Lemme start to be hypocrite right now. heheheh

As I always say in this blog, it is my second year in the university, I should know more than my classmates with all the pasikot-sikot in the university. But why am I keep on failing to do stuff I should do.

Well, another semester is about to start.

These FIVE Things I should consider doing once more are tips or should I say what kept me sane during my stay in the university.

1 SET YOUR PRIORITIES

This is where I am failing. I have been trying to make lists, like post it notes, notes in my phone, and all those stuff but I still end up being sabog. I HATE IT.

So hey, Miko. Set your priorities first. It isnt so hard. ACADS >>>>>>> Lakads

Knowing what to focus on will make you do your tasks in order. Give time to more urgent work, if it can’t be finished in one sitting, try to do small tasks in between which do not need too much effort. After doing such, continue focusing on that big thing. You do not realize that you are creating progress little by little.

small progress count!

Ain’t it fun that you’re slowly getting rid of the things that you need to do when you put focus accordingly??? IT IS FUN!

You’re doing it right now, Miko. Go on!!!

2 DO NOT CRAM!!!!!

You’re doing it right now, Miko. You are CRAMMING! Yakkk

I mean, you had a lot of time these past few days to do this, but you just laid down. Hibernated yourself. Now, you’re doing it. But yeah, as i have said in the first tip, progress is progress.

I believe we got enough time to study, and do all the things if we try to make our priorities matter. So, yeah. I feel like this should be in the first tip, but whatever.

Just remember that you are not a robot

Take time, at least a week in doing your academics. It is literally NASA HULI ANG PAGSISISI if you looked at your exam paper and realized that if you have studied well and gave time to review, all should have been well.

3 SOCIALIZE

Maybe, some people can live by themselves. But you CAN’T. Talk to people. It will be your job in the future.

I know myself to be like talks to people if they talk to me first. But that seeks arrogance, and/or coldness. I know I am not, but that is how people perceive you to be before they go to know you.

You need people to be with in college, or even in your classroom. Last semester, you do no have a same classmate in any of your subjects, it was quite hard being alone. You do not have someone whom you can ask assignments to. SO yeah, improve your socialization skill. You will need that.

4 POWER DRESS DURING EXAMS

I know this might a little bit petty, but since my freshie days, I tried to dress a little better during exams. I do not know, it gives me a little confidence. Ika nga-

babagsak akong pogi

But of course, I do not like to fail. This added confidence because of what I am wearing kind of helped me during these sad times. Sometimes, I do not have time to mourn after some exams, so looking good (in my perception) helps.

CONTINUE DOING SO! Until I GRADUATE!

5 REST IF YOU MUST

Right now. YOU NEED REST.

bye

In our second week entry of our Weekly Writes, we had to evaluate our current skills as a media writer. This time around, we have to evaluate and see how much we have changed and, hopefully, improved!

In my second week entry, I gave myself modest scores. Because I was sure there was still room for growth, I could not give myself a reason to evaluate myself with an uno! Now around after four grueling months and a semester’s worth of work done, I evaluate myself as having the same grades—more or less. Just a single semester’s worth of subjects won’t be able to change me drastically! But, at the very least, I’m sure I improved even if just by a little.

Now, I am sure I most improved in my skills as a media writer. Though I can’t quite quantify it, I improved a bit, but stayed at around the same grade level.
I would say I improved my skills in gathering data and organizing information the most. Plenty of revisions and drafts from my exercises contributed to polishing my skills!

As for my qualities as a media writer, the same case still applies. I don’t think I improved by a drastic margin. However, I’m sure I still improved—in small or large ways. By actually being a media writer, I was able to see the importance of these qualities and work on them!

And the greatest lesson I have learned so far is: Write Clearly and Effectively! I always thought that writing in a complex way was better. That if I would add fancy sounding words from the thesaurus, I would write better. However, that is not the case! I learned to write simply, get my point across immediately, and to write clearly.
To quote Nathaniel Hawthorne, “Easy reading is damn hard writing.”

Just one semester ago, I was dreaming of becoming a UP student. Now, here I am about to finish a semester in my dream university! Despite the pressure, time-management, and homesickness: I’m nearing the finish line. (Well, at least for this semester!) But still, I have still have a long road ahead.

I’m not the same person I was four months ago, to say the least; I’ve grown so much in the past months! And if I were to go able to advice my hopeful and eager self—giddy to get into UP, I would say:

1. Don’t be so pressured

UP is the premier university for most. Understandably, studying here carries great pressure for its students, me included. This is a lot easier said than done, but: PLEASE, DON’T WORRY TOO MUCH ABOUT THE PRESSURE. UP is still a university. It is a place to learn and grow.
Don’t worry about the failures, they are natural. Don’t worry about the pressure! Just go about things at your own pace… but please mind your time!

2. Explore the area

I used to eat only at eateries near Raymundo—I now regret that decision. To my former self, please eat around! Explore! There are a lot of things to do nearby. Please don’t limit your experiences to places near your dorm!

3. Stop procrastinating

I am what you would call a professional procrastinator. I have always carried this bad habit of mine throughout my life. Nonetheless, reminders never hurt anyone have they? So to myself one semester ago, PLEASE DO YOUR TASKS IMMEDIATELY! Your workload now is not the same as it was during high-school or senior high-school! And your tasks still won’t do themselves, unfortunately.

4. Befriend people!

People in UP come from all kinds of walks of life! They all have different stories to tell and all kinds of skills to provide! So please, befriend them! You never know what help you could get from them. And having a bigger circle could always help you!

5. Enjoy

You did it, you are in your dream university. Now please, don’t worry about the pressure, explore the place, make friends, do your tasks, and enjoy! You still have four or more years in the university! So don’t rush things and enjoy your student life!