These pictures are the result of our discussion in photojournalism under the close eye of Jimmy Domingo. During the Basic Online Writing Technique in Visayas State University from April 21-24, 2010.
This students are on their to quality education. the bridge will lead them to the College of Engineering where summer classes are currently held.
Visayas State University (VSU) - where beauty is at its best. VSU is situated between the mighty Pangasugan Mountain still with its virgin forest and the Camotes sea with its clear, clean and blue waters. VSU envisions to provide excellence in human capital with its quality education while providing its community with paradise-like environment.
The historical frogs of VSU. This is donated by class 1959-60 of VSU when its name was still Baybay Agricultural College. The water coming out from the mouth of the frogs has quenched the thirst of many students and visitors of VSU.
If I am to make a gadget, it would be a make-up-your-mind-danator. Why? Because I cant seem to make up my mind. I need a gadget so that when I hit a button, voila! A decision is made. Oh how I wish decision making would be this simple.
What is there to make up my mind for anyway? I needed to make up my mind whether to attend the Commitment Setting and Planning Workshop for the iSchools Writers in Manila or to go to Cebu or to finish checking the works of my students.
Just like anybody else, decision-making needs careful assessment of the consequences of saying yes or no. If I am to stay in school and continue checking the students’ works, I can submit grades on time but I will miss the opportunities and the responsibilities that entails of being an iSchools writer. And I love being a writer. If I am to go to Cebu and attend to my personal stuff, submission of grades will be delayed and I will still miss the meeting of the iSchools writers. Decisions… decisions…
That is why I need to invent my make-up-your-mind-danator. Kidding aside, I remember a quote by an American entertainer Peter Marshall.
“Give to us clear vision that we may know where to stand and what to stand for - because unless we stand for something, we shall fall for anything.”
So, I decided to attend the meeting in the University of the Philippines-Diliman. I made my stand. The meeting-workshop in Manila will give the participants like me a clear idea of how it is to be an iSchools writer. It will also point out the responsibilities and benefits that goes along with being a writer for iSchools. I know it would be difficult. I am pretty sure of it. But, I have to stand for something or else, I would surely fall for anything. See, the gadget did the trick! I arrived at a decision.
Off I traveled and arrived in Manila on the 14th of March. Attended the training on the 15th and met wit the other would-be iSchools writers. Others are determined to be a writer already while some, like me, are still caught up in the height of work and personal conflicts.
During the meeting, I finally come to terms with myself. An introduction made by Ms. Rosella Torrecampo, one of the training speakers, is from the Greek Oracle of Delphi, “Gnothi se auton.” In English, know thyself. Indeed! If I know myself better, it would not have been hard on my part to decide which is which. If I know myself better, I would know what things I should stand for. I would have known that I can multitask and I can work even under pressure.
Although I cut short by one day on the meeting to go to Cebu, I submitted the required outputs. While I was in Cebu, I checked my students’ works from time to time. All is well that ends well. I get to attend the workshop, I went to Cebu and I even managed to check the works of my students. The bonus is I get to know myself better and that is because I made my last stand: that is to fully accept of being an iSchools writer.
Have you experienced getting lost? Missing your flight schedule? Missing your place of destination?
Me? Yes i have! A number of times already.
Here is what is learned during those times.
1. Travel light when treading unfamiliar grounds.
It is so inconvenient to get lost with heavy things on your shoulders. The weight of your things adds to your annoyance and worries.
2. Do not panic. Stay calm.
When you are lost and you get panicked, the more that you will get lost. Your focus is on you being lost. Your effort should be on trying to analyze where you are..
3. Do not just ask anybody. Ask a police or somebody in uniform.
If you can find someone in uniform like a police or a teacher, it is much better to ask them and not the jeepney drivers. Some will try to convince you to just hire them for a fee. “Special trip”.
4. If you travel alone, make sure your cellphone has extra load and fully charged.
It makes you feel a little more confident and at ease if you know some of your friends and family are just a text and call away. Imagined being lost and not being able to call and text someone to ask for help and direction.
5. Pray for guidance and pray for wisdom.
Work like everything depends on you and pray like everything depends on God.
The writer is a faculty from the Department of Computer Science and Technology. She part of the iSchools team in the university. Call her "Magz" ... short for magazine.. hehehehe
Visayas State University (VSU) - where beauty is at its best. VSU is situated between the mighty Pangasugan Mountain still with its virgin forest and the Camotes sea with its clear, clean and blue waters. VSU envisions to provide excellence in human capital with its quality education while providing its community with paradise-like environment.
The historical frogs of VSU. This is donated by class 1959-60 of VSU when its name was still Baybay Agricultural College. The water coming out from the mouth of the frogs has quenched the thirst of many students and visitors of VSU.
