Still a long journey

Then and Now Self Assessment

Months before, when I am writing for Weekly Writes Number 3, I was able to choose Perseverance and Writing clearly and effectively as the asset of media writer. As time passes by, I realized that having all the qualities is crucial in becoming a credible media writer.

Skills Now

In terms of skills I have improved in Gathering the data and Proficiency in tools. This is due to the main reason that I don’t have the gadgets to maximize my potentials before. Also, the mobile data usage limit also hinders me on practicing and surfing whenever I want. On the other two, it’s not that I did not improved yet but I still know to myself that I can’t be with that perfect level for now.

Qualities Now

I have rated myself now a perfect score on the majority because I really feel that the exercises and activities in my devcom courses really shapes me on becoming a qualified media writer. However, I still cannot rate myself perfect in Intelligent, Loves to read, Service-oriented, and Interested in and loves people because to be honest I am still not that confident on the knowledge I have. Also, I am still lazy to read books. Yet, I am service-oriented but still I cannot consider myself as someone who belong on the level 5, add the fact that I am not that totally inclined with socializing.

All in all, this first semester in BS Development Communication in UPLB really shaped me into a better me. This is only the beginning of my journey in Devcom and I am willing to face all the challenges.

My Collectbook

PRACTICING AND IMPROVING

Made with Canva

Euphoria

It always seems impossible until it’s done

Nelson Mandela

As I am writing this, I am lost in words because I felt like I got lost in touch with the time that I didn’t even notice that it’s already the end of the first semester and I somehow managed to survive it. 

Looking back to the state of myself when I entered this course, I am a lost duck, with no friends, and no confidence in myself. I had this negative voice in my head that keeps talking about how I will not be able to finish my first semester. I am not ready and I am not fit for the standards of UP.

As we proceed.

Everything has to come on an end. This time, the semester reaches its final phase of the school calendar. We are on the bridge of closing it out and saying goodbye. But before everything else, we should also reflect on everything we have done and achieve before we proceed. 

It has been a roller coaster ride of events since the start of the semester, being in a new environment and being able to meet new people, experience more and achieve what we think is unachievable. We experience the greatest and the worst of all and being able to stand until the end is a job well done already. 

As I write my Week 3 entry for the Weekly Writes, I said that I am in the middle of everything a media writer should possess. The different aspects a development communicator-in-training must embody is far from what I am before the semester starts, or as I am starting my journey as a development communicator. 

For the tribute, I have reflected on the things I pointed out in my entry and thinking of my current place in the landscape of media writing, I can say that I was able to reach something. 

My whole point in my Week 3 entry pertains to the fight for credibility, authenticity and uniqueness. Since the start of the pandemic, people have been reliant on social media where they see and read different information. Being bombarded with overwhelming information, they cannot identify what is true to what is not. 

Before I started this school year, I was able to start my fight against disinformation and debunking fake news that is timely and prevalent. Now that the semester is about to end, after my first five months in UP, I was able to find different avenues and with the help of being in this prestige school, I was able to encourage and influence others to believe to what I am pointing out. 

One of the current landscapes I was able to adhere to in the battle of credibility and authenticity is with the help of UP Community Broadcasters’ Society and their partnership with Leader Ka K!, a youth oriented educational magazine airing on radio, and online every second Saturday of the month. While I was able to be part of the production team of the final episode for its current season, I was opened to the scrutiny of the team and the validity they are critical about when doing the overall production.

With the help of the UP ComBroadSoc, I was able to participate in that socio-civic experience that is also one practice to what field I want when I graduate from the university. Though it isn’t the major role I want to take, I still am grateful to have a task connected in disseminating the information Radyo DZLB wants to give to people.

After all, this semester has pointed out different things to me. It gave me life-long lessons and introduced me to the people who I know, will be beneficial for my growth and development. With this, this is the review in the current semester as we proceed. 

First Sem Done✓

https://www.canva.com/design/DAE0wqxR3s0/cajg1h4gjBUSEi_tMNbAJw/view?utm_content=DAE0wqxR3s0&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

This whole semester is bomb, a lot happened and in week three I mostly explained how I am still adapting to the new environment with an online set-up. Baby steps are important, every step takes you somewhere farther from your starting place, but looking back I can say I have come so far. Being a freshman is not easy especially in the current set-up, there are a lot of hindrances that blocks my way, it is hard to stay focus and stay motivated, I experienced a lot of mental breakdowns that I never knew I would experience but if I look at the bigger picture, I have observe how these things honed me to be a stronger person. 

I got to harness some skills, I became much more resourceful and I started to love reading about stuff. For some, I may not provide a significant and a lot of achievements in the past months, but I believe that I did a lot and exerted a lot of effort to learn. These little improvements are what accounts, as long as I keep taking a step forward no matter how small, it will take me somewhere.

I learned that it is not a race, that you have your own pace just find where you are comfortable. Do not pressure yourself and burden yourself with too much overthinking, it will not help. I am still working on myself and my skills as a Devcom student, that is why I am also preparing myself for the upcoming battles that I must face.

Malory of Batangas: Hiking the First Semester

If my 16-year-old were to look at where I am now, I don’t know if she’ll be satisfied and happy for me. But, I know that the person I was last September 2021 would be more than proud at the situation of my to-do list and my mental state.

Ay s’ya tama na ang Ingles at ako’y gahis nang mag-Batanguenang Tagalog. Kung inyong nabasa ang aking unang blog dito ay mababasa n’yong isang malaking hakbang ng pakikipagsapalaran ang aking ginawa. Mula sa STEM strand at sa mga hilig na naka-angkla sa agham, pinili kong pumasok sa UP at kuhanin ang program na Development Communication.

Simula noong naging pamilyar ako sa DevCom, ang tanging naiisip ko lang talaga ay isa itong paraan para matupad ang munting pangarap kong makapag-ambag sa larangan ng journalism.

Totoo naman. Kaso ay napakababaw pa ng pagpapakahulugan kong ito.

Mula sa mga linggong nagdaan, sa mga aralin sa DEVC 11 at DEVC 10, nagkaroon ako ng panibagong pagpapakahulugan sa Development Communication.

Ang Development Communication ay hindi lamang nalilimita sa gawaing pangsulatin. Hindi lamang ito para sa mga media companies at para sa pangkatuwaang pagsulat lamang.

Sa likod ng kaliwa’t kanang mga sulatin, nakaratay ang dahilan at rason kung paano nakapagpapatuloy ang isang development communicator, at ito ay ang kagustuhan at kakayanan ng isang development communicator na maging kinatawan ng mga mamamayan para ang kaunlaran na para sa kanila.

Sa likod ng mga news stories at radio and tv productions ay nahihimlay ang mga katangian ng mga development communicators na kung wala ito ay hindi lubusang maituturing ang mga media outputs bilang produkto ng mga development communicator.

Hindi man ako naging sobrang aktibo sa mga synchronous sessions, malaki ang naging kaibahan ng pagtingin ko sa Devcom noon at ngayon. Nito ko rin napagtanto kung gaano ako ka-swak sa pagiging isang development communicator, mula sa mga traits and skills na napag-aralan sa DEVC 11.

Marami, kung hindi lahat, ay nakikita kong naipakikita ko kahit sa mumunting paraan. Ngunit ang pagiging service-oriented ang siguradong sigurado ako na taglay ko. Katulad ng palagi kong sinasabi, masarap sa feeling ang maglingkod sa mga tao at makita at marinig kung gaano kalaki ang naitutulong ng paglilingkod sa kapwa.

Kung noong simula ng semestre ay mayroon akong tunnel vision na para sa career na broadcasting at journalism lamang ang devcom para sa akin, ngayong patapos na ang semestre ay nagiba ang tunnel na ito at naipakita sa akin kung gaano kalawak ang abot at ang maiaambag ng mga development communicators sa mga mamamayan at bansa.

Hindi naging madali ang unang semestreng ito pero bilang isang Batanguenang may natural na taglay na kayabangan, maipagmamalaki ko kung gaano ako lumago bilang isang tao, estudyante, at development communicator in training.

Inakyat at bumaba ako sa mga panahong kinakailangan at handang-handa na akong tapusin pa ang kung ano ang nasa harapn ko upang makapagpatuloy.

Turning Over a New Leaf

How do you say goodbye to your former self?

A New Beginning at the End of The Road

A lot of things can change even in just a few months.

This is what my mother told me when I tried to plan my debut when I was only 16 years old. I thought I knew everything and that I had everything figured out. I refused to believe that anything that would happen in the next few months or even in the next couple of years would affect my desires at that very moment. However, when I turned 18, the pandemic happened. Life sure does have a way of humbling you just when you think that you finally have everything figured out.

The anecdote above is what I remembered as I was reading an entry I made on October 4, 2021, now, January 16, 2022. I was reading my reflections regarding development communication and development communicators and it made me think of two things. It made me think of both how far I have come and how much farther I have to journey. In October 2021, I mentioned that I believed that the most important quality of a media writer was perseverance. Perseverance in terms of writing because of how media writers are bound to experience roadblocks in one way or another. Additionally, I said that perseverance was also important due to the fact that media writers had to persevere to uphold their integrity. My thoughts and stands remain the same however, I would like to add more to this. 

Over the past semester, I was able to experience what it was like to be a media writer. It was challenging and at times even draining. However, the lessons this experience has taught me will forever be etched in my mind and will continue to be of use for the rest of my life. In addition to perseverance, a trait that I believe is important for media writers to possess is sincerity. One can only go so far if one runs on the desire to please others — this goes for life and in writing. It is important to be true to yourself and to be sincere when writing because it is here where one’s morals and one’s person are showcased. Even sincerity in expressing one’s struggles is important because it gives a media writer a sense of relatability to their audience. Each individual faces battles and your expression of your struggles could be the source of strength of your readers. 

As for the most important skill of media writers, I mentioned that I believe it was crucial that media writers possess the skill of writing clearly and effectively. This was due to the fact that media writers had mediums that could reach people far and wide. Thus, it was important for media writers to possess this skill in order for their work to be able to cater to more people. As of now, I cannot agree with this point even more. As media writers and especially as development communicators-in-training, there will come a time where we will be facing communities in dire need of development. The works we create and the things we do will be for these communities. Thus, it is crucial for us to possess the skill of clear and effective writing so that underdevelopment does not serve as a barrier to being able to consume media works as any other person would.

Throughout my first semester journey in the BS Development Communication program, I have created and learned a multitude of things. As for the things  I have created, I have created roadmaps, various publication materials, articles, and even a TikTok video. I believe the things  I have created in turn made me a better person than I was a few months ago because these creations shaped my habits, my skills, and my patience.

In addition to this, I too have learned a lot. I have learned trivial things such as if you open the Zoom application exactly when class starts, you will be late for class because you will struggle to enter the passcode at least twice. Or, the day you decide you want to try your chance at singing is the day your microphone randomly decides to unmute during a synchronous session. As for the more serious lessons, I have learned that one must be humble in the field of development communication. One must be humble enough to know that despite your best efforts, you will not be able to solve everyone’s problems. Humble enough to know that you will not be a savior of the people but a servant of the people. And last, but definitely not the least, no matter how long or brief you have been in this field, you will always have room to grow.

I believe that I have exhibited a significant amount of growth this semester. I have acquired new skills and have learned new things from both my professors and peers however I know that the road ahead is long. I still have a lot of growing to do and I am more than eager to face life’s challenges head-on. This will be my last entry for a while, so please do wish me luck as I go about my DevCom journey!

First Semester #DevComFever

Updated Self-assessment: