By Redentor Domingo and Carolyn Vitente
They say the end is near. December 21, 2012 to be exact.
They say that at the world’s end, balls of fire will plunge from the sky, to the vast expanse of this seemingly timeless planet…well, you know the picture right? Google 2012 and be sated to your heart’s content (and dread).
However, BulSUans are on a different radio frequency and seemed to have not heard the prophecy, because school is on! More often than not, singing ‘lalalala’ to school works infects majority of the student population, because deadlines are still weeks away. Yes, those are the things one may find schooling as fun and exciting. But student life isn't all about that.
At the end of the class, inside the four corners of a classroom, grades of incomplete and five pour down, flood of tears run the floor as dreams of having white collar jobs were denied, mouths of professors shut tight into a thin line. Grades are final, because any erasure makes the class card invalid. Half of the class was doomed and was on the edge of doom.
The fallen
Fire. Households and every structure are on fire, so are humans. You thought the vision of the world’s end is a sweeter dream than what lay before your eyes. You’d rather see fiery meteorites now than bear looking at the fiery circles on your class cards. As your faith falters, you comfort yourself that sometimes, the efforts and hardships we are giving out are not enough to triumph on every challenge and get through all the problems.
But sometimes, the mentality of assuming that one cannot do something is the reason why students don’t study well. Take it from a student from the College of future legal consultants, who felt half-hearted to study after getting a creepy failing mark on what seems to be everyone’s hated subject. Kate had always accepted that it is something she can’t prevail on no matter how hard she tries.
“Sabay-sabay kasi ‘yong requirements and projects no’n. Saka ayoko talaga ng Math, ayoko talaga, sobrang naiinis ako… Alam mo ‘yong bino-block na agad ng isip [ko] na mahirap [Mathematics],” she stated.
Adding to her cargo is being a waged student. For her, it’s an excess baggage for all her academic responsibilities, most especially, in terms of time management. It was almost a dog-tired cycle of life for her, with her ending not only unable to survive,but worn out from the cycle, too.
“’Yong tipong na-bu-burn out na ako. Kunwari pagkagaling sa bahay, 7am ang klase hanggang hapon, uuwi lang ako para magpalit ng damit, galing sa byahe sobrang pagod tapos diretso na ‘agad ako sa duty,” Kate complained.
Almost the same reasoning has caused Buddy to slack off on studying at some point of his student life. From the college where pretty faces are a common sight, Buddy stated that his dislike of the subject is one of the factors that contributed to his academic downfall.
“Ang hirap kasi no’ng logic tapos ang dami pang activities. Kapag nagka-klase ‘di ako nakikinig. Kapag may exam ‘di ako nag- aaral. Tapos lagi pang 7am ang klase, ‘yon, nang magtagal ‘di na ‘ko pumapasok. Bumagsak ako.”
He also admitted that he spends most of his time at night in front of the computer, mainly on lurking at social networking sites until crack of dawn.This resulted to late coming into class, and worse, not coming into class at all. Aside from the red circle on his Logic class card, Buddy also got an incomplete mark in another subject.
“Kapag naaalalako ’yong kapalpakan ko nahihiya ako sa parents ko kaya ngayon may burning torch nasa akin na bumawi. Hindi na ‘ko nag-e-fb ‘pag gabi at okay rin kasi afternoon lagi ang klase ko,” added Buddy, who is now working with his incomplete mark.
But sometimes, even the students who literally do not sleep because of congested life during hell weeks fail to find the worth of their hard works. Take it from Jake, not his real name, second year broadcasting major who was laid down by sickness during his salvation struggle.
“Ilang araw na kasi akong walang tulog no’n, as in pagod na pagod at puyat na puyat na ako. Sabay-sabay kasi lahat ng works no’n sa lahat ng subjects. Literal,” he said.
Jake started to work on his ventures earlier to avoid the pressure brought by time to him and to his classmates. He can also remember whirling at ease at the first weeks of school, because he whole-heartedly assumed that his course would never be that nerve wrecking, mind-boggling and most especially time demanding.
“No’ng time na para sa defense ng research paper namin, hinika ako dahil sa sobrang pagod, ‘di tuloy ako nakasama, hanggang sa nakatanggap ako ng incomplete grade,” Jake ended.
The Conquerors’ Escape
But when the evaded times of troubles came, and all the Earth is measured against terror and horror, the sky and Heavens will light up, and brightness will come into view saving all the survivors whose faith was ever strong. Strength and desire to outstand will be paid back, and lessons from wrong doings will be learned, as shortcomings will be forgiven. And when you see the finish product of your work, what you have accomplished,it feels like all of your efforts have brought back exceptional compliment to you, plus a big ‘S’ for survival.
Renz Vila, a Mass Communication student, confessed the torment he had encountered when most of his subjects demanded for its requirements such as role playing in History, Psychology and Filipino, service for NSTP, and math exam all within the whole week. In addition, the three-months-in-the-making thesis in English was one-of-a-kind for him because such required all his effort, energy, and time for its betterment.
“Hindi na ako nakakapagpahinga no’n kahit naka-plano na ‘yong oras ko. Sa dami kasi ng gawain wala na akong oras sa pagpapahinga. Pinaka-late kong tulog no’n, two o’ clock. Swerte na ako no’n kapag nakapagpahinga ako ng ala-una,” Vila added.
Sacrifices were another spice for his uphill struggle which, for him, means no texts, no luring to net, dust-to-dawn reviews and a tight time management. But he must admit that all of these, plus a cup of coffee, were effective tools for him to build a ladder towards his goals and his reason to pursue.
"Scholar ako e. Kailangan ko pagbutihan. Nakakahiya naman sa nagpapaaral sa akin kung do'n lang e susuko na ako 'di ba? Pero kahit naman 'di ako scholar, as a student-- a college student, dapat pa ring magpatuloy kahit madami at sabay-sabay ang ginagawa,” Renz said, adding that seeing that he can actually work beyond his capabilities if he wanted to is also what triggers him to go on and not let himself to be left out.
If the words of the students have given enlightenment, the teachers who have dispensed them knowledge also have something to share to inspire the youth in time of crisis.
“I used to study smart and study hard… ang ginagawa ko on-the-spot study, kung ano tinuturo ng prof ko jina-jot down ko kaagad at hangga’t maaari ginagawan ko ng acronyms, halimbawa funny phrases. Kasi kapag nakakatawa mas medaling matandaan, ‘pag boring ‘di medaling maalala,” shared Computer Technology Instructor Real Cabuyan.
Truth behind the doomed
In a survey that Pacesetter conducted, 87% of the students surveyed said that they have experienced week/s of hell, and for some, weeks of extreme cramming just when school works come in surge and pile-up like mountains of hazardous wastes on Payatas. So when everything starts to crumble down,when every student is cramming his or her way to get out of the nightmare scenario, a dot of light is a life raft amidst the vast darkness covering one’s whole being.
The Director of Guidance Center, Dr. LolitaTrani, shared her expert opinion about the mentality of students towards school works. She stated that this kind of mentality of being discouraged to study could be the fruit of experiences in the past.
“Usually, bunga ng traumatic experience ‘yon; nagsimula no’ng elementary, high school, at hanggang ngayong college dala-dala pa rin nila ang failure na ‘yon or anxiety. So,we cannot blame then ‘cause maybe their parents are not supportive or not a financer. Pero actually ang totoo maraming reason: ‘yong walang pamasahe, hindi inaasikaso ng magulang, separated; wala silang inspiration. Bukod sa financially handicapped ‘yon ah,” Trani stated.
Moreover, according to the Guidance Center director, we cannot deny the fact that there are students who have a lower IQ compared to others, which really makes them feel unarmed in the battle of the fittest. And this is an essential factor to consider. “This is a factor of insecurity in the classroom. Ayaw nila ng mapahiya, kaya once na napahiya na sila sa isang guro, ayaw na,” Trani added.
Nevertheless, Trani guarantees that a good dose of motivation can surely help them overcome their insecurity.
Walking the path to redemption
Thus, BulSU Guidance Center wants to spread help to those who undergo such difficulties, whether academically, socially, or mentally. Furthermore, tips on how to study effectively were on the leaflets the Center has been freely giving, which will surely help you on how to study more effectively.
For once, don't spend more than one hour at a time on one subject. That will surely bore, won't it? As much as possible, don't try to render 20 to 30 minutes on each subject for straight memorization. It will be more time conserving if you will make a distinct time limit for each and stick to it. Or try to learn in short takes so that you can have longer time for breaks and relaxation.
Another is to avoid studying during sleepy times. No help if your eyelids are heavy while reading your references, it interrupts you like a long black curtain covering those lazy windows of wisdom. Work against the clock. It's always good to study when you are fresh and acquiring what you are memorizing will be much easier unless you don't understand it!
Studying on your most productive time is a good thing, too.This includes your free time, but not while having your friend over the phone for gossiping, or lurking around the mall for crush hunting. Try to work on things as long as there is time available for your studies. For example, if you had a discussion, jot down notes and review it afterwards for the material will abruptly sink in to your mind. Advance reading will also be a great help so when exams come near - No sweat!
Another tip is to memorize actively not passively. Use as many of your senses as possible. Attempt to make visualization on your mind. Imagery is one good way to recollect concept, relative facts, and logical tie-in of whatever study you are into. You may use sounds (auditory sense), in which you say the terms loudly upon listening to yourself while saying them.
Of course, keep your mind alert by taking frequent rest breaks. Ten-minute break between subjects is of less exhaustion. Why don't you spend more time on the subjects where your marks are low? Start with the most boring subject or hardest one or work toward the easiest one and/or the one you like best. Good idea, isn't it?
Studying is not easy, it will never be. But it will become harder and bring us on the edge of doom if we allow it to. Now, you don’t want to be hit by fiery circles on your class cards, right? Requirements, exams, and projects are norms in this stage of our lives. These things construct us and build our foundations of being future career men of our nation and of our world. These challenges are just pre-tests that will be the key for our future success. And at the end of the day, no matter how hard it has been, you can proudly say that you made it. Who says the end is here?
They say the end is near. December 21, 2012 to be exact.
They say that at the world’s end, balls of fire will plunge from the sky, to the vast expanse of this seemingly timeless planet…well, you know the picture right? Google 2012 and be sated to your heart’s content (and dread).
However, BulSUans are on a different radio frequency and seemed to have not heard the prophecy, because school is on! More often than not, singing ‘lalalala’ to school works infects majority of the student population, because deadlines are still weeks away. Yes, those are the things one may find schooling as fun and exciting. But student life isn't all about that.
At the end of the class, inside the four corners of a classroom, grades of incomplete and five pour down, flood of tears run the floor as dreams of having white collar jobs were denied, mouths of professors shut tight into a thin line. Grades are final, because any erasure makes the class card invalid. Half of the class was doomed and was on the edge of doom.
The fallen
Fire. Households and every structure are on fire, so are humans. You thought the vision of the world’s end is a sweeter dream than what lay before your eyes. You’d rather see fiery meteorites now than bear looking at the fiery circles on your class cards. As your faith falters, you comfort yourself that sometimes, the efforts and hardships we are giving out are not enough to triumph on every challenge and get through all the problems.
But sometimes, the mentality of assuming that one cannot do something is the reason why students don’t study well. Take it from a student from the College of future legal consultants, who felt half-hearted to study after getting a creepy failing mark on what seems to be everyone’s hated subject. Kate had always accepted that it is something she can’t prevail on no matter how hard she tries.
“Sabay-sabay kasi ‘yong requirements and projects no’n. Saka ayoko talaga ng Math, ayoko talaga, sobrang naiinis ako… Alam mo ‘yong bino-block na agad ng isip [ko] na mahirap [Mathematics],” she stated.
Adding to her cargo is being a waged student. For her, it’s an excess baggage for all her academic responsibilities, most especially, in terms of time management. It was almost a dog-tired cycle of life for her, with her ending not only unable to survive,but worn out from the cycle, too.
“’Yong tipong na-bu-burn out na ako. Kunwari pagkagaling sa bahay, 7am ang klase hanggang hapon, uuwi lang ako para magpalit ng damit, galing sa byahe sobrang pagod tapos diretso na ‘agad ako sa duty,” Kate complained.
Almost the same reasoning has caused Buddy to slack off on studying at some point of his student life. From the college where pretty faces are a common sight, Buddy stated that his dislike of the subject is one of the factors that contributed to his academic downfall.
“Ang hirap kasi no’ng logic tapos ang dami pang activities. Kapag nagka-klase ‘di ako nakikinig. Kapag may exam ‘di ako nag- aaral. Tapos lagi pang 7am ang klase, ‘yon, nang magtagal ‘di na ‘ko pumapasok. Bumagsak ako.”
He also admitted that he spends most of his time at night in front of the computer, mainly on lurking at social networking sites until crack of dawn.This resulted to late coming into class, and worse, not coming into class at all. Aside from the red circle on his Logic class card, Buddy also got an incomplete mark in another subject.
“Kapag naaalalako ’yong kapalpakan ko nahihiya ako sa parents ko kaya ngayon may burning torch nasa akin na bumawi. Hindi na ‘ko nag-e-fb ‘pag gabi at okay rin kasi afternoon lagi ang klase ko,” added Buddy, who is now working with his incomplete mark.
But sometimes, even the students who literally do not sleep because of congested life during hell weeks fail to find the worth of their hard works. Take it from Jake, not his real name, second year broadcasting major who was laid down by sickness during his salvation struggle.
“Ilang araw na kasi akong walang tulog no’n, as in pagod na pagod at puyat na puyat na ako. Sabay-sabay kasi lahat ng works no’n sa lahat ng subjects. Literal,” he said.
Jake started to work on his ventures earlier to avoid the pressure brought by time to him and to his classmates. He can also remember whirling at ease at the first weeks of school, because he whole-heartedly assumed that his course would never be that nerve wrecking, mind-boggling and most especially time demanding.
“No’ng time na para sa defense ng research paper namin, hinika ako dahil sa sobrang pagod, ‘di tuloy ako nakasama, hanggang sa nakatanggap ako ng incomplete grade,” Jake ended.
The Conquerors’ Escape
But when the evaded times of troubles came, and all the Earth is measured against terror and horror, the sky and Heavens will light up, and brightness will come into view saving all the survivors whose faith was ever strong. Strength and desire to outstand will be paid back, and lessons from wrong doings will be learned, as shortcomings will be forgiven. And when you see the finish product of your work, what you have accomplished,it feels like all of your efforts have brought back exceptional compliment to you, plus a big ‘S’ for survival.
Renz Vila, a Mass Communication student, confessed the torment he had encountered when most of his subjects demanded for its requirements such as role playing in History, Psychology and Filipino, service for NSTP, and math exam all within the whole week. In addition, the three-months-in-the-making thesis in English was one-of-a-kind for him because such required all his effort, energy, and time for its betterment.
“Hindi na ako nakakapagpahinga no’n kahit naka-plano na ‘yong oras ko. Sa dami kasi ng gawain wala na akong oras sa pagpapahinga. Pinaka-late kong tulog no’n, two o’ clock. Swerte na ako no’n kapag nakapagpahinga ako ng ala-una,” Vila added.
Sacrifices were another spice for his uphill struggle which, for him, means no texts, no luring to net, dust-to-dawn reviews and a tight time management. But he must admit that all of these, plus a cup of coffee, were effective tools for him to build a ladder towards his goals and his reason to pursue.
"Scholar ako e. Kailangan ko pagbutihan. Nakakahiya naman sa nagpapaaral sa akin kung do'n lang e susuko na ako 'di ba? Pero kahit naman 'di ako scholar, as a student-- a college student, dapat pa ring magpatuloy kahit madami at sabay-sabay ang ginagawa,” Renz said, adding that seeing that he can actually work beyond his capabilities if he wanted to is also what triggers him to go on and not let himself to be left out.
If the words of the students have given enlightenment, the teachers who have dispensed them knowledge also have something to share to inspire the youth in time of crisis.
“I used to study smart and study hard… ang ginagawa ko on-the-spot study, kung ano tinuturo ng prof ko jina-jot down ko kaagad at hangga’t maaari ginagawan ko ng acronyms, halimbawa funny phrases. Kasi kapag nakakatawa mas medaling matandaan, ‘pag boring ‘di medaling maalala,” shared Computer Technology Instructor Real Cabuyan.
Truth behind the doomed
In a survey that Pacesetter conducted, 87% of the students surveyed said that they have experienced week/s of hell, and for some, weeks of extreme cramming just when school works come in surge and pile-up like mountains of hazardous wastes on Payatas. So when everything starts to crumble down,when every student is cramming his or her way to get out of the nightmare scenario, a dot of light is a life raft amidst the vast darkness covering one’s whole being.
The Director of Guidance Center, Dr. LolitaTrani, shared her expert opinion about the mentality of students towards school works. She stated that this kind of mentality of being discouraged to study could be the fruit of experiences in the past.
“Usually, bunga ng traumatic experience ‘yon; nagsimula no’ng elementary, high school, at hanggang ngayong college dala-dala pa rin nila ang failure na ‘yon or anxiety. So,we cannot blame then ‘cause maybe their parents are not supportive or not a financer. Pero actually ang totoo maraming reason: ‘yong walang pamasahe, hindi inaasikaso ng magulang, separated; wala silang inspiration. Bukod sa financially handicapped ‘yon ah,” Trani stated.
Moreover, according to the Guidance Center director, we cannot deny the fact that there are students who have a lower IQ compared to others, which really makes them feel unarmed in the battle of the fittest. And this is an essential factor to consider. “This is a factor of insecurity in the classroom. Ayaw nila ng mapahiya, kaya once na napahiya na sila sa isang guro, ayaw na,” Trani added.
Nevertheless, Trani guarantees that a good dose of motivation can surely help them overcome their insecurity.
Walking the path to redemption
Thus, BulSU Guidance Center wants to spread help to those who undergo such difficulties, whether academically, socially, or mentally. Furthermore, tips on how to study effectively were on the leaflets the Center has been freely giving, which will surely help you on how to study more effectively.
For once, don't spend more than one hour at a time on one subject. That will surely bore, won't it? As much as possible, don't try to render 20 to 30 minutes on each subject for straight memorization. It will be more time conserving if you will make a distinct time limit for each and stick to it. Or try to learn in short takes so that you can have longer time for breaks and relaxation.
Another is to avoid studying during sleepy times. No help if your eyelids are heavy while reading your references, it interrupts you like a long black curtain covering those lazy windows of wisdom. Work against the clock. It's always good to study when you are fresh and acquiring what you are memorizing will be much easier unless you don't understand it!
Studying on your most productive time is a good thing, too.This includes your free time, but not while having your friend over the phone for gossiping, or lurking around the mall for crush hunting. Try to work on things as long as there is time available for your studies. For example, if you had a discussion, jot down notes and review it afterwards for the material will abruptly sink in to your mind. Advance reading will also be a great help so when exams come near - No sweat!
Another tip is to memorize actively not passively. Use as many of your senses as possible. Attempt to make visualization on your mind. Imagery is one good way to recollect concept, relative facts, and logical tie-in of whatever study you are into. You may use sounds (auditory sense), in which you say the terms loudly upon listening to yourself while saying them.
Of course, keep your mind alert by taking frequent rest breaks. Ten-minute break between subjects is of less exhaustion. Why don't you spend more time on the subjects where your marks are low? Start with the most boring subject or hardest one or work toward the easiest one and/or the one you like best. Good idea, isn't it?
Studying is not easy, it will never be. But it will become harder and bring us on the edge of doom if we allow it to. Now, you don’t want to be hit by fiery circles on your class cards, right? Requirements, exams, and projects are norms in this stage of our lives. These things construct us and build our foundations of being future career men of our nation and of our world. These challenges are just pre-tests that will be the key for our future success. And at the end of the day, no matter how hard it has been, you can proudly say that you made it. Who says the end is here?