Write UP

Since the person I asked to do this forgot to email me my write-up, I guess I should do this myself.

I never imagined myself talking up any course in the engineering field. I hated math since high school (since I wasn’t really any good at it), nor was physics was in my area of interest. My first choice in the UPCAT form was BAA as my pre-law, while my father suggested IE as my 2^nd option. When the UPCAT results were announced, I was disappointed to find out that I was accepted in the IE department.

My 1^st year as an engineering student was a struggle; I was a repeater of Math17 and worked hard in my physics subjects, just to pass the course. One adviser of mine even told me that I should consider shifting out of the college but because of pride and laziness to apply for another college, I stayed. I stayed not because of the prestige of graduating an Engineer of UP, but because I have suffered enough and shifting out would admit defeat. Then came the deadly IE27 subject. I failed not only the first time I took it, but sad to say, failed the second time too. That was when I decided to either shift to another department, or shift out of the college completely. I wasn’t really enthusiastic about the latter, since I was already finished with all of my math and physics subjects (oh joy!) and shifting out would just waste my efforts.

My choice consisted of Geodetic Engineering, or any course in the MMM department. I decided to go with the 2^nd choice. I was declined the first time I applied, but was reconsidered by the department chairperson and put me in Metallurgical Engineering. It was hard adjusting during my first year in the department since I really didn’t have any MMM friends. It was awkward to sit in a room full of people that are 2 years younger than you, and 1^st day of classes aren’t really fun at all. Its hell when teachers ask you to introduce yourself in the whole class, tell them why you chose MetE and what year you are in already. When it was my turn to introduce myself, I would just jokingly tell them that my year and student number was a sensitive topic.

But now, I have learned to adjust and made new, younger friends — the people who I’ll be working with until I graduate. I don’t regret in shifting to another department since I can really say that I am now enjoying my majors and I’m really looking forward to graduating with a degree in Metallurgical Engineering.

There is always a lesson to learn from every experience. It may have been a little bit late to realize that I wasn’t meant to be an Industrial Engineer, but it isn’t too late for me to change my old ways and start focusing on my academics.

College would always be a painful reminder of how I failed and the struggles I went through just to pass one subject to the next. But it would also remind me of the valuable friends I met along the way, the precious moments I shared with them and the love they gave me during hard times; the people who gave me inspiration to go on; and the  priceless lessons that changed my life.