ARE YOU AN APPLICANT?
By Aries Pineda
It was a cool yet tiring morning. I was doing our activity in Keyboarding when our professor asked our class who wants to join the BU Advocates, the Promotional Campaign Team of our University. No one answered her. We were all busy doing our activity. Then, she asked me “Mr. Pineda, Do you want to join that group?. I didn't know what to say but, because of her encouragement I decided to say, “YES, I will join that group!”.
After our PE Class I and my classmates were already planning to go to Mc Donald`s but then I saw a poster informing applicants that this will be the last day for application, 4PM ONLY! It was already four in the afternoon. My classmates told me that we should hurry up, run, and walk as fast as we could.
When we reached the office there were two guys there. There were no applicants. In short, “I`m late”. Hoohhh… I told my classmates “Let`s go, I`m no longer interested. I`m Late.” But one of my classmates opened the door and pushed me inside the office. “ARE YOU AN APPLICANT?” The guy inside the room asked me. Then I passed the first interview as well as the second one.
This became the start of my new life. MY REAL COLLEGE LIFE. The team was looking for a host for the Mr. and Ms. BUJPIA 2009. After the screening I was chosen to be their host. That was my first time to host in Baliuag University, though I already did hosting before in High School but this time I was nervous, I didn’t know what to do! “CULTURE SHOCK”. I`m working with the two well experienced hosts of BU and also senior members of the Advocates. I did my best to show why I deserved to be a member of the team and to reach the level of my co-hosts.
After this, many offers came my way, asking me to host different events in our college as well as in the university. With this, I met different people who were also involved in different organizations. I became an active member of those organizations. But, there are times when I look in the mirror. I ask myself if I can handle all these things as well as giving time to my studies and maintaining my scholarship. I remember when I was in High School I used to handle different organizations. From first year to third year I was at the top of our batch. But, when I graduated I became a third honorable mention. I`m quite sad because I wasn`t able to reach my dream to be the class Valedictorian. I initially told myself that when I enter college I will not join extra-curricular activities and I will just focus on my studies. I will do my best to graduate with flying colors.
I studied very hard and I balanced my time to participate in different university activities. During the recognition rites I became a Dean`s Lister, with high honors. I`m so glad and thankful that in spite of the hectic schedule, I was able to make it to the top. With this, I told myself that I will continue being an active member of different organizations and to balance my time to be able to make it to the top again on the next recognition rites.
Last summer instead of spending my vacation with my family and friends, I chose to become a volunteer teacher and I invited some of my friends to help me in my advocacy to teach the out-of-school youth about Computer Literacy. With the support of our College in cooperation with the Alternative Learning System, our project became a successful one. After this, we conducted a livelihood training seminar for disabled persons in cooperation with the Center for Disabled here in Bulacan.
It is quite sad sometimes that I was not able to attend some of our family gatherings because I needed to go to different places to help other people. My family were against with what I was doing and some of my friends were laughing when they saw me just like never before. But for me I will not stop with my advocacy.
When I was given an opportunity to talk to my family and friends, I explained to them the reason why I was doing this, because I believe that I go to school not just to learn but to experience something that would make me a real leader, an instrument to encourage other youth to become a model for real change.
And now as a sophomore student, I continue being part of different organizations such as the BUSSC, BUSSC Comm Group, NSTP and BAASA, that are helping the community to build their future and inspire them that there are still opportunities to make a real change.
