From RMT to LPT: A Transferee's Memoir

It is a fact that most of us feel exhausted or burnt out, especially in these times of long distance and adjustments. These feelings that we have are valid. Also, do not force yourself to do things that no longer make you feel productive. If it doesn't make you happy, you can choose to stop for a while. Quitters are never losers, as life is not a race, but a journey where we continuously learn for our personal development.

Photo sourced from Every Nation Campus

For the last 5 months of not being a student, I have a lot of realizations in mind and a lot of sacrifices made. During my second term in Medical Technology, there's one thing that boggled my mind the most — shifting and transferring. I've been through a lot of challenges back when I was a Med-Tech student and now that I am starting a new journey, I can't fathom how did I survive the tremendous things Medical Technology gave into my existence.

In this new blog that I am writing after almost a year of not posting, (Sorry for that, writer's block coming in every time) I will share with you what the last five months of being out of school feel like and how am I going through this journey that I have as a Secondary Education student.

“Dreams, ideas and plans not only are an escape, they give me purpose, a reason to hang on.” - Walt Disney

When it all started

All of these happenings in my life right now started when I was finding tackle boxes as fulfillment for my requirements in Medical Technology back in December last year. My first term back then was like a rollercoaster ride—emotional, stressful, and anxious. Just by looking at my performance, you will know that I am struggling to keep up with my academic requirements and just doing it because I need to pass it within the due date given.

To be fucking honest, I did enjoy being a Medical Technology student. It is a beautiful and interesting field to explore and study. However, with my experiences with my former professors, I cannot say that I will and I can take Medical Technology again. Can you imagine being a freshman and pricking your fingers an uncountable number of times (My fingers did turn violet after that) just to pass 10 perfect blood smears but still you couldn't make it in the end? That is just one of my, I can say, unbelievable experiences back when I was taking Medical Technology.

That, along with the high costs of my laboratory tools and other fees that I'm paying, is the reason why I opted to shift to Secondary Education, a childhood dream of mine ever since. When I started to think about it seriously, I talked to lots of friends I have and they all told me that I could make a great educator someday. That ignited the fire within me that has lost back when I was in Senior High School (Many told me that I won't have any other job opportunities if I will take Education, and many of my colleagues opted to take pre-medical degrees for college, causing pressure for myself to take the same path as them), and it made me decide to fully shift to Secondary Education.

When I first told this to my family, all that they said was,"Bakit ba kasi hindi ka na lang nag-Educ n'ung una pa lang?" They are curious just as I am on, why did I take Medical Technology for college instead of my dream, Secondary Education? After lots of discussion with them, we all agreed with me on not enrolling for the third term and instead, accomplishing all the needed requirements for my transfer applications. I can say that they are supportive of all my decisions and I am hoping that I won't fail them until the end.

My BulSU Rollercoaster Ride (feat. STI Balagtas)

As I mentioned above, I've been out of school for 5 months. For these months, all I think about is how will I apply for transfer at Bulacan State University-Main Campus. I had experienced all the hardships you may ask — traveling back and forth, standing in long queues, and waiting for announcements made later than expected. I cannot say that what I experienced was a whole piece of dung as I didn't make it again for the second time, but I can say that there are resources and plenty of time wasted because of this experience. Imagine waiting for hours, standing in tremendous heat, taking examinations and interviews announced the day before, and so on. I cannot say that the effort I exerted for that application is worth it. It is not worth the wait, sacrifice, and experience either. I don't want to expound on every single detail of this experience as I feel that it isn't worth the time as well.

That sort-of failure opened the door to STI College Balagtas. If you know me personally, you know that I studied at STI College Baliuag back when I was in Senior High School. However, STI Baliuag doesn't offer Secondary Education. Other options that I have are Our Lady of Fatima University (which in fact, offers BSEd with the same price range as STI) and going back to Baliuag University. My family and I opted to go to STI Balagtas, as I can live with my father in Bocaue and just go back home to Baliwag when I am free. As I entered the campus, I already felt familiar with the vibe. It almost feels like I am back home. As I said in my Instagram story, it is "familiar but new." I already felt comfortable with the personnel and the whole place in general. That made me adjust as fast as I can imagine.

My First Week at STI Balagtas

Can I just say that this whole week (even if the week hasn't ended yet) is already draining and stressful? I don't even know how to start or summarize everything I have experienced for the sum of 6 days because just by thinking of it, I get tired already. To give you a headstart, I and my father went to STI Balagtas Friday last week to inquire. We are advised then to return on Tuesday instead, which we did. And that was only the start of my LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG journey from enrolling and attending classes at STI Balagtas.

• Friday, September 2: I informed my parents that we didn't make it to BulSU again, and thus opted to inquire and search for possible schools: BU, STI, and OLFU. I tried to contact two STI branches: Malolos (for AB Communication) and Balagtas (Secondary Education, major in English). My parents then agreed to inquire at the Balagtas branch and ask for the fees and such. When we arrived, we are advised to return to the campus on Tuesday the following week instead as the interviewer for transferees is not around that time.

• Tuesday, September 6: We went ahead to the Admissions office to submit all the requirements for my enrollment. We then paid for the necessary fees and went to the faculty room for my evaluation of course credits. 7 courses were credited to me, all of which are General Education subjects. That evaluation made me an irregular student, as I need to take courses taken by freshman and sophomore years. I then got my schedule (which is not final until today as per the program head of STI for BSEd) which includes online or synchronous classes for GE subjects and face-to-face classes for specialization or major subjects.

• Wednesday, September 7: My classes already started but since my account wasn't available by that time, we went back to STI to buy a set of my daily uniform and to have my ID picture taken. We tagged lots of bags with us containing my clothes that are good for a week of stay as I planned to go back home to Baliwag by Sunday. We then waited in the long queue from 11 in the morning up to 2 in the afternoon, with no meals eaten for lunch, just for me to fit in and buy a uniform. My father then told me to go upstairs and had my ID picture taken. The waiting time there is shorter and we went home shortly after. We also bought some supplies I need for my face-to-face classes like notebooks and pens.

• Thursday, September 8: I finally attended my first face-to-face classes after almost three years. A big shoutout to my block mates from BSEDENG - 2A. I felt comfortable during that class and I don't feel that I'm a transferee. Thank you for welcoming me to the block! I went home after as well as I was advised that our schedule isn't final yet, thus we are also advised to chill out first and not to go to school first until the final schedule is up.

So far, the experience I have had with STI is turning out pretty well. I hope I can keep up with the "irreg life" as this experience is new and unfamiliar to me. Please guide me and help me with everything, Lord God!

Learning from my experiences

With all this fiasco happening within me right now, I have learned a lot of life lessons necessary for my growth. First, it is a fact that most of us feel exhausted or burnt out, especially in these times of long-distance and adjustments. We are going into a new normal, where everything may be back into the normal set-up but still with lots of restrictions and protocols. It will always be tiring, but at the end of the day, if you will think about it, it is still worth it to go through every day. These feelings that we have are valid. It is normal to feel tired, exhausted, or anxious. No one should dictate what or how you should feel about different things.

Also, do not force yourself to do things that no longer make you feel productive. If it doesn't make you happy, you can choose to stop for a while. Always choose your happiness and your mental state. Never, ever compromise your mental health as it will take a toll on your behaviors and emotions, and always remember your take care of your physical well-being as well. As we face the hurdles of life, we must always be ready physically, emotionally, and mentally.

Lastly, it is alright if you feel that your chosen path isn't the one for you. You can take everything in your own time. Life is not a race, but a journey where we continuously learn for our personal development. Never think that you are behind or ahead of anyone, as each one of us has our coping mechanisms and time to deal with. Spend your time well, and always remember that God will remove you from a place where He thinks you don't belong for a reason.

This is my proof of existence. So far, my schedule is the only one that's stressing me out. Hopefully, I can work this out and accomplish everything at the right time.

It has been so long ever since I posted a blog, and now, I made it back in here again. I fear that my next blog will be posted after a few months again as life gets busy. But for now, I will end this blog and I hope to see you next time. Bye! <3

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