GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE and entering the workforce can be exciting and challenging, both at the same time. It marks the start of a new chapter in your life where hardwork and dedication finally pay off. Once we get our diplomas and throw our graduation caps off, we venture into a new chapter. As you embark on this journey, you’ll need to gather essential documents like valid IDs and ID pictures and prepare a professional wardrobe. It can be daunting, yes. But don’t worry. You got this. Welcome to the world of adulting.
One of the highlights of graduating is finding a company to intern at. Gaining work experience is a key to strengthening your employability. It is a rewarding experience because you get to see how the company’s workforce is, but honestly, it’s dreading. Imagine the number of hours of travel to your internship and attending classes with a tired mind unsuited for absorbing information the next day. It is indeed exhausting.
“Welcome to the story of a graduating student who has to juggle internship and academic studies.”
I’ve been feeling burnt out lately because of my clinical internship. We have to do many reports and assessments and accommodate clients through text and calls for consultation. Plus, we have to organize an outreach program, which needs to be done in just one or two months. It’s cool to be able to put everything you’ve learned in your program into practice, but by the time we finish everything, we feel completely exhausted. And even when students get home safely, they can’t stop thinking about all the other school work they still have to do, like revising their thesis or studying for quizzes and recitations.
Welcome to the story of a graduating student who has to juggle internship and academic studies. With a focus on accommodating colleagues, assisting supervisors, and completing on-the-job training (OJT), students are constantly on the go. After a long day, they return home to either rest or hit the books to keep up with their studies. And they wake up early every morning to head back to school or internship, ready to tackle another day. So, if you know someone taking their OJT, pat them on the back. But seriously, it feels amazing to be in the thick of things and get that first-hand experience.
On the other hand, it can be pretty exhausting, too—especially when there’s a ton of other stuff to do like trying to ace your classes this semester. Of course, the Practicum program isn’t the only thing we should focus on. Passing every subject just to graduate this year should also be our utmost priority.
I’ve realized that because someone has defended their thesis or is currently completing their OJT, it does not guarantee they will graduate. While this is a significant accomplishment, it is only the first step. We must pass other complex subjects, just like the final boss in a video game. Do you feel the pressure? I certainly do. As an average student with fair grades and a history of low marks in the past, saying, “Bawi na lang sa finals,” is a risky approach because the real pressure is on us.
Throughout the internship, we learned much about balancing our responsibilities while building valuable social connections. It was an actual test of our abilities, as we were expected to work hard and remain professional throughout the entire 300-500-hour period. In many ways, the internship gave us a glimpse into adulthood and allowed us to develop important skills that will serve us well in our future careers. Overall, it was a challenging but rewarding experience that we will remember for years.
To my fellow seniors, if you’re reading this, we’re approaching the final chapter of our college lives. Let’s strive to balance our internships and academics so that we can achieve our final goal for this semester: graduation.
Email me at thebedan_fcreditor@sanbeda.edu.ph