In this series of blog postings, we feature our alumni as they talk about their experience being in the program as well as their unforgettable moments as former XU DevCom students.

Why did you choose XU DevCom?

I’ve always been passionate about writing, so it made sense to choose a communication course. When I learned that DevCom is a comm program that’s oriented towards societal transformation, I felt that this would be a much better direction for my interest and skill. And XU‘s excellent reputation in academics and social outreach just sealed that for me.

Tell us about your experience with the program.

The XU DevCom experience was, for me, grueling but weirdly enjoyable, and really enriching. There was great emphasis on practical, real-world applications, so we often had tasks that weren’t just school projects — we involved real communities and people. We produced community publications, organized actual events.

Of course, there were tons of deadlines! But DevCom blocks were always pretty close-knit. We suffered together. And this program seemed to attract a lot of wacky personalities, especially in our batch.

That made for a lot of fun sessions.

Ultimately though, because we were consistently immersed in developmental work, we graduated with a much deeper sense not just of communication theories and techniques, but also of how they can be used for social good.

What is your current job?

I’m currently a freelance writer/regular newspaper columnist.

Are you using what you learned in college?

Definitely. I regularly revisit not just the technical lessons like writing tools and processes, but also the habits I picked up in DevCom. For instance, when I read the news, I can’t read from just one source — I always have to triangulate the info. And those deadlines we were bombarded with in college? These days, when my colleagues and I get to crunch time, we just say, “Sus, well-trained na ta sa deadlines.”

Would you recommend studying DevCom?

Of course! I would even go as far as saying that if you’re passionate or skilled in communication, DevCom is ideal.

They say that your bliss or calling is that sweet spot where your skills, interests, and opportunities meet with the needs of the world. I think DevCom can lead you there.