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 take DevCom?

I didn’t know there was such a program until a friend of my cousin brought up the topic. Originally, I planned to attend a state university in CDO because I thought it would be less expensive but my cousin, who was also a graduate from XU, insisted I give it a shot. Fortunately, I was granted a full scholarship under the College of Agriculture. After carefully weighing my options, I decided to join the program. I thought DevCom was the closest thing to what I was once passionate to do – writing. Looking at the syllabus, I was positive it would help me better my interpersonal skills, which I could definitely use after college.

Can you tell us something about your experience with the program?

Aside from what’s expected of us to learn inside the classroom, we were also introduced to the realities of life.

One of the remarkable experiences I had was when we went to Kagahuman, Malitbog to witness and share the kind of culture that the tribe there had which I thought already ceased to exist. It took us probably more than 4 hours, combining the jeepney ride from the city plus a very exhausting long hike across mountains and rivers just to get there. It was worth the hassle and body pains because the place offered more than just the breathtaking picture of nature. We were able to mingle with the tribe and the group of Korean students who were with us. It was, I’d say, the best example of how communication plays a significant role in bridging the gap between different cultures.

On a lighter note, the course wasn’t just about “saving-the-world-and-not-having-fun” kind of program. We also had field trips. We got to visit TV stations, and some local newspaper offices, with side trips in some of our country’s historical/tourist spots. Those experiences helped us bond together.

And how can I not mention the old-school “dark room” experience? Considering how modern society turned almost everything into digital, albeit newer packs of DevCom students haven’t had the thrill of actually witnessing empty frames slowly coming into life before posting them for a photo exhibit.

What are you busy about these days?

After spending almost a decade in Cebu working for a BPO company, I’m now happily married to a Crop Science major (also from XU). We’re expecting our second chick to hatch this year. My husband and I decided to set up a small business that I personally manage. So, yes, I’m now a mompreneur!

Do you get to apply your learnings?

Communication is an essential part of our daily lives regardless of the kind of work we have.

My first job was more on writing. The second one was in a call center company. And now, I’m taking care of our own small business.

On all three, the following are my takeaways:

Integrity – As defined, it is doing the right thing even if no one is watching. In my work before, that meant not lying to the customer and being able to provide all necessary disclosures for the other party to come up with a more sound decision.

Respect – No matter where you are, and whom you are working with, one has to learn to respect each other’s differences to create a happy environment. Sometimes, it is not just all about how much you are earning that makes you stay but also the kind of people you are with. There were times back then that I felt so stressed with work, but because I had a very supportive team I decided to stay longer.

Focus – Just like in writing, I have to learn how to organize my thoughts, and keep my focus. There are times I had to take a detour, which can be a little bit stressful and discouraging especially if I felt like it is pulling me away from my goal. But that’s part of the journey. Sometimes I just have to roll with it, but still keep in mind why I’m doing what I’m doing.

Creativity – It is not enough that you know the product. In order to hit the target, one has to be creative. Now that I’m handling our store, I always need to think of strategies on how to increase the sales. I’ve made used of Facebook to freely advertise our products. Physically, I need to make the store looks good to entice the customers to come inside and buy. Plus, there is also a need to train our employees on how to properly handle the customers.

Would you recommend the course to the younger ones, why/why not?

I’d say yes because the course offers a wide array of opportunities after college. I used to hear some other students saying they chose to take DevCom because they’re terrible with numbers or that it was easier than the other courses out there. But honestly, it won’t matter what you know if you’re not passionate about what you want to do.

If you’re into photography, and/or writing, and you want to become an effective communicator, a public servant, a facilitator, an entrepreneur, etc., you’re welcome to join the program. DevCom appreciates diversity.