What was your initial emotion after defending your thesis?
Regine: Sa ‘kin, parang nanlalambot yung tuhod ko, totoong nanlalambot. Yung kaba mo, tsaka pressure— na-release lahat. Nung defense namin, gusto ko lumuhod. Pero, in terms of emotion naman, fulfilled naman ako sa naging defense namin.
Camille: Feel ko pwede nang grumaduate […] since ilang sem[ester] din namin trinabaho yung thesis– ‘di siya madali. Mabigat siya and tumultuous for my group since marami kaming hurdles nung gumagawa kami ng thesis […] natuwa naman yung panel and ‘yun naman na ‘yung gusto naming mangyari […] kasi hindi naging maganda yung last thesis colloquium. So nung naging maganda yung response ng panel sa amin ngayon, medyo fulfilled na talaga kami. Parang, malapit na. Road to QPav na talaga.
How do you feel you are a few months away from marching in QPav?
Regine: Personally ako, excited pero may halong pressure kasi medyo mabigat pa yung remaining subjects namin. Pero, actually, pinagninilayan ko ‘to kagabi kasi ang bigat na may thesis defense,[… ] pero naalala ko ‘yung quote na ‘Bawal mapagod mag-aral dahil hindi napapagod ang nagpapaaral’ so tuloy lang, laban lang. Ngayon, medyo malapit na so kapit na lang kami.
Camille: For me, katulad ni Regine, excited din ako, at the same time, pressured. More on like, tinitignan ko ‘yung future self ko. Aminado ako na at this age, 22 ako, unsure pa ako sa next step ng buhay ko. So basically, ‘yun talaga ‘yung kinakatakutan ko. ‘Yung uncertainty ng future ko after graduating […] hindi naman porke’t tapos na yung thesis defense tapos na [rin] ‘yung lahat, ‘di ba? So nandoon yung takot and pressure to make it out alive kasi mahirap talaga ‘yung remaining subjects namin ngayon.
What was the most memorable and exhilarating moment you have had while making your thesis with your groupmates?
Regine: Marami akong na-experience na maganda at ‘di maganda pero para sa akin, ‘yung ano […] to give you context, nag-data gathering kami one week lang so na-magic namin na hindi ko rin alam. Ngayon na tinitignan ko, hindi ko rin alam ala pano namin siya na-magic. Isa siguro ‘yun sa challenging na naranasan ko.”
Camille: Pinaka-memorable nga yung one week lang kami nag-data gathering. Medyo delayed– delayed talaga kami pagdating sa thesis […] ‘di ba April na yung defense? So makikita mo ‘yung mga tao nags-story sila [na] nasa beach sila, ‘ta[po]s ako nagda-data gathering, ‘Hello, sagot kayo ng forms’ Pa-raffle kami, ‘yun ‘yung pinaka-memorable kasi isang linggo lang, 391 respondents yun […] so nung nakumpleto ko na yung 391, ‘Pwede na, parang kaya ko na lahat’.
What advice can you give to your juniors who are currently writing their thesis?
Regine: Maraming mararanasan, maraming pagsubok na madadaanan, pero ang magma-matter pa rin at the end of the day is ‘yung hindi ka susuko. Okay lang magpahinga, okay lang ang matulog ka, ilabas mo ng bahay yan, pero lagi mong iisipin ‘yung end goal mo. ‘Yung, ano ‘yung ‘why’ mo. ‘Yun ‘yung magpapakapit sa’yo para malagpasan mo thesis mo.
Camille: For me, ‘yung ‘wag mo kakalimutan magpahinga in between. Kasi once na ma-burnout ka, mahihirapan ka to continue. Lalo na mabigat talagang requirement yung thesis, dapat hindi ka basta-basta tumitigil. So, you should learn how to pace yourself. Pero at the same time, dapat i-consider mo rin ‘yung time ng mga ka-group mo during sa pahinga mo para wala ka namang naaagrabyado. So basically, kailangan mo lang talaga matutunan how to handle your time well and ‘yung pakikipagkapwa-tao sa group work talaga.
-Regine Caldona and Camille Elises, journalism seniors
Interview by GIANNAH OCHOA
