My Personal Tips to Graduating College Students

NDDU Graduation, Batch 2010

Well, March is just around the corner and I already could envision thousands of togas to be worn and diplomas to be given away.

Of course, the competition and struggle doesn't end in the four corners of the campus hence it gets tougher in the outside world - the World of Employment. I know a few percentage of the graduates shall venture into self-employment and business. Majority will eventually land on a job. 

Therefore, I am giving away my personal tips to all Graduating college students out there. I may not be that kind of "experienced one" (Oops! I've been an employee for almost 2 years to date) but I'm sure my small tips could be a great starter to some of you.

1. Of course, the very BASIC ONE, "Never Assume Unless Stated". 

Which means, finish first all your Graduation requirements (maybe Academic or Extra-Curricular) before planning any Trips and Graduation Parties. Don't be too confident and easy-go-lucky. Remember, unless you don't have your name printed in the diploma, you are not an official Graduate yet. In bisaya, "AYAW KAAYO I-FEEL"!

2. Set Goals and target a Career

This is I think the most critical part after graduation... You need to know your goals. Try to ask yourselves, do I want to land on a job or do I want to own a business? You need to weigh things up. Being an employee and being self-employed is a whole new different aspect with pros and const. Discern and ask advice from your parents and close friends. You don't want to regret such in the end. Be practical and think 5 years ahead so that you could envision yourself to which path will you choose. 

3. Have a Break

C'mon! This is so true. You've been going to school since Nursery up to College. That's almost 20 years or more of your life. Why not allot even a month or several months after vacation. Go on a trip with your family and friends. Enjoy the moment of being finally free from the four corners of your school. Treat yourself. 

April 2010 pic taken at Boracay

4. Prepare your Resume and Requirements

Well, after you have taken a vacation or a break. You need to prepare your Comprehensive Resume and the basic requirements you will be needing in finding a job. Equip yourselves with such documents so that it would be an easy access for future jobs and employment opportunities out there. Make sure that your Resume is updated, the picture attached is colored and formal and the entries are complete, brief and reliable. Make sure also that you have fixed your School papers such as DIPLOMAS, Transcript of Records and the like. And also, print 5-10 copies of your resume. You would not just settle for a single job posting right?

5. Be more aggressive ONLINE.

If you have the resources such as the Internet and laptop, why not use it for Job Hunting. Instead of being on Facebook all day, try visiting online classified ads and job postings. There are thousands of job opportunities online if you just have the patience in finding one. There are some companies which requires online submission of resume so be sure to have a soft copy of it. The Online World is at its peak this century so it is better to use such technology in finding wonderful job opportunities.

6. Never expect a HIGH SALARY right away

This is I think the misconceptions of every fresh graduate out there. Lower your expectations guys. You are a fresh graduate. Therefore, your rate is far from those who are skilled and experienced one. You may be a graduate of a prestige school or may have be "LAUDE", but hey... you are all Fresh Graduates. You are likely to start from an average salary rate (depending on your job). Don't be too choosy. Always remember that millions of unemployed persons are out there dying to have a job. If you have the opportunity, grab it. Sooner, you'll be investing experiences and learning that would be a great help towards a greener pasture in the future.

These are just few of my personal tips to all future YUPPIES out there! Be confident. In the end, its not about the school and the honors you have acquired from college counts, its the thing called "DISKARTE"!

My Motivation

My Love for GOD is the best thing that motivated me to where I am now at this point in my life. I lift up everything to Him and offer to Him all my pains, sufferings, hopes and joys. I owe to Him my existence so I lived by His ideals and teachings. Amidst my imperfections, I have strived to live in accordance to His will. All of these became my motivation to strive harder and pursue excellence in everything I do for I strongly believe that this is the life He wanted me to live and experience.

My family played a big role and more so became my inspiration and motivation to be at my very best in everything I do. They are the persons who have given me overflowing love and undying support in times of fervor and distress. They became my shield against the principalities of evil and temptations. Indeed, I am a family-oriented person.

My teachers and professors in College also played a vital role in molding my values formation. They were my second parents who guided my studies and inculcated in me the Core values of NDDU namely the Marian Spirit, Humility, Simplicity, Preference for the Least Favored, Presence and Participation, Love of Work, Integrity of Creation and Quality Education. They were the one who gave me constructive criticisms in order for me to improve and expand my horizon. My teachers and professors taught me the basics of life. They provided us with vivid picture on what is to expect in the real world after college.

My friends and peers were the one who have placed colors and spices in my life. They are used to be strangers and now new found brothers and sisters who are worth-keeping a lifetime. They were the people who taught us to smile and enjoy the best things in life. They taught me the values of trust and respect since all of us are bonded with similarities and lots of differences. They taught me to deal with life in a lighter perspective. They were the persons who truly understand me after my family.

I owe to them everything!!!

Enjoying my Red Stilettos

After College Graduation, I really expect that things will be a lot complicated. The world would be so much different. New people to meet and new environment to fill in. I guess the biggest dilemma of any fresh college graduate is to find a JOB or EMPLOYMENT right after. In God’s grace, I graduated with an honor of Magna Cum Laude. It was indeed one of the greatest achievements of my life. Although my father is not there to witness the fruit of my labor, I dedicated to him the greatest speech of my life – my Valedictory Address. Of course, I was so thankful to my family and to all those people who have been part of this success.

Going back to reality, we cannot deny the fact that not all fresh graduates can have jobs immediately after graduation. I can’t deny the fact also that my scholastic records would really be a major factor in my employment. Having good grades and being part and active in school affairs are great factors in hitting the target. My leadership skills was also one of the factor to be considered.

Right after graduation, job offers being to shower. Call Centers, Manufacturing Companies and even in the Media Industry. Yet what caught my attention was the job offer for SM (Super Mall). SM is planning to put up a new branch here in General Santos City. Currently, they are in search of the next batch of Management Trainees that would be trained in Manila for 6 months. I guess this is my dream job. To be part of this prestigious company and have this wonderful kind of opportunity is such a nice thing to grab. So, I submitted my resume online. But luckily, I was notified by SM beforehand. This was during the Job Placement Seminar where I was one of the hosts and SM was one of our guest companies.

It is summer and another opportunity has come - the opportunity to enjoy and savor my free time with myself and with my family. This is the time that I needed the most. My college years have been so tough and stressful and majority of it was dedicated for others and the society. It is now time to dedicate a part of it to myself. That means a lot of rest and recreation. I ended up my summer escapade in a Visayas Tour. I, together with my sister, accompanied my mom in a convention held at Bacolod for almost two weeks. And it’s not the end. We had a side trip at my hometown in Iloilo and the very famous tourist spot, Boracay Island.

Iloilo was great. I mean aside from it has been very different and progressive for the past years. It was a place near my heart. This is where I was born. It is so nice to go back to your roots after 13 years. Well, I did enjoy my stay in Iloilo. Malling and of course eating talaba and sea foods were just few of my moments in such wonderful place.

On the other hand, I could not forget my first ever escapade at Boracay Island. Well, it is indeed a memorable journey to finally experience Bora. I enjoyed the place. Island hopping, beach walking, shopping and food trips are just few of the things to do in order to enjoy the famous island. I always remember in the saying that WHAT HAPPENS IN BORA, STAYS IN BORA. (whew!)
It has been a great summer experience I would never ever forget.

Going back to reality. The status of my application for SM is fairly good. I am now in the Round 3 of the Interview Process. I am patiently waiting for the result of this great offer. I really just hope it is worth the wait. I rejected other offers just for this. I really do pray hard and offer this to God. I always believe that His will be done.

At some point, I feel pressures. So many pressures. Pressure from my Alma Mater, my teachers and my classmates and even pressure from my family. I usually get paranoid as days turn into months of waiting for the result. But, my hopes are flared up high. All I think right now is that I am enjoying my red stilettos. A rare chance I might have before I enter the real world out there.

My Valedictory Address

“Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value”, a famous quote from Albert Einstein.
Our honorable University President, Brother Manuel V. de Leon, FMS; our beloved Executive Assistant to the President, Brother John Y. Tan, FMS, respected Administrators, noble teachers, Personnel and Staff, Parents, Guests and my fellow graduates, a pleasant afternoon to all.

Words are not enough to express our happiness on this hour of graduation. Indeed, this is the reaping of fruit of our labor for four or more years. This is the commencement of all our hard work and determination towards our goals and dreams in life.

When we first step in this University, we did not know what is to expect. We thought that this is merely having fun just like what we did in our elementary and high school. But later, we began to realize that college is not all play. The Institution that molded us became our home. The Administrators, our teachers and the whole NDDU Community became our second parents and family. Eventually, our friends and classmates became our brothers and sisters. All of these are manifestations that NDDU is truly our second home.

True indeed, Graduation Ceremony is a momentous event of thanksgiving and celebration. Utmost gratitude is given to Notre Dame of Dadiangas University, our home for several years that taught us its Core Values of Family Spirit, Marian Spirit, Simplicity, Preference for the Least Favored, Presence and Participation, Love of Work, Integrity of Creation and Quality Education. It molded us to become Competent Professional, Culture-sensitive Individuals, Community-Oriented citizens and Christian Leaders. It inculcated in us the values and teachings of Saint Marcellin Champagnat and the virtues of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We are indeed thankful for a family who developed our minds and nurtured our heart with love. We are most grateful to our professors who became our second parents. For all the knowledge imparted, the advices, constructive criticisms, appreciation and love, we salute all our professors. We appreciate the dedication and untiring effort to bring out the best in us. Undeniably, teaching is truly a noble profession. All our experiences and insights gathered through out the years of stay in NDDU mirror the School’s Vision and Mission.

Appreciation and Gratitude is also given to our friends, peers and classmates for they have brought colors and spices into our college life. They were the very persons who have been with us through thick and thin. We are indeed blessed to have these wonderful people as our inspiration and strength in our journey in college. For all the joys and laughter, cries and weeping, the ups and downs and the memories. Thank you so much for being part of our lives. We will definitely miss all of those stuffs. Let us continue to be there for each other and to support each other in future endeavors.

Deepest gratitude also goes to our family especially our parents for their untiring and unending support and love for us. Thank you moms and dads for the understanding, the patience and the consideration you have given to us all these years. We are blessed to have parents like you who never fail to catch us when we fall and lead us the right way when we are lost. Thank you moms and dads for the all the financial support that enabled us to acquire quality education. Words are not enough to express our gratitude that you are here to share this celebration of success.

Our heartfelt gratitude is given to the Almighty father for bringing us to existence here on earth. His overflowing love for us became our strength as we face the hardships of life. He has been our inspiration to live a life full of values and good deeds. His gifts of wisdom and understanding strengthened us towards achieving greater heights. Without Him, we are nothing. We owe everything to Him.

To all the Graduates of Batch 2010, my Congratulations to you and to your parents. We have closed the chapter of our student life. Before us now is the real world. Another chapter unfolds as we face a whole new world out there. The challenge for us is to be able to welcome the world armed with the values and knowledge shared and imparted to us by our Alma Mater, the Notre Dame. May we exemplify the values of Saint Marcellin and Virgin Mary and live the Marist way. Indeed, the best has yet to come.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let us a give a big round of applause to the Graduates of Batch 2010. My fondest farewell and bon voyage Graduates! Once again, a pleasant afternoon to all.