Photos by: Grant Ostol, Kristin Tanio, Jasmine Villegas, and Angel Yambao
Pursuing a profession is usually aligned with one’s passion and determination, but some do it because they have to. In fact, a nine-year study conducted by Dream Project PH states that 8 out of 10 Filipinos “do not have a dream.” Several factors were pondered to come up with this data, and one of them is a limited perspective. At some point in our lives, we have once asked ourselves, “Why am I even doing this?” or “Who am I doing this for?” To add to this, many of us tend to overwork ourselves without a purpose or goal in mind, leading to stress and burnout.
With that, the FEU Roosevelt Cainta Student Council, in collaboration with the SED Department, organized an enlightening event entitled, “Sulo at Sulong: Career Guidance Fair 2023,” last March 22 to 24, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, which aims to guide Grade 10 and 12 students on how to direct their career paths and envision their future. The event was held in both the Audio-Visual Room and Alumni Hall in the Alumni Building.
DAY 1: Liwanag sa Dilim
On Wednesday, March 22, the first day of the event commenced with an esteemed alumnus of the school, Reverend Father Dari Dioquino. Father Dioquino shared his inspiring story with a talk entitled, “Liwanag sa Dilim, Career Path: Pleasure vs. Pressure.” He discussed how he chose to pursue his passion in selecting a career despite the hurdles and suffering he could face along the way, which eventually prompted his prosperity. He highlighted the significance of choosing a career path that aligns with your aspirations and ideals. His story resonated with the students, inspiring them to strive and follow their hearts, allowing contentment to come to them and achieve success.
To formally end the orientation, Mrs. Susan Torres, the school Principal, and Mr. John Cristopher Ubaldo, the Student Affairs Coordinator, awarded Father Dioquino a certificate and a token of appreciation for his time and effort as a guest speaker at the fair. Students who came early and actively participated during the talk were recognized by the Student Council.
DAY 2: Alab
The second day of the fair proceeded with a talk by an FEU Roosevelt alumna, Mrs. Jendee Sapo-De Guzman, entitled, “Alab: Igniting Interest in Choosing the Right Career,” last Thursday, March 23. But before that, the emcees presented a quick recap of what happened in the first orientation and conducted an icebreaker game to energize the students.
On to our seminar proper, Ms. Erika Comendador, the JHS Adviser, introduced the guest speaker. Mrs. Jendee began by sharing her experiences about what led her to who she is today. Then, she demonstrated a meditation technique for the students to visualize their future. She added that we should instill diversion, self-reflection, and a good support system to succeed in our careers.
Finally, Mrs. Torres and Mr. Ubaldo awarded Mrs. Jendee a certificate and a token of appreciation for her time and effort as a guest speaker at the fair. Students who came early and actively participated during the talk were acknowledged by the Student Council.
DAY 3: Padayon!
For the third and last seminar of the 3-day orientation, an informative talk entitled, “Padayon!: Moving Forward to your Future Career,” by Dr. Shiela Marie Hocson occurred on March 24. At the time of registration, students popped up with outfits inspired by their desired professions such as doctors, engineers, teachers, and more for the Career Dress-up Day. But before the big event started, an icebreaker game was done, followed by a brief recap of the previous two orientations. Moving on, Mr. Ubaldo introduced the guest speaker, Dr. Hocson, to the students.
Dr. Hocson emphasized the essence of career planning as it is all for the benefit and well-being of our digital youth. She also discussed how to create a good career plan and how important it is to choose a career that interests us. After the Q&A session, Mrs. Torres and Mr. Ubaldo awarded Dr. Hocson a certificate and a token of appreciation for her time and effort as a guest speaker at the fair. Also, the Student Council prepared special awards for the students who have shown promptness as well as grace with their appearance. The following three students won the Early Birds Award: Jeremiah Angad (Offshore), Mark Lumabao (10 Excellence), and Hugo Vergara (12 STEM A). For the Best Dressed Award, the winners are the following: Vaugn Tayabas (10 Excellence), Djhon Ingua (10 Excellence), and Crisdame Barrion (10 Excellence). The event concluded with the students enthusiastically singing the FEU Hymn.
Our future is one of the most important things to account for, which is why we must make informed decisions and be aware of the career opportunities we can take. Getting to the finish line is not what life is all about; it is about enjoying the journey. Always remember that investing in our future is the key to having a brighter tomorrow.
Padayon, Tamaraws!
Reference:
Chanco, B. (2022, January 14). Dreamless Pinoys. Philippine Star Global. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/business/2022/01/14/2153698/dreamless-pinoys
