BLog Entry #1

12-17-2024

The UP Open University Oblation

(Photo by Misael Bacani, UP MPRO)

Where it all Began...

Receiving the letter of offer from the UP Office of Admissions has been one of the most ecstatic experiences in my life. It has always been my long-awaited ambition to study at UP and be one of the so-called "Iskolar ng Bayan" or "E-skolar" to be exact.

It has also been my family's dream, and seeing them so happy for what I've accomplished inspires me in the depths of my soul. However, amidst all the excitement and delight, a series of provocative thoughts struck me every night as I slept: What comes next afterward? What lies beyond this venture, and what does the future hold for me? Well, that is where the next chapter of my life began.

How it is Going...

Studying at UP Open University was not as easy as I anticipated it to be. Well, for starters, it employs Open Distance e-Learning, a challenging learning mode, as quoted by many.

Although I did my research and attempted to manage my expectations, I still ended up being astonished at how people, particularly students and teachers, go about their day here. Every piece of work or module requires commitment and strict compliance due to the independence students are given. The responsibility lies entirely on me whether I want to do my modules and tasks because we technically don't have a given schedule to follow. Adjusting to this learning setup was tremendously demanding since I live in a house full of distractions and gadgets, not to mention the abundance of musical instruments here that are very compelling to play for hours and hours and hours. Even so, I managed to find my rhythm one task at a time (just like the GIF I posted on the right, having a 3/4 time signature as it loops). And now, I'm down to the last few days of my first term at the university.

Long story short, I survived.

MY Final Takeaways...

Looking back, one of the subjects I took during the First Trimester was Introduction to Multimedia Studies or MMS 100. This course taught me a lot about what to look forward to and expect in the coming terms, as it gave a brief overview of what the BAMS program is about. MMS 100 also delved into a lot of material about multimedia, exploring key concepts on media modalities (text, audio, video, images, and animation), social implications (McLuhan's Tetrad and Supernormal Stimuli), and recent advancements and trends. Two of the most memorable activities I did for the course were a ToneMatrix sample performance and, of course, this blog. Although I did not get much interaction with my classmates, I still managed to view some of their works, which took me by surprise. Each of their works exemplified creativity and depth from which I took inspiration. The diversity of individuals from different backgrounds at the university also amazes me. I hope to interact more with other people in the coming terms and build meaningful connections.

As I finish the course with this blog, I would like to cite this quote from the Roman Philosopher Lucius Seneca.

'Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.'

This quote encapsulates my experience not just on MMS 100 but on the First Trimester as a whole, from adjusting to online learning and juggling my responsibilities and schedules. All these challenges proved to be arduous. Nevertheless, it served as an avenue for me to strengthen my resolve. With this, I look forward to the coming terms and wish myself the best of luck.

The Strawhat Crew's Pose before leaving Alabasta from One Piece

(GIF from Yourtinyearthling)

References:

Encarnacion, A. D. (2023, December 30). ‘For the nation, for the people.’ University of the Philippines. https://up.edu.ph/for-the-nation-for-the-people/

Faculty of Information and Communication Studies. (2023b, December 15). MMS 100 - Faculty of Information and Communication Studies. Faculty of Information and Communication Studies - University of the Philippines Open University. https://fics.upou.edu.ph/bachelor-of-arts-in-multimedia-studies/mms-100/

Rlake. (2020, September 3). “Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body.” – Lucius Annaeus Seneca. GW INVESTMENT INSTITUTE INSIGHTS. https://blogs.gwu.edu/gwsb-invest/2020/09/03/difficulties-strengthen-the-mind-as-labor-does-the-body-lucius-annaeus-seneca/#:~:text=2020%20by%20rlake-,%E2%80%9CDifficulties%20strengthen%20the%20mind%2C%20as%20labor%20does%20the,body.%E2%80%9D%20%E2%80%93%20Lucius%20Annaeus%20Seneca

Yourtinyearthling. (2022, July 24). One piece One Piece Alabasta GIF - One piece One piece Alabasta Alabasta - Discover & Share GIFs. Tenor. https://tenor.com/view/one-piece-one-piece-alabasta-alabasta-one-piece-friendship-strawhats-gif-26295070

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