Opportunities

in ODeL

Balancing Books and Work:

The Lives of Working Students in ODeL

Michelle Magpayo

(2nd year BAMS student)

I am Michelle Magpayo, a BAMS student, and simultaneously, a working student. I'm a full-time vendor employee with the position of ICT Portfolio Specialist assigned at Globe Telecom. My journey as a working student began when I decided to pursue further education to enhance my skills and knowledge in the field of ICT. However, with a full-time job, it seemed impossible to go back to school and study full-time. I knew that it would not be an easy road, but I was determined to make my dream a reality, which was to earn my degree. This is where ODEL at UPOU came in as a perfect solution for my situation.

The flexibility of the ODEL program at UPOU allowed me to continue working while pursuing my studies. I could attend group activities, and complete course requirements during my free time, which was mostly after work or on weekends. This meant sacrificing my personal time and leisure activities, but I knew it was all for a greater goal.

I had difficulties managing my time as a working student, getting inspired to study after a demanding workday, and mustering the energy to apply my coursework to my career. Even though I was worn out and overwhelmed, my friends and family helped me out and kept me motivated. Despite these difficulties, there are many benefits to studying while working, such as enhanced productivity at work, more responsibility, and useful skills for my future profession. I am grateful for the opportunities I have been given and will keep working hard to accomplish my objectives because I firmly believe that everything is achievable with commitment, tenacity, and a positive outlook.

Hannah Gabriella Macaldo

(2nd year BAMS student)

I am Hannah, pursuing a BA in Multimedia Studies and working as a student assistant at UPOU. I have been a student assistant since April 2023, under the Center for Open Digital Teaching and Learning (CODTL).

What I like the most about UPOU is its distance education approach. This allows students to engage in learning without the need to physically visit the university campus. Students can access the lessons and resources through online platforms (ODeL) which makes it more convenient for students like me to balance work and studies effectively.

However, there's a challenge working while studying. Sometimes, I end up using work time for school stuff and vice versa. Both demand time, and I'm still figuring out how to manage it all. It is a constant effort to manage these commitments effectively.

Nonetheless, despite these challenges, I remain determined to fix my time management skills. Every day is an opportunity to find better strategies for managing work and study commitments. With the help of the ODeL program, I can learn anywhere, anytime, even while working, if there's extra time.

Yes, managing work and studies is not easy, there are challenges. But the cool thing is, that the things I do at UPOU for work connect with what I'm studying. The mix of school and work keeps teaching me new things every day and helps me grow a lot.

Kelly Bianca Mangunay

(3rd year BAMS student)

Thinking about it, the mere decision to return to the university as a student is already a milestone for me. I am Kelly, a BAMS Student, a government service employee, and a solo parent.

I first considered taking up a degree at UPOU while working as a technical support specialist at a BPO company. I visited the UPOU website numerous times getting hooked on the terms DISTANCE LEARNING as this would greatly benefit me in every way. But all it ever got from me was a cold tick on the exit button that lasted almost 8 years.

Picture this — I sent an inquiry email to Admissions in 2012; created an account with UPOU Application Systems in 2017; had the DE Readiness Module in 2019; had a student applicant account with AIMS in 2021 and even enrolled myself in a 3-month online seminar organized by UP Center for Women’s and Gender Studies through ODeL, a platform that created a massive impact on the education system in the country. Then a definitive milestone happened. I received a congratulatory email on the 24th of September 2021 which brought the same feeling when I first got accepted as a student in 2003 for my first program in UP Manila. A momentous event for me because not only did this prove that despite my fulltime status as a parent and an employee in our local government, I could still pursue my passion for continuous learning.

In my third year as a multimedia student, I found myself leaving my mediocre phase when it comes to multimedia creation, utilization, and innovation. I also got the opportunity to communicate with the Gen Z population and immerse myself in their culture which I found no different than mine - a remarkable opportunity I consider as an older member of the UPOU community.

Another big step worth mentioning is that I am still here despite my struggles in time management, creative blocks, and procrastination.

Certificate of Completion through an Online Course via DAKILA (Data, Knowledge, and Information Launcher) equivalent to 70 hours of Training (Relevant to my job as a Gender and Development Focal Person)

Screenshot of my first attempt as a distance learner.

Page updated

Report abuse