Quo, Vadis? (Survival Tips for Graduates)

            Never mind the oftentimes  much abused oft-repeated  popular  question   “Quo vadis?”. That’s already given once you go out from the portals of high school and college. I would like to explore the lighter side of graduation as both reality check and  coping mechanism facing our graduates today afterall we’ve been through it all and survived unscatched and sanity still intact all through those years .

But first, as what  that beautiful Wowowee girl would exclaim in jubilation  with feelings two hands open wide far apart outstretched, this column’s  big “Congratulation!” to you for  having reached this far.  Making it as one of the graduate this year is definitely another feather on your cap showing what kind of stuff  you’re actually made of. Cheers!

For all  high school graduates out there, forget Sharon Cuneta’s song: “High school days of  my high school life is  so exciting kay saya.  Bakit kung graduation na’y luluha kang talaga.” That could be applicable back then in 1975 when life was simpler. Not now in an age of digital Technology. Sorry, it was indeed that exciting and tough decision to make as reality is there plunged  upon you without you ever knowing it forcing you  leaving the portals. But  life has to move on.

 Fact is that’s even  far from what you’ll get in College. Blood, sweat and tears are all there waiting  for you.  Translating  that into  simple terms requires you  dedication, patience, industry and probably little of inspiration as you would burn midnight candles studying to pass different  competitive examinations.  It should not be the other way around though. And for those who are  resolved in pursuing College life no matter what  the costs are, it  should be clear by now  what course you should take. Engineering, arts and sciences,  education, nursing or commerce, whichever is closest to your heart and talent. By all means, be undaunted  and pursue your dreams,  weighing all the possibility that in the end you would make you the happiest person on earth what after considering also the  possibility of receiving  handsome return of investment.

  If you haven’t make up  your mind yet what you intend to major in, don’t fret as you have still two years in College to ponder what major field of study best suited to you The  subjects in the first two years anyway in College are general subjects pre-condition to courses you’re interested to accomplish.

How about the love of your life giving you extra adrenaline in your study.  Don’t worry and don’t force the issue as  you’ll have all the time anyway for personal concern and comfort when you complete College.  Save the best for last as I advised it to my kids studying in College. Just focus and  brace yourself for that  final showdown with reality by getting  decent job to support you and your family later when you’re already there. Not now when you are still on the lookout of possible opening commensurate to your field of study.

But that if you have the required eligibility needed to enter government service. Thus be sure not leaving any stones unturned when you enter College. Actually, you have no other choice .It’s either you have to study or not. If you do, then go for it. As they said it in local parlance: Kung magbarkada, huwag ng mag-eskuwela and correspondingly, kung mag-eskuwela, huwag magbarkada. The choice is yours. No “ifs” and ‘buts.” Use  your power to choose and stand by it. No room for tentative answer. Yours should be categorical. Go for broke and go all over again getting your momentum where you fall if need be,  than not giving it a try.

For College graduates, go ahead and  find your work. When you find one, reckon Francis Kong plausible advise: Wake up early, work hard and  find oil. What a waste of time and resources when you would not land a job. That is easier said than done though    unless you have the corresponding  eligibility for the job. If you don’t have first grade eligibility, then the least you can do is to apply as casual. That if you have second degree or non-professional eligibility. Worst is if you don’t have both credentials then  you’re good only as candidate for Job Order items in different Local Government Unit which is your least priority as such items are only reserved for political appointees as incumbent upon those in power in returning back the compliment to those who  helped them get elected. You should know.

The  exception is  when you graduate with honors as Laudes, which has  corresponding civil service eligibility under the Law .All you have to do is to have them accredited getting official validation from Civil Service Commission and allowing  them find   the necessary opening from  different government  offices. For the rest,  never mind how did  you fare among your batch. The most important thing is you reached the finish line  on the same pack. Now that  the battle is even as you start anew finding your place in the sun, give yourself the necessary break as you recalibrate yourself how to translate your four years investment into simple economics, that is, exploiting any opportunity there is turning it for good.

 If you specially did it on your own  way as working student, the more I am congratulating  you for giving such honor  to yourself. Seldom you can find students who have the guts and nerve  making  it on their own these days. As token of your hardwork, email me (rfmaulion@yahoo.com) indicating in few sentences your experience how did you make it against all odds  to receive my Himig Mindanao CD. I think you deserve not just rhetoric lip service “Congratulation!” most importantly, a token of appreciation notwithstanding modest to emboldened you all the more fulfilling your dreams. That in itself is significant, a living testament that hardwork indeed makes things happen.  I too believe that these kind of graduates have better grades too (Right?) and thus most likely have greater possibility of passing competitive exams and ergo, earning the fruits of their hard labor as worker either in private and or in the government. The third option is equally important – creating yourself into entrepreneur where all you need is sipag and tiyaga.

Most importantly, making them  eligible to Francis Bacon’s circle of completely  successful people:  find a work (or write a book), plant a tree and raise a family. Why really not when those are pre-condition variables for a fulfilled and complete life. That to me the most honorable thing and great favor you have done  yourself far better than those receiving academic honors. Of course, it’s great when you graduate with honors, having that tail attached on your name earning distinction later but that doesn’t guarantee of successful life  until you finally carve a niche in your life the way those who graduated and find fulfillment in their work.