Students who work
July 7, 2006 | 12:00am
School has officially begun – and the hallowed halls of my university are once again brimming with students rushing to catch their respective classes. Brisk-walking from one building to the next, students are once again immersed in the hustle and bustle of course requirements, consultation periods, and extra-curricular activities with respect to their personalized flights of fancy. Being in a university that allows you to pursue what you want in whatever honorable way you can wing it. It has become a ridiculous task of balancing school and out-of-school activities given the amount of free time you have. While there are set classes that a student must attend, the time before or after is a dilemma between saying yes to friends, saying maybe to staring at walls and drifting off to slumber, or saying no to the responsibility of peering one’s nose into academic texts, in preparation for tomorrow’s class discussion. Not only that, a growing number of students have started, as early now, pursuing baby steps towards adult life by engaging in crafts wherein they are able to nurture their passions and perhaps earn a living off of it.
In a community of youth preordained towards academia, it thus becomes a pertinent question whether or not one must isolate oneself solely in the Aristotle-esque pursuit of knowledge, or integrate humanistic responsibilities of fostering one’s individual passions into one’s day-to-day life. I’ve known a lot of academic achievers in my life – and in many a true-to-life story from friends, and friends of friends, top-notch education isn’t necessarily a guarantee anymore to a surefire entry in today’s job market. In fact, some colleagues have begun to deal the cards of connections as plausible gatekeepers towards life in the metropolis. Some have even adhered to the ideology of street smarts, with the corresponding experience and innate common sense as the core indicators of their success. I mean, if the dropout-next-door like Bill Gates can hit it bigger than the master scholar, then notions of success are thus blurred and relegated to a simple logic of knowing what your cards are, and playing them right.
I admit. I’ve never really been one for purely academics. In fact, my orientations to the arts and literature are the very facets that nourish me as a person. I don’t even know what I’d do if theater, writing, and my other hobbies were eliminated from my happy-go-lucky existence. While "great things do start from small beginnings," many a person, such as myself, have started as early now to take those delicate steps towards life post-college, away from spilled Yakult and solely living off their parents’ wallets – and paying a hefty amount of tax from their individual professions. With today’s encompassing trend of kumikitang kabataan, it thus becomes important to ask today’s youth, "Should we start as early as now?" I’ve asked a bunch of hyphenators (students-cum-jobs) about campus to share some insights on this matter. Here’s what they had to say.
Mikko Santos, student, bar owner of Il Ponticello: It’s important to start as early as now because the experience gives you a head start in life. As long as you can balance both, then you can learn a lot outside the classroom while learning things inside of it.
ERIKA PADILLA, student,store manager, stylist:Yes, provided that the student is really convinced about the profession that he chooses to pursue. Starting early will give him the chance to grow, achieve happiness, and become a productive member of society.
Crisel Consunji, student, teacher, theater actress: In starting early, you become a potential asset to society, and are able to integrate what you’ve learned in the textbooks, with its theories and all, and put it into practice.
Doug Kramer, student, model, host: It’s important because it allows you to have that crucial work experience, giving you an idea more or less, on how to handle your future profession. It also gives you an edge over the rest. In others words, you stand out.
Mia Tengco, student, recording and performing artist in Wake Up Your Seatmate: Yes, because work and having responsibilities other than those imposed on you by school or authority gives one a sense of direction and a spirit of independence, tools needed for a young person to grow into an efficient, self-made adult.
Kakki Teodoro, student, theater actress, events coordinator, writer: Yes, if you want to get ahead. It’s basically a matter of not wasting time and enjoying any opportunity that comes your way. While you’re still young, you get an early glimpse of what it’s like to be in the real world.
Christel Boncan, student, junior jock for Magic 89.9: Yes, because if it’s a field you want to be in, it helps to hone your skills early on so you can use it as a springboard for bigger opportunities within your chosen field of interest.
Mark San Diego, student, entrepreneur: It’s good to start early because it’s still acceptable to make those unwanted mistakes you may commit in the future. You learn from it, and you nab a few tricks of the trade to help you deal with future ventures.
Happy Ferraren, student, voice talent, professional host, UAAP Courtside reporter, DJ: Pursuing a career while still in school is important because it enriches the learning experience. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of your education and it doesn’t compromise you as a person, then indulge in your passions by all means.
Catch your breath and let me know what you think at chasingtoff@yahoo.com.
In a community of youth preordained towards academia, it thus becomes a pertinent question whether or not one must isolate oneself solely in the Aristotle-esque pursuit of knowledge, or integrate humanistic responsibilities of fostering one’s individual passions into one’s day-to-day life. I’ve known a lot of academic achievers in my life – and in many a true-to-life story from friends, and friends of friends, top-notch education isn’t necessarily a guarantee anymore to a surefire entry in today’s job market. In fact, some colleagues have begun to deal the cards of connections as plausible gatekeepers towards life in the metropolis. Some have even adhered to the ideology of street smarts, with the corresponding experience and innate common sense as the core indicators of their success. I mean, if the dropout-next-door like Bill Gates can hit it bigger than the master scholar, then notions of success are thus blurred and relegated to a simple logic of knowing what your cards are, and playing them right.
I admit. I’ve never really been one for purely academics. In fact, my orientations to the arts and literature are the very facets that nourish me as a person. I don’t even know what I’d do if theater, writing, and my other hobbies were eliminated from my happy-go-lucky existence. While "great things do start from small beginnings," many a person, such as myself, have started as early now to take those delicate steps towards life post-college, away from spilled Yakult and solely living off their parents’ wallets – and paying a hefty amount of tax from their individual professions. With today’s encompassing trend of kumikitang kabataan, it thus becomes important to ask today’s youth, "Should we start as early as now?" I’ve asked a bunch of hyphenators (students-cum-jobs) about campus to share some insights on this matter. Here’s what they had to say.
Mikko Santos, student, bar owner of Il Ponticello: It’s important to start as early as now because the experience gives you a head start in life. As long as you can balance both, then you can learn a lot outside the classroom while learning things inside of it.
ERIKA PADILLA, student,store manager, stylist:Yes, provided that the student is really convinced about the profession that he chooses to pursue. Starting early will give him the chance to grow, achieve happiness, and become a productive member of society.
Crisel Consunji, student, teacher, theater actress: In starting early, you become a potential asset to society, and are able to integrate what you’ve learned in the textbooks, with its theories and all, and put it into practice.
Doug Kramer, student, model, host: It’s important because it allows you to have that crucial work experience, giving you an idea more or less, on how to handle your future profession. It also gives you an edge over the rest. In others words, you stand out.
Mia Tengco, student, recording and performing artist in Wake Up Your Seatmate: Yes, because work and having responsibilities other than those imposed on you by school or authority gives one a sense of direction and a spirit of independence, tools needed for a young person to grow into an efficient, self-made adult.
Kakki Teodoro, student, theater actress, events coordinator, writer: Yes, if you want to get ahead. It’s basically a matter of not wasting time and enjoying any opportunity that comes your way. While you’re still young, you get an early glimpse of what it’s like to be in the real world.
Christel Boncan, student, junior jock for Magic 89.9: Yes, because if it’s a field you want to be in, it helps to hone your skills early on so you can use it as a springboard for bigger opportunities within your chosen field of interest.
Mark San Diego, student, entrepreneur: It’s good to start early because it’s still acceptable to make those unwanted mistakes you may commit in the future. You learn from it, and you nab a few tricks of the trade to help you deal with future ventures.
Happy Ferraren, student, voice talent, professional host, UAAP Courtside reporter, DJ: Pursuing a career while still in school is important because it enriches the learning experience. As long as it doesn’t get in the way of your education and it doesn’t compromise you as a person, then indulge in your passions by all means.
Catch your breath and let me know what you think at chasingtoff@yahoo.com.
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