i has been a year!

FERRERIA, Anj

Application questions for ORSEM head 2004

1. What is ORSEM?

ORSEM is the Freshman Orientation Seminar of the Ateneo de Manila, Loyola Schools. ORSEM is the highlight of a freshman’s entrance to the Ateneo since it is the foundation of what they are to face in their next years in Ateneo. Yet more than that, ORSEM makes them feel at home. ORSEM goes beyond a welcoming ceremony since it aims to let the freshmen meet and know their blockmates and so with the other co-ateneans that they’ll be with. It not just about the campus, it is particular more on the people in the campus and whole notion of being a part of it. Through the different events—departmental talks, campus tour, org tours, Group dynamics, shows, ORSEM night—the freshmen will truly feel that they made the right choice of school. It’s basically knowing Ateneo as a school, as a community, and as part of it.

Beyond what the OrSem provides for the Freshmen, it is also a way to for the Ateneans to be at service for their fellow Ateneans or incoming Ateneans at that. It is all about selfless service and enthusiasm to work for others. Through the volunteers who sacrifices their time during the summer to attend trainings, workshops, and meetings etc. Through this, the thrust of being men and women for others is very much exemplified. Because being an Atenean does not mean you’re from the Ateneo but it is what THE Ateneo commits to you that makes you one.

2. Have you ever been an ORSEM volunteer? If so, when and for which committee(s)?

Yes.

ORSEM 2002 | Tanaw Bughaw- Secretariat –volunteer Registration Committee

ORSEM 2003 | Ignite – Secretariat Deputy

3. On a scale of 1-10, 10 being the highest, how would you rate ORSEM2003: IGNITE? Why?

8.

The program of the ORSEM 2003| Ignite was excellent. The theme and the additional events that were added exemplify what the ORSEM is supposed to be. Even with the complete removal of the guidance testing. The shows started on time, there was over flowing water drinks, food problems were solved, However, I believe that there is a need to improve on the pre-ORSEM as well as the post ORSEM activities.

The pre-ORSEM activities that I see that could have been better are

1.letter content and letter distribution- perhaps aid from the RegCom since the bulk of the letter comes from them, man power or share in the finance of sending it.

2. food tasting- taken pictures of the set meals presented to us and it is attached to the MOA so that we have proof of what the food should have looked like, more so, if possible attach the picture of the pack lunch to the reminders to the freshmen so that they actually know what they are ordering.

3. food ordering – if we can’t get away with the same plans of last year, text, call and email, I think it would be better to have a own number of texting rather than personal mobile numbers of the core members. However the confirmation of the food orders was very well done.

4. Volunteer contacts and Volunteer GA- own mobile number as well perhaps to contact these volunteers and for the GA, may be a per committee GA or even combing two committees or the smaller committees together so that the ORSEM guidelines of volunteers will be understood, if not a better venue perhaps, like at the covered courts already, the day before the 3-day event, so that every volunteer can help out in the set up of the venue.

5. Critical Pathway Planning Session – if it is possible to include all the core members of all the committees in this planning session, this will also make the core members know each other and be able to know who is responsible for what during the whole planning of ORSEM as well as on the event proper.

As for the Post-ORSEM, I think that the make-up ORSEM should have been prepared way before the ORSEM days come to give proper ORSEM to those who missed it.

As Secretariat Deputy last year, I can see that there are a lot of improvements that can be made in the secretariat committee. Such as combining the registration committee and the communications committee since registration basically works before the event till the registration of freshmen. Communications work during the event and their sole role is to contact parents. To be able to utilize our volunteers combining the two would actually increase their job and be able to be more active in the activities of the committee itself.

My rating of an 8 is also based on the volunteers’ participation and possible problems that could have been resolved by avoiding it during whole process of preparing for the event.

4. Why should YOU be the next ORSEM Head?

With my passion and dedication with the work in my academics, different orgs and events, I think that handle the job as the next ORSEM head. Being part of ORSEM 2003, I was inspired to do work with enthusiasm as long as I am with people who have the same interest and goal for such a big event.

Through all these experiences of group works especially with my academics, I have learned to trust people that I know will make the project take place. However even if you have the best people for the job, I also believe that no one can lead without being criticized, more so, without facing discouragement. Submitting myself to apply as ORSEM head has already made me feel uneasy for a time yet I believe that a person who does not feel the thrill of challenge is not a potential leader. I know that there are times that I take work personally and react on them emotionally, but if I chose a good core to handle the pressure and stress with me, I think that we can make the whole event happen.

ORSEM has already been a tradition, hence all plans are in fact laid out and it is only a matter of doing it. Doing it however takes up an own personal way to making this ORSEM a different ORSEM from all the other ORSEMs. I trust myself that I can make this ORSEM the way it should be together with new ideas that people that I will be working with. I also trust myself in inspiring my co-workers, volunteers and the freshmen to be able to pass on this tradition that makes Ateneo’s Freshman Orientation Seminar different from all other universities.

Together with all these, I am a participant of the Ateneo Student Leaders’ Assembly. With the thoughts and ideas that I can develop through being with other leaders, I can perhaps use the skills that I would learn through the different activities that we will be doing. Leadership does not mean being on top, leadership is being with the people you are working with.

I take work seriously and make things happen. At times, I even go beyond what is expected of me.

this year

FERRERIA, Angela Raymond G.

IV- AB European Studies

Philo 104

Reflection on Buddhism

It was not part of my plan. All I wanted was to be able to stay in the Ateneo until I get to graduate, on time at that. The original plan was: do good in my academics, get into the dean’s list and possibly graduate with honors. Yes, that simple. I was appealed to get into the Ateneo, and the last thing I wanted to do is to be active in any organization or student activity for I knew I had to concentrate with my lessons and be able to prove that I deserve my spot in this most celebrated University.

My siblings were all part of it. They held positions that contributed to its grandiose event that made this Ateneo tradition one of its kind. As inspirations, I submitted myself to volunteer for the Ateneo Freshmen Orientation Seminar, more popularly known as ORSEM. This was in 2002. In the role of a volunteer, I finally saw the reason why my siblings possessed such passion to work for such a big event. The next thing I knew, the ORSEM head 2003 was contacting me to become part of the Organizing Committee (ORCOM) for gushed during that eventful summer. I was satisfied with the outcome of how I worked. I was even more contented with numerous friends I met just working for ORSEM 2003. Given the memorable experiences I had as part of this event, I could not help but keep reminiscing of such an action-packed summer. Eventually later that year, I found myself running to be the next ORSEM head.

It was not a walk in the park. Considering the original plan I had in my mind when I entered college, it seemed to be so impossible for me to but heading an event that would account for so much responsibilities which include upholding an Ateneo tradition for 3000 students involved. After all those discernment, I made it to the position and I would proudly say that ORSEM 2004 is one of the best ORSEMs that Ateneo could have.

But this is not about how ORSEM 2004 operationally went, nor how many freshmen and volunteers were pleased with the outcome of the whole event. This is about how I—as a head and as a friend—was after ESCUDO ORSEM 2004.

Letting go. That’s my problem. The bigger crisis would be moving on. The Buddhist teaching has said that there is nothing permanent. In life, we always have to let go and move on. I am guilty for not being able to fully let go of memories that has truly touched my life. Perhaps it is the push of my passion and yes, obsession over such happy memories that could have given me much more opportunities that would make me happier than what I had back then.

It took me 187 days to prepare for ORSEM and it took me the same 187 days to have my life change by several people. The road during those five months was oft inconstant and meandering, at times leading to places unexpected. But all roads end, and for me it is truly those unexpected roads that is so hard to let go off.

These hard-to-let-go roads are just simply magical. One of these would be that feeling of a possible budding romance that just turned out to be my “mr. could have been”. Another would be ORCOM 2004, my kids, a great team that slowly turned out to be great friends through all those bonding moments at our mini mansion, the ops room, and of course that faithful afternoon at the bel field. Lastly, the road that led me to strengthening old friendships especially with the tension at work is one of the truly memorable roads hard to leave.

I would say that the friendships I found that summer are the deepest relations I ever have. Now that it has already been 5 months since that event. The memories we created last summer remains in the recesses of my mind, always unearthing itself especially at times when I am alone and there is nothing else to do but try to keep the memories alive. Sad to say, many of the sweet things that happened over the summer have turn sour. The roads suddenly hit a dead end and the only clear way to go is to move on and find another way to get through life. This sudden stop at the end of the road makes it harder for me to let go.

It is really hard to liberate myself from the best memories I had through out college. Memories that seemed to peak my stay in the Ateneo and made me find that seemingly true happiness in my life. This made me think and constantly asked myself “why should I let go of something that makes me happy?”. Through several pagmumuni-muni moments that I have, I figured out that I am scared to move on for I may not find the same kind of happiness and satisfaction that I felt during that faithful summer. I would convince myself that I would rather stay at that comfort zone and not attempt to change it. But I even if I try to find the real answer, I know that why I am having this hard time letting go is due to the fact that I am denying the sour moments that destroyed that sweet days of April and May. I deny the ache of the somehow destroyed road that seemed so smooth back then.

The teaching of Buddha puts the right words of how I must give that look out in life. Pain is always part of life and that we just have to let go of these baggage that seem to be heavy weights as I move on with my life. This makes me further realize that the popular saying of “accept and move on” is what I should have listened to since day one of the ORSEM preparations. If I just taken this advice since then, I would probably look back at these memories with a smile rather than a feeling of hurt and a memory of a continuous sulking just for me to get back what I had before.

Sometimes I still get those peep-out moments. I still want to go back to how it was before. How happier were we all together. Perhaps, now that we are all growing apart, I can probably say that I am starting to let go. It is not easy but it is worth it. I have learned that it is best not to attach too much on events or even with friends for nothing in this world is permanent. We all go our own separate ways, say goodbye, and choose a path through take some risk as we pursue our dreams. I could never stay in this situation where I will hold on to something that will never come back nor will happen again. Life's road is long and rough and there are certain moments when we have to do it all alone yet we bring the memories with us.

I once read a quote that continues to linger in my mind when I think of these peep-out moments. “Face the light and the shadow falls behind you turn your back and the shadow stays in front of you”. Indeed the letting go hurts, but it will set you free. ANd
As bitter pangs of parting will give birth to another moment called
GROWING.

Now that I am part of the graduating class, I also have plans in mind, yet I know there are a lot of unexpected roads that I will be walking to. It may be hard for me to let go of college for it has imprinted in me so many memories yet I know that in the roads I am about to take, there are more things to let go off and more lessons to be learned.