Like you, they took the bleep test. They also evaluated paintings, movies, and literary pieces. They contemplated on Ethics, Family, and Philosophical Anthropology. They survived Math too.
Your teachers also became their teachers. Assignments, which were exactly like yours, were met with the same sighs of tiredness by these Dragons born outside the Ortigas campus. If you had sleepless nights, so did they.
The only differences would be that they started to take their bachelor’s degree seven years later than you did, and while you were having classes on Work and Society, they were applying them minutes after their class. And on a graveyard shift.
Meet the pioneering TELUS Dragons.
Twelve young professionals from TELUS International Philippines, Inc. form part of the Golden Jubilee Batch who walked down the PICC Plenary Hall in Pasay City on August 19, 2017 to receive their diplomas. For these men and women in their early 30s, it was a fulfillment of dreams put on hold and an impetus to dream even more.
Know one of your fellow Dragons.
Ellaine is TELUS International University Program’s point of contact. She and a small group of people handle all the concerns of the company’s employees who are studying under this initiative. She has just celebrated her 10th year in the company.
Eldest among five siblings, Ellaine wanted to become an architect but thought it would be expensive, so she enrolled in a tourism course at Centro Escolar University Makati. After her second year, however, the family needed her help, so she postponed her studies. Now that she has received her diploma, she plans to pursue neither tourism nor architecture, but carpentry.
Why did you choose UA&P?
Very strong ‘yung liberal arts sa curriculum. I wanted to take a management course but at that time, AB Humanities was the degree course being offered. I still enrolled because I wanted to obtain a college degree. At the same time, I have always been fascinated with the arts. I like to draw, and I used to write poems, but they weren’t spectacular. It was exciting to learn the theories behind them.
What makes UA&P different from where you initially studied?
Similar ang UA&P and CEU in the sense na very Catholic ‘yung approach ng curriculum. But I have observed that all the professors here are aligned and clear about what the mission-vision of the University is. Lagi mong naririnig ‘yung “common good” kasi talagang nire-remind kami ng mga professors all the time. Kahit ano pang subject ‘yan. Kahit science. The concept of common good is always there.
Is there any particular subject that you liked?
I liked the three arts subjects and all of the literature subjects. I also liked all the philosophy subjects but my top favorite was Ethics.
Has your UA&P education helped you become a better employee?
Of course. Particularly, the things that I have learned from Ethics. My key takeaway from that subject is if there is a very difficult situation and I do not know what to do, I will take a step back and think through the sources of morality: intent, circumstance, object.
What do you think of your teachers?
They are fantastic facilitators of discussion. It was never directional. Sa amin na nanggagaling na maging participative sa class. They know what they’re teaching and I appreciate that very much.
What was your dream when you were a child?
I wanted to become an architect. Kasi it was (and still is) my dream to have a beautiful house. No one would look twice at our house. So it frustrated me to see it every day. Naisip ko na sana maging architect ako someday, then ako ‘yung magde-design ng bahay ko. Kaso lang, taking architecture is expensive, so I took another course instead.
Any plans now to pursue tourism or architecture?
I am interested in carpentry. I like making things functional. Gusto ko talaga ‘yung building homes so kahit hindi na ako kasama sa planning, I would still be a part of the execution of the project. I’m looking forward to take short courses in carpentry.
In your UA&P education, what has been your biggest challenge?
Yung schedule sa work. When I was still part of operations, I had no say in my schedule except if there was a bidding. The worst one that I got was 2:00 am. I learned how important it was to manage my time to balance everything out. I had to identify my priorities so that I could be successful both at work and in school while keeping my health, relationships, and sanity in check. Whenever it felt too much for me, I remind myself why I was doing it in the first place—for my mother.
What made you happy in your UA&P education?
One of the things that I am really thankful for, aside from nakatapos ako at natulungan ko ‘yung family ko, is the opportunity to inspire other people. I hope our story will be an inspiration to those who are going through a similar experience. I like to think that we are capable of forcing our way through difficulties if we put our heart to it.#
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