In Their Own Words (Part 1)
24 Aug 2022 | Interviewed and compiled by Angela Maree Encomienda
In this two-part series, graduating Loyola Schools students talk about their time in Ateneo.
What has been the most enriching experience for you at Ateneo?
I think the most enriching experience for me at Ateneo was actively participating in a few student organizations, which led me to further develop my skills and discover new things about myself.
What will you miss most about your online campus experience?
I'll honestly miss the convenience of attending my classes by merely opening my laptop as soon as I wake up.
What was your thesis about?
My thesis was about establishing a DIY Solar Energy Kit company to offer an affordable and sustainable energy option to the market.
What’s next for you?
I'm planning to apply for a creative job and to work for about 2-3 years before pursuing a Master's degree abroad.
What has been the most enriching experience for you at Ateneo?
It’s hard to choose between so many moments but what first pops into my head was the one-of-a-kind 1-day OrSem; since everything was in one tight package, we got to see an explosion of warmth and love from the community, and it really did set the tone for the rest of our collective college lives (until COVID came along, that is).
What will you miss most about your online campus experience?
I would be lying if I say I wouldn’t miss any of it since a good chunk of my group works in this half of my college life was absolutely better and more enjoyable to do than the first half AND my thesis classmates made senior year bearable.
What was your thesis about?
My senior thesis was an overview and analysis of the P-Pop industry through visual and textual analysis with a specific focus on the activities of groups SB19 of ShowBT Philippines and BGYO of Star Magic (of whom, over the course senior year, have gained a new soft A’TIN and ACE in me).
What’s next for you?
As of the time of writing, I am waiting for some scholarship results to continue my studies for a postgraduate degree in Arts Management and Cultural Policy at the University College Dublin in Ireland (but if that doesn’t push through, I’ll start job hunting for something within the HR or Marketing/PR worlds locally to save money before reconsidering my prospects abroad).
What has been the most enriching experience for you at Ateneo?
I'd have to say the most enriching experience for me was probably the opportunity to meet and work with such a wide array of different people and personalities.
What will you miss most about your online campus experience?
It's hard to say I'll miss anything about online classes, but thinking about it now, I think I'll miss the ability to take naps on my bed, in between subjects!
What was your thesis about?
My thesis was about creating a gender-inclusive comprehensive sex education module for the InTACT program, in hopes that it creates a safe space for both cisgender and transgender students to make informed decisions about their bodies and their sexual health.
What’s next for you?
Anything that offers me the chance to pursue my passions!
What has been the most enriching experience for you at Ateneo?
Meeting life-long friends and acquiring life-long learnings made my Ateneo experience life-giving and enriching.
What will you miss most about your online campus experience?
The confetti?
What was your thesis about?
My thesis profiled the organizational sustainability of youth organizations and identified key areas of intervention for them.
What’s next for you?
I will probably put my thesis to good use and pursue opportunities in the development sector in the field of youth development, community development, or civic engagement.
What has been the most enriching experience for you at Ateneo?
My most enriching experiences in Ateneo were all the opportunities I had to make films with fellow Ateneans; to learn from them, grow together as artists, and have fun along the way.
What will you miss most about your online campus experience?
I'll miss the sweet feeling of having nothing on your "To-Do" tab in Canvas.
What was your thesis about?
My thesis was on revisionist queer characterizations in the recently emerged Filipino Boy's Love sub-genre.
What’s next for you?
Work for a production company maybe, keep making movies along the way.
What has been the most enriching experience for you at Ateneo?
I consider community immersion as my most enriching experience as an Atenean because it kept me grounded on my why’s as I aspire to be a physician-leader-for-others.
What will you miss most about your online campus experience?
One of the highlights of my online campus experience was collaborating in school, nationwide, and worldwide through webinars and other events while being flexible and adaptable in balancing my commitments.
What was your thesis about?
My thesis team explored faster, cheaper, simpler, and more accessible diagnostics through at-home and at-lab experiments entitled Distributed Diagnostics (DDx), and my thesis pair developed a PaperDip device which had the potential to be a pipette alternative for DNA elution in low-resource settings.
What’s next for you?
I will pursue post-graduate studies at Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health (ASMPH) for my MD-MBA degree, and I am looking forward to doing medical missions, volunteer work, and significant projects that will benefit the underserved as a med student while advocating for safe piercings through The Pierce Place (@the.pierceplace).