Bababa ba?

Here’s my situation: I am currently a 2.5th year BS Applied Physics undergraduate student in the University of the Philippines. 2.5th year because first, I have just shifted from BS Statistics the previous academic year, and thus, second, I am way way way behind the curriculum. I have tried to catch up with the academic program through two summer semesters, and by taking up the bigger subjects simultaneously, but still I’m behind.

As of now, I’m realizing that it was a big mistake to try to catch up because my subjects are getting harder and harder by the day. Dr. Perry told me that I could crawl my way through the subjects that I am taking up now. And now I’m realizing what he meant by crawl, because really, I’m having the hardest time ever.

How did I get myself into this kind of situation? Firstly, I wanted to graduate on time. Who doesn’t? If ever I would graduate on 2012 I would be part of the 100th regular commencement exercises in UP. Another is that being enrolled in a five-year course, you sure would want to graduate as fast as you could (I’m not really sure if anybody appreciates the extra required year). Second, I wanted to get into a research laboratory in the National Institute of Physics. Third year is high time for lab applications as they usually accept third year REGULAR students. By regular, they mean students who are taking up or who have already passed the usual third year subjects, namely Physics 104, Physics 113, Physics 121, Physics 131). Which are coincidentally the subjects I’m having a hard time right now. While taking all of those minus Physics 131, I’m taking up Math 122 (in lieu of Math 121.1) which has the core concepts needed for the said subjects. So that’s why things are difficult (and that’s why I’m crawling my way through). Failing Math 55 the previous year and dropping Physics 112 the previous sem has really hampered my catching up.

I guess it was just time for me to realize that I really don’t have to hurry myself.

So what’s my plan for my academic success?

First I would have to accept the fact that I am not going to graduate on time. Whatever happens, pass or fail, I would not try anymore to fast forward my academic life. I will be doing things my pace while adhering to the maximum residency rule of the university (maximum time you can stay in UP = [years of academic program] + [years of academic program]/2 ). If I pass most of my subjects this semester, I’d only be taking an extra semester, if not, an extra year. Consequently, I won’t be taking up summer classes next summer. I’d be taking that time to finally take a break that I truly deserve. After all that hype before and after shifting, I think it would be time for me to sit down for a while, regroup, and recharge. Maybe I could even do some part-time work.

Second, I would have to find alternative laboratories that I could do research in for my future thesis. Let’s face it, competition in the laboratories in National Institute of Physics is tough (in the Instrumentation Physics lab for example, out of 27 applicants they would only be accepting 13). So, I would be needing a back up plan if ever I don’t get in one. Surely, there are other laboratories around in the Philippines and it’s possible that I could do some research in them for my future thesis. I would just need to find out where these are and whom I could contact. And also, this is the hard part, I would need to find a thesis adviser who would take me in whatever academic state I’m in and wherever lab I’m from. Research areas I’m thinking of include meteorology, environmental science research, or possibly even geology.

Third, I would take up a graduate course in any of these three fields: meteorology, environmental science, or geology. Yes, those are the three fields I mentioned in the previous paragraph. Why do I want to get into one of them, you ask? Because in the future, I really don’t want to be stuck in a jail cell more commonly referred to as an office cubicle. I want to go out in the world and explore, to learn things first hand. I want my job to be something that entails travel and field work and discovering and working with other people. And of course, having an Applied Physics degree would I guess be very much helpful in those fields.

Fourth, if God and the Jesuits permit, I would get a job as a Physics teacher in the Ateneo de Manila High School. While taking up one of the Master’s courses that I have mentioned, I guess it wouldn’t hurt to be earning a few extra cash while teaching kids the hardest subject in their fourth year lives in the process. There is a lack of Physics teachers (or just teachers for that matter) in high schools and I guess it wouldn’t be bad to help out for a while in one school until I finish my Master’s degree.

Finally, if things work out the way I planned them to be, I want to settle down when I reach 28. Yeap, have a family and all that chorva. When I was a kid what I wanted to do was to get rich first, and then get married when I already have a lot of money. But with the recent hard times, if I’d continue with that in mind, I might end up settling down after I turn 50. Hahahaha. But seriously, rich or poor, as long as I have a stable source of income, by 28 I hope I’d already be starting a family.

There. With you, my readers as my witnesses, I have written what I plan to do within the next 8 years. If only we could just affix our signatures at the end of this long entry. Hahahahaha.

To be honest with you guys, those plans aren’t really final. Who knows, I might wake up one day with an epiphany? But really, while nothing else comes up, those are my plans for now.

Pray I accomplish them.