A Wise Investment!

My student, Wilbert Go introduced me to this I.T. mag: PC Shopper.

I instantly liked it! I read the mag from cover to cover! It's really cool and has loads of information too.. I would advise the techies to get a hold of this mag monthly... Though one could easily surf the net and find the IT stuff written here, it would cost time and usually, "surfing" would lead you to somewhere else.

Anyway, it's really loaded with a lot of cool stuff! It keeps you updated with the latest gadgets and technology. =)

How I Survived My Quarter-life Crisis…

I suffered from Quarter-life Crisis exactly on schedule: at 25.

Wikipedia:
A crisis (plural: crises) may occur on a personal or societal level. It may be a traumatic or stressful change in a person’s life, or an unstable and dangerous social situation, in political, social, economic, military affairs, or a large-scale environmental event, especially one involving an impending abrupt change. More loosely, it is a term meaning ‘a testing time’ or ‘emergency event’.

It happened during the last quarter of 2008.

I felt I was at the peak of my career. I finished my Master’s degree on time, was invited to speak at various IT conferences and conducted trainings. I was even one of the SFD team leaders who were given special mention. Also, I passed the PhilNITS exam and had a great job offer at one of the software companies. It seems that I was really successful. But one thing was lacking: a lovelife. (Yeah, friends, I know…)

Until I met this guy in one of the trainings I attended. Guy X had everything on my Guy Checklist. A good diploma, title, nice and stable job, charming personality, responsible, Catholic, good son, and lives in the city where I wanted to live and build a family. Plus, he even had a car (ahem). Everything was perfect. It was just so hard to resist. I was supposed to be happy. I was. And I definitely enjoyed those times. Life was soooo good to me. But I had a gut-feeling that it was just too good to be true. I had everything I ever wished for. It didn’t feel right. I waited for the dark day to come.

And one day, it did! The relationship ended. Crashed. Crushed. Just like that. At first, I struggled. I wondered what was wrong with me. How could it happen to an awesome and fabulous girl like me?! How can I be a failure? It was just so hard to handle…at first.

But I handled the crisis pretty well.

I didn’t wallow in self-pity or turn into drugs, alcohol or commit suicide. I am a toughie. I just evaluated my life - took a closer look on who I am as a person and realized that there’s nothing wrong with me, at all! I am indeed fabulous! (in my own standards, at least…)
This blog entry is not about “Surviving a breakup” so, I won’t focus on that. It deserves an entirely new entry.

Anyway, amidst all the “getting-over” and “moving forward”, I still had to deal with another dilemma: “Staying or Moving Out”.

I was confused about staying with my current job or moving into another field. It was not a simple decision because it involved moving to another city, looking for a new(and more expensive) house, meeting and working with new people and leaving the people whom I have worked with the past five years. It was a tougher crisis.

These are the questions that kept bothering me:

• Will I be better as a trainer or a teacher?
• Where do I fit: academe or industry?
• Who are the better friends: those in GenSan or those in Cebu?(A stupid question coz all of my friends are equally great!)
• Will I be happier in GenSan or in Cebu?
• Will Company X get hit by the global economic crisis?

But again, I was able to get through it with flying colors…

Here are the things I did:

• Pray - Spiritual guidance really helps
• Talk to friends - especially those who really understand what you are going through and are much eager to help
• Meditate/Reflect - Take some time to be with yourself. Examine your heart and identify your feelings. Know your deepest desires and priorities.
• Read books/blogs - You are not alone! Learn from those who went through similar situations

I am now a better and more mature person because of the crises I have gone through. I am single but happy. At least nobody’s making me cry over nonsense stuff right now. Haha.

And I realized that there was something wrong with my Guy Checklist: I missed the loyal, honest, mature and totally-into-me criteria. No wonder I got the wrong guy! Another thing I realized is that I have a fantastic job here in MSU, which allows me to enjoy the thing I am good at: being with and working with people! I will have fun with my current job and look for other opportunities a little later…

How about you? How did you handle your quarter-life crisis?

Making it happen....

"If you don't have discipline, you don' deserve to dream"

I have just read Mr. Butch Jimenez's commencement address to the graduating class of UP entitled "Descending to the Top". It was very inspiring.

Mr. Jimenez talked about

• How to reach the top (Be the first in the mind and burn an attitude in the mind)
  
• Discipline
  
• Execution (There is no try. There is either do or not do.)
• Descending to the Top (As you rise to the top, the more you have to be a servant.)
• A heart for our country - Philippines (Show 'em we're great & give back to the country.)
• Walk with GOD (There is no destination beyond the reach of those who walk w/ HIM.)

I have realized that for me to be able to reach the top, I have to serve and be humble, always giving more than I am expected of - working more than I am paid for.

Also, I need to be serious with implementing discipline on myself like:

• delaying gratification
• setting aside my savings before spending
• getting the job done ON TIME
  
• keeping a tidy place
  

Assessment of My Performance this Sem

I promised to be at my best this semester. In one of my blogs at Friendster, I said I wanted to make a perfect 10 this sem (because it's my 10th sem in MSU and supposedly my last).

However, this sem didn't start quite right because I had to attend a 2-week training at PhilNITS, Davao. And that event led to many "other unexpected" events. I had a roller coaster ride - with all the highest and lowest points, which made my stomach feel funny. Anyway, I was a little distracted and troubled in the past few months. But I managed to keep my sanity. =)

All of my "hopes" for the best performance kept on falling apart because I had so many "back jobs", too many commitments...

• I had to attend another 1-week seminar at PhilNITS last January
• I had to re-echo my learnings from the seminar/training that I have attended
• I had to present my project at Ateneo de Davao during the Research Festival
  

That is why, I really feel guilty. But I will make it up next sem (again)

These are some things I want to improve on:

• planning ahead and implementing the plan
• check papers and return them regularly
• provide up-to-date feedback to students
• faithfully do projects
• not turn research time into social networking time...(sigh)

WikiAnswers - As we know parallel transmission is faster then serial then why serial is replacing parallel

Link

My 2008 Travels/Laags

Sarangani Highlands with Officemates

Graduation Blowout at Pool, Davao with Family

Cebu trip (Airsoft)

Chowking, SM Cebu with College Friends

Bridesmaid of my Bestfriend's Wedding, Cebu

With BQ Friends at Gumasa, Glan

Jack's Ridge with PhilNITS trainees


Punta Isla, Samal Island(D-U-H)

Christmas Party at Lago, Glan

Papa's Birthday at Garay Resort, Hinatuan

Taking a step closer to my life-goals

I am taking a step closer to my goals.

These are my concrete steps:

• limit my time with "mindless" surfing (FS, FB, Mul)
• waking up at 5:30 and sleeping at 10:30 (I need at least 7 hours of sleep)
• check papers on time (and return them at least a week after)
• choose the TV programs I watch
• make my working place clutter-free
• self-discipline!
  

Every failure is actually a progress...

I borrowed this line from someone on the net. I just can't help quoting it. It is so damn true!

For me, this is a new way of looking at things. It is so positive! And it helps me because I am learning to be a positive person every single day. The nega-Mylene is slowly gone. When I was younger, I used to regret every single decision I made - even if sometimes, the results are good. I always imagine how "it could have happened"...so many "what-if's". And, suffice to say, it didn't make me happy. :(

Now, I am learning - from so many people... by reading their blogs, or from the books and magazines I am reading, and most especially from the people I talk with.

I have had a lot of failures in my life. I am pretty successful with my academics, career, family, and friendships. But with relationships with the opposite sex, it's always been a failure...And that's going to change, from this day forward. ;)

I was CONNED again...

Oh no! I think I was conned again...

Why is it that I always allow myself to be fooled by someone? Just recently, a batchmate from way back grade school texted me that she needed help. She said she has something in her ovary (I forgot the term-was it polycistic ovarian tumor?). And she's currently in the hospital, and she needs help. She said that she'll be undergoing an operation, and that her money was not enough so she needs all the help she could get.

So, to make the long story short, I sent her money through ML (she's in CDO), even though I was not so sure if her story was true. A voice inside me kept telling me to help her in any way I could. Well, she also promised to return the money as soon as her loan will be released. But anyway, I really thought that she wouldn't return the money anymore. So I just considered it as a "donation".

But, what irritates me is that she no longer replies to my texts, when Im asking how she is, how the operation went, stuff like that. And to my great surprise, when I dialled her number, it won't ring anymore! The recording says that it is unattended and may no longer be in use. WTF?! grr...

This is soooo bad. Just when you thought you helped somebody, that somebody turns out to be a conner! Well, as I always say, at least I learned something. Tsk. Tsk...

Confessions of a TEACHER

It's been a long time since I wrote a blog on Blogger. My most recent blogs are currently in Friendster...well, that's because I'm saving this account for more
"serious" blogs like work, career, programming... But I've realized that I can use this for my not-so-serious articles as well.

Anyway, I have already made a decision to stay in MSU. I chose to stay. It was hard for me because everything was already part of my career plan. I never thought that I would stay this long in teaching because I never dreamt of becoming a teacher. But maybe it's in my genes. I came from a family of teachers - my father, grandmother, my aunts, my uncles...

I took this job hastily in June 2004 because I badly needed to earn money for myself and for my family. (I am glad)I am not one of those fortunate people who didn't need to work to have money. So, though I really didn't want to teach, I took the job, thinking that it was just a "temporary" job. I'll just save enough money to go back to Cebu and look for a job in the industry.

But one thing leads to another. In December of 2004, I applied for a study grant in CHED. Needless to say, I was accepted and I took my Master in IT at Ateneo de Davao, from June 2005 to May 2007. I enjoyed going back to school and being a student once again. It was so much fun and I really learned a lot - not only about IT but also about teaching.

Since I have to render my return service to MSU, I continued teaching. But since my original plan was to work in the industry, I took the PhilNITS exam. I thought that it was a good preparation for me since most employers would recognize the certification from PhilNITS.

In June 2008, I applied as a Software Engineer in NEC Cebu because one of our alumni, Richard Bernat told me that some representatives of the company are coming to GenSan to hire SE's. I took the exam together with my students at East Asia Royal Hotel and got interviewed a few weeks after at Marco Polo Hotel, Davao. I was accepted but I couldn't leave MSU because of my bond. So I told them that maybe I can join in November.

November 2008, NEC's HR officer called me up saying that they are offering me another position - Senior Trainer. And that they want me to join them in April 2009. I was ecstatic! I thought that it was the opportunity that I have been waiting for.

But when the deadline drew near, I got more and more confused. People gave me their own POV's (point of views). Some said "hindi maganda ang timing" because of the current global economic recession. It would be "foolish" to resign from a stable job and work in a private company. Others said that I would grow and learn more in NEC, that I would be able to know and use my full potential in the industry.

I was confused. I knew that both worlds offer great opportunities. But I also knew that I have to make a choice. And I vowed that I would not regret the choice that I will make.

So what made me stay?
I have realized that I loved teaching after all! Yippee! lol... Yeah, this work can be a drag sometimes. Especially when I had to check a lot of papers and compute grades. But it's really fulfilling too. Especially when I see that my students are learning something, when I see them working hard and actually enjoying programming or web designing. I feel happy when I see them succeed in their chosen careers. I feel proud when I see them or meet them in the real world - looking more professional than me - wearing their company uniforms! =)

So now, I have a new vision for myself. I will love this job and I will give it my best shot. üüü