On April 17, 2018 the Grade 12 students attended a talk aimed to prepare and help them in the next chapter of their lives— beyond the familiar brick walls. Batch 2016 alumnae, Lucia Lorenzo, Bel Neukom, Bea Candava, Isa Garcia, Mikee de Guzman, Gabee Torres, Aisha Lacson, Bettina Mendoza, and Angel Dizon provided the students with some tips to make transition easier from high school to college. The alumnae were able to give a good representation of what life is like in the different universities because they all hailed from different schools: the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, and University of Asia & the Pacific. Apart from discussing the main differences between high school and university, the alumnae gave the Grade 12 students plenty of reason to look forward to the next chapter of their lives. They talked about meeting and befriending people from completely different backgrounds, joining varsities and organizations which have given them a sense of belonging, and of course, gaining independence. While they each provided their own unique and personal perspectives about life after Woodrose, they agreed that one of the most important things to make sure of is for the students to stay firm in their beliefs and values.
We asked some students how they felt after the talk and this is what they shared:
Bettina Gaite
“The college prep talk gave me more insight into college life and what to expect. Their experiences made me both excited and anxious. Undoubtedly, our surroundings, our schoolmates, even ourselves will change, but this talk taught me not to be afraid of that and rather, embrace it.”
Annika Yu
“It’s hard to get information about colleges and the ‘real college experience.’ It was super helpful to get opinions from people we know and from people who have the same values as us. It was also really fun and nice to see and hear all their stories!”
Angie Campos
“It was insightful and easy to relate to! I liked that the speakers were not old and we also knew them, so it was a more relaxed atmosphere.”
Cloe Alvarez
“The talk was very insightful. It was nice that the batch above us gave the talk because they know very well the important things to share since they kind of know what our worries would be and all that. I think that the information from the talk will be very helpful as I somehow got a glimpse of college.”
Neeka Jimenez
“I found the college prep talk very useful. Since most of us have already decided on our courses and universities, it was helpful to hear first-hand experiences and advice from people in college. Moreover, the speakers were no strangers to us, which made it easier to relate and understand.”
Nikki Macaraig
“I found it really helpful because it gave me a first-person point of view on how college would go. They also gave me tips that most speakers usually don’t give (everyday casual survival tips).”
Article by: Pau Fermin and Kyla Algarra