OJT BLOG | Lovelyn Perez

 

 

I am Lovelyn Perez, a first-year student taking Bachelor of Science Major in Information Technology. Before I make my way to the first semester of my second year in college, I am required to take my On-The-Job Training in a company or office that will not only nurture my skills in the IT field but also, prepare me to work in the real world after school. I was one of the few lucky ones to intern at my school, Gordon College, under the department of Office of the Students Welfare and Services in the Vice President's tutelage, Ms. Lovelyn P. Ceralde.

 

If you were to ask me what I learnt over my 200 hours as an intern at the Gordon College - Office of the Students Welfare and Services, I would say a lot. At first, I thought, "I do not think I am cut out for something like this." You see, before I could even begin my internship, I already belittled myself for believing I was not good enough. I've had my second thoughts; I almost dropped this subject for having a negative mindset. But then, I thought to myself that real growth only happens when you do something you were not qualified to do and thus, even if I was reluctant, I still gave it a shot. 

 

And giving this a shot proved me wrong. I was not as small as I think I am. I was able to carry my job properly without any conflict. It wasn't because the tasks were relatively easy, they were not that hard either. But it was good enough that it made me love the work, the grind, the hustle. The real trick is time. Time was my enemy. There were times that I have multiple of tasks in a single day and the deadline would be on the same particular day. It taught me prioritization. It enhanced my time management skills. I was able to deliver all of my works on time without them looking rushed. I also found myself leading my co-workers on our tasks. It felt great. Us, relying on each other, building camaraderie. It was team work, indeed. An effective communication with my co-workers despite having an online setting. Back then, I was one of the "awkward penguins" when it comes to social interactions but now, I became more confident. Confident of who I am and the abilities that I possess. 

 

My internship allowed me to explore. I’ve always liked art. If I was given a chance to pick a profession without having to worry about my financial status, I would have chosen art. That's the reason why I loved the job I was assigned to. It revolves around designing. It wasn't exhausting, it was rather exhilarating. Every day I get to seek new information. I felt my creativity expanding. 

 

But that’s not where my growth ends. The most challenging task I was assigned for was organizing a webinar. It was a lot of pressure to conduct one. I was afraid of not meeting everyone’s expectations, especially that our adviser was very optimistic about our capabilities. I had to think about literally everything, from the programme flow, the roles, who would be the speakers, the host, are they prepared? Would our schedules align? I had my doubts, again. But just as last time, I pushed myself to be better. I kept telling myself, “I can do this, we can do this” as if it’s my every day mantra. I just had to believe in myself, and put my faith in the host and speakers that I personally chose. With our great efforts and our adviser, Mr. Joseph Pusing’s guidance, we pulled it off. After the webinar, I felt relieved and gleeful. It was satisfying. Seeing all your works pay off. Our efforts were not in vain. We even got compliments from our adviser and the participants as well. And I told myself, perhaps I wasn’t as bad as I thought I was. Perhaps it is I, who had been limiting myself from achieving my fullest potential.

 

As I have said, I’ve learned a lot from my On-The-Job Training. But if there’s one thing that proved to be the most beneficial, it would be I’ve got to realize that one should not limit their own ability based on what they think they are only capable of. Be bigger than your thoughts. Because when you do, you find out that the very thing that hinders us to reach our utmost potential is ourselves.