Higher Education And Cosmopolitan

Posted on June 28, 2010 12:00 am by Veronica
Photo: from "Betty Anne Waters" courtesy of Fox Searchlight Pictures

Print Email

Tweet

When you finally realize what you want to do for the rest of your life, a lot of things won't make sense anymore.

It's true: there's something in the UP air that's very intoxicating. It's really hard to get into the best university in the country, that's for sure. But once you're there, you'll start to feel that the world is yours for the taking.

I took my undergraduate course and my first year in law school elsewhere, but when it came to my masters, I made sure that I would get into the University of the Philippines at all cost.

That was my first step to getting better: getting a master's degree. I figured if I wanted to pursue a career in publishing, I might as well get my masters while I was still young and able, which brought back some lessons from Kate Monster of Avenue Q: "You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime."

Or maybe my choice was full of bias because Sam graduated from UP with a degree in Psychology.

I wasn't trying to run away from his memory. I was trying to deal with it by facing it head on.

Studying in this prestigious university made me understand why most of the UP graduates I knew were highly independent. I grew up sheltered and in my previous university, everything was spoon fed. In UP, they won't push instructions under your nose. If you want to clear something up or get somewhere, you have to open your mouth. And it proved to be a learning experience for me.

During one of our lectures, we discussed Arturo Rotor's At Last This Fragrance and the concept of "attachment." Our professor asked each of us about the things we were attached to. Some of my classmates couldn't let go of old teddy bears from childhood, music complications, shoes, pets, and even their own comic books. Since I was seated in the third row, I had a lot of time to think about my answer.

"How about you, [my real name deleted]?" My professor asked. "What is your attachment?"

"A certain past," I answered.

"What is in that particular past?"

"A person."

Just like in the movies, the entire class said "Awww..."

"You know what, I will give you an MP3 of 'Somewhere Down the Road,'" my professor said.

That day, I went on my usual walk along the tree-lined streets of UP while eating peanut butter and jelly sandwich that I bought from the cafeteria. It was one of my favorite moments after class because it helped clear my head. I was feeling particularly emotional that day.

Professor, you don't understand, I thought. Sam and I won't meet again somewhere down the road. But Sam probably walked these same streets years ago.

It had been this way for almost half a year. I worked and studied at the same time. Twice a week, I commuted from the office to the university. I was so lucky one of my professors taught one of my favorite writers of Cosmo Books: Tara FT Sering. For several hours, I listened to his lectures and passed my papers on time. A month into school, I was starting to feel a renewed sense of purpose and I was starting to feel better.

I'd begun to love the quiet walks along UP after class and the way my work and studies kept me busy for almost half a year. Apart from that, I also busied myself with my writing assignments for a magazine and went to events handled by friends.

Months passed and I started to realize that I was trying to cover too many things at one time. I was starting to feel exhausted, so when Chi asked me if I wanted to write freelance for Cosmo.ph, I chose to put my graduate studies on hold. A great opportunity was being offered to me on a silver platter and I chose to grab it.

Tags: Cosmo.ph,Cosmopolitan,University of the Philippines,masters degree,further education,veronica

19 Comments

Add A Comment

• 
  Biskwit
  19. I have Tara FT Sering's Amazing Grace! One helluvah book =)
  December 16, 2011 at 05:21 am report abuse
• 
  pattylover
  18. :)
  July 02, 2010 at 05:36 pm report abuse
• 
  milaniecandido
  17. i miss my studying days..i mean in school hahaha
  July 01, 2010 at 11:53 pm report abuse
• 
  elite
  16. hi veronica. this comment is not for this post,this is actually for the blog you posted months ago about ana and the call center agents who have second rate accent. about ana, let me say that the words you used are really mean. given that you are feisty, but that does not give you the right to insult ana who happens to be overweight,she is a person not a pig.with te call center agents: what's wrong if there accent can't be compared to those of americans. we are filipinos and we can't be expected to speak like caucasians coz' in the first place english is not our native language. i enjoy reading your posts but sometimes you need to be told if you are hitting it below the belt.thanks
  July 01, 2010 at 05:32 am report abuse
• 
  angel_love_song
  15. i'm glad you grabbed the chance to work for Cosmo. I want to do that too, V! I hope you're better now :)
  June 29, 2010 at 05:43 pm report abuse
• 
  rose17
  14. nice long walks after class eh? i miss doing that in UP among other things like hanging out in the sunken garden, love it. :) i agree though that UP air is very intoxicating, what with all the best minds in the country gathering together or so they say. Being there seems like you could do anything, like you could change the world which is not so realistic =(
  June 29, 2010 at 06:52 am report abuse
• 
  meeeow18
  13. So happy you grabbed that silver platter and we're now reading your blog. Thanks V!
  June 28, 2010 at 11:11 pm report abuse
• 
  duchesse
  12. I thought Sam was a graduate of Bachelor in Fine Arts?
  June 28, 2010 at 09:34 pm report abuse
• 
  chrysjan
  11. "You gotta go after the things you want while you're still in your prime." >like that! hopefully i can.. err start now??
  June 28, 2010 at 05:59 pm report abuse
• 
  maloupedroso
  10. :D
  June 28, 2010 at 05:57 pm report abuse
• 
  MonicaGuerra
  9. nice long walks after class is indeed refreshing. i used to do that in college. pero now, pabilisan sumakay sa bus is the key. hay..
  June 28, 2010 at 05:04 pm report abuse
• 
  vogue
  8. I wish I'd realize soon what I really wanna do in life...gawd i'm 26 ardy! go, v! buti ka pa :(
  June 28, 2010 at 02:39 pm report abuse
• 
  veronica11
  7. @rischnite: Sometimes, all you have to do is take one step forward and the rest will follow. :)
  June 28, 2010 at 02:10 pm report abuse
• 
  Rischnite
  6. hayst.Ms Veronica,kelan ako amgkakaron ng strength n katulad ng sau.i want to move on,to move forward with my life,i dont know why im still holding on with my past.=(
  June 28, 2010 at 01:49 pm report abuse
• 
  mickee
  5. congrats! UP is really where you should be. I love UP! :)
  June 28, 2010 at 01:08 pm report abuse
• 
  Mariel G.
  4. Wow UP ka din...like!!!
  June 28, 2010 at 12:14 pm report abuse
• 
  ya1mma9y
  3. :) writing is what u do best, V :)
  June 28, 2010 at 11:07 am report abuse
• 
  sherdhy
  2. goodluck V on your career...
  June 28, 2010 at 04:21 am report abuse
• 
  pinkyLisciouschic21
  1. renewaL and achievement..that's reaLLy brave V!..i see so much of myseLf in your character..kya i bet you'LL achieve greater things..bka nga sobra pa sa ineexpect mu..keep rockin' girL!=)
  June 28, 2010 at 01:09 am report abuse

RECEIVE COSMO.PH WEEKLY!