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| Photo from Blessilda Beatriz Atacador |
Years after the COVID-19 pandemic brought us to a new normal, life goes on.
The global pandemic pushed the community to adopt a virtual approach to learning which has proven to be challenging in many ways, especially for us students who are used to habitually going to school to study. But life does not end there. There is no way to go but forward.
Being optimistic is key for Ms. Blessilda Beatriz E. Atacador when it comes to adjusting from face-to-face classes to virtual learning. There is no surefire strategy for coping, but having a strong mindset is important.
“Iba ‘yung nag-aaral on campus, wala kasing stress reliever ‘pag nakakulong sa bahay.” Blessilda stated. “Therapeutic ‘yung paglalakad sa loob ng campus.” She added.
One may lose the willingness and drive to learn throughout the course of their studies. In performing online, you might just be doing it “for compliance.” A device, a good internet connection, and comfortable space for you are big factors in distance learning. There are times that doubt, stress, and loss of motivation might become triggering as uncertainties come along the way. Nonetheless, we have to be bigger than our enemies.
Taking it easy and avoiding the act of pressuring oneself is a message she believes in. “Wag pilitin ang sarili kasi you’ll end up losing more kapag nag-focus ka sa mga bagay na hindi ka sure.” Ms. Blessilda emphasized. Despite struggling with the aforementioned issues, she encourages us, “laban lang, tuloy lang” and remind us that “matatapos din ‘to, makakabalik din tayo.”
The lifting of quarantine has left students ecstatic about the prospect of experiencing the face-to-face setup once again. To the delight of all graduating students, the University of Santo Tomas has opted to conduct face-to-face Baccalaureate Mass and Solemn Investiture ceremonies for Batches 2020, 2021, and 2022.
“Sobrang nostalgic, andito na ako ulit, nakabalik na ako. I’m back to end this.” She shares her feelings about coming back to the university after two years of online classes. For her, the experience was a surreal one as she struggled to survive the circumstances of the quarantine.
Talking about how to survive in the midst of global uncertainty, the greatest lesson Blessilda has learned during this pandemic is to appreciate the smallest things and to focus on what you have.
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| Photo by The Flame on Facebook |
“Huwag masyadong i-stress ang sarili sa mga things na you don’t have control of.” She noted. When talking about college, Blessilda described the experience as Sisyphean, in reference to the Greek story of Sisyphus. Sisyphus was punished by Zeus to eternally pushing a boulder up a mountain, only for the boulder to come rolling down every time it neared the peak.
For her, college is just like that. You will always have to enter a maze where challenges, struggles, and problems await you. However, we should not try to escape, but rather accept them as part of our eventual triumphs. “You achieve, you lose, you get energized, and then you get burned out. It’s a cycle, a cycle of loses to wins.”
Quoting her favorite line from Albert Camus, “The struggle itself towards the heights is enough to a man's heart.” Indeed, it’s not just about finishing things victoriously. Rather, it is more about the lessons, experiences, and memories that we can use for the next challenges we will have to face in the future. We must keep on pushing to fight the good fight. "Alam kong napapagod tayo, because we are all humans. But don’t stop trying. You don’t need to punish yourselves or push yourselves to the hardest, you just keep on going.”
Despite the challenges the pandemic has compelled us to face, now more than ever, we must look into who we are, and distinguish our strengths and weaknesses. Let us take advantage of this opportunity to know more about ourselves. At the end of the day, it is what life throws at us that shapes us into who we are now and who we will become.
