ANOTHER FACE UP TO BEAT

 I’m done with the research given to me and my other co-intern. We were so happy because we made it before the prescribed schedule. Our boss was quite pleased. He asked us to search for some more contents for the website of the company. He gave us the tasks of listing all the airline companies within Cebu provinces and their corresponding ticketing offices, different ships that anchor within the Cebu City shore, list of ports and porters, list of taxi companies, list of rent-a-car companies and list of terminals. I was quite challenged because of the tasks given to us. It is tougher compare to our previous assignments. As of this moment, we are still in the pursuit of finding the data. I hope we’ll finish the tasks ahead of time. I wish so.

                                                    

Challenges are created not only to measure one’s competencies and skills but also to measure perseverance and patience. I hope, I can finish the assignment rightfully at an earlier time. I really find it hard but I have to do my best.

A SURPRISED ATTACK

It’s not my duty day but I engaged myself to invest my time to have a duty on Thursday. Thursday is one of the days assigned for my class schedule. I was informed by my boss that they will need an intern for some events to cover. So, I decided to go along.

I arrived few minutes earlier than the time of the coverage. I roamed around SM North Wing to search for some information that I’ll be using later. The event was all about the SM’s new online ticketing. Representatives from SM introduced the advancement properly. They even provided computers for the audience to try the site. The cameraman from the company where I’m having my internship also tried registering for an access of the online ticket. I was asked by my boss to interview one of the heads behind the success of the event. I prepared many questions and started the interview.  After the interview, I asked my boss about the interaction. She just said it’s good. I was quite happy.

We also went to Radisson Blue Hotel to witness another event. I was amazed because there were many people interested in exporting. My boss asked me again to interview the head of the club. I was stricken at first but I find it challenging. I formulated few questions and have it checked by my boss. She approved the questions and asked me to approach the interviewee. I was hesitant but I find it challenging. I formulated few questions and immediately approach the interviewee. I was bit nervous because he is one of the VIP of the event. I don’t even have an idea how to talk to him. I used my confidence and smiled. During the interview, I found him humble and out-spoken. He answered my questions directly. After the interview, I thanked him and asked him to watch our advertising channel. I was so grateful that even though I was not fully prepared at least I’ve done my part.

Being prepared is useful especially during emergency. I still believe on an old cliché that says preparing before the battle is almost winning half of it.

A GREAT CHALLENGE

             Everyday is a challenge everybody faces. I think you have to nod your heads with me. For whatever reason, we wake up, take a bath, eat breakfast, ride a jeep/taxi/car and run after time. The picture is quite visible in big cities like Cebu. Like other cities, our beloved Cebu also serves ton of problem. The jampacked traffic that motorists usually experience which make their day complete. Never forget the smogs that will generously embrace you  while walking along the streets. I’m not writing against Cebu. Well, anyway my problem is not about the cities’ population either.

My problem is about my duty schedule and class.  I have to wake up early and arrive in Banilad at 9:00. After few hours of research, I have to go out at 12:00 noon and ride a jeepney back to Colon Street and walk to school. It is because I have a class at 1:00 pm. One hour of discussion and other classroom activities will signal me to exit school and ride a jeepney again to be back in Banilad. I have to be on the office at 3:00. This circumstance pushed me away  of eating my lunch. I usually arrived at the office with my stomach grumbling.  To alleviate my hunger, I obliged myself on buying turon, bisquits, mani and eating it along the way. My duty ends at 6:00 pm. This whole picture quite intrigues and troubles me. You might find my problem quite simple on my part. But, let me present myself properly. The number of minutes being spent on travelling really weakens my system; aside from the idea of being exposed to dusts after moments of personal grooming. I have to balance my time on doing research assignments for my duty and conditioning my mind for my class period. Another thing, I have to skip lunch in order to meet the assigned hours for prelim requirements. 

I have to decide truthfully. I asked my practicum coordinator about my issue. He told me to hurdle my vacation days in order to meet the deadline. There is no other solution on my problem. I don’t have any choice.

Life is boring without any challenges.  After all, living here on earth will be much colourful with those kinds of struggles. As an intern, I have to decide and act correctly. It is my part of my obligation to meet all the expectations both from my company and school regardless of the demands of the situation. All I have to have as of this moment is a limitless container of strength, perseverance and endurance.

ADVERTISING FIRST ENCOUNTER

Money.Fame.Creativity.  Innovation. 

For me, that’s advertising.

Everyone has different definition on everything. I had a subject about advertising few semesters had already passed. I’ll never thought that I’ll be considering the idea of having  my internship in relation to advertising hub rather  than busy myself on a press company. As a mass communication student, I was trained and molded to become one of the most successful entity in the media world someday. The three years I spent equipping myself pushed me to truly love my course. I tried my best to use all the knowledge I patiently deciphered and digested way back during classroom discussions. I tuned myself on greater possibilities of rigid exposure to the demanding world of media. But the passion sparks and developed into desire of higher aquaintance of meeting individuals who are hooked to media practices. These desire elevated me to venture into a new arena of learning. It was then I decided to try advertising. I heard many things about advertising. I hope advertising will not disappoint me.

I’m now on the second day of my internship in one of the prestigious advertising channel here in Metro Cebu. I’m enjoying every moment of my stay in the company. I admit, as a neophype I’m still not familiar with the company’s atmosphere and policies. One of my supervisors introduced me to the environment I’ll later be interacting. I was also introduced to the employees. They wore faces of determination and passion. I can see in their eyes the outstanding love they have on their job.During that time , I was encouraged and inspired to be an instrument of an improvement and innovation. Since I was assigned on the press relation and advertising whereabouts, I was given the tasks to search for the contents of the upcoming website of the company. 

I accepted the challenge and did the task positively. I thought the research were easy to be executed. The quick movement of hour proved my assumption to be justifiably wrong. Are you wondering what were the assignmets given to me that made me realize that research should never be again underestimated? Let me, your humble servant, enlighten you mind by answering the above question mentioned. I have to search for the Cebu’s provinces(from North to South), towns/cities officials, total land area, main industries, mode and medium of transportation/ distance from Cebu City, delicacies, tourist attractions, and accomodations. I have also to consider the idea of getting all these information only from one to two sites. I was really pressured. I have to do my assignments very well to fully impress my bosses. I started the job and upto this moment still continue doing the task. I hope I’ll meet the requirements before deadline. Will I make it?

         

Never underestimate any tasks that might be assigned to you. Nothing is easy until it is justified by executing it with much effort. I still believe what our practicum coordinator and at the same time the dean of our college told us,” Don’t settle for mediocrity.” Now, I have realized that putting your best in everything that you do will not only elevate your products’   quality but will also bring you to the apex of happiness and satisfaction.

  

A WEEK FULL OF TRIALS

           This week is one of the most challenging weeks for me.  I’ve tried several efforts and end up missing. I was in a total disaster.

           The possibility of gaining my target is quite far. I think; I’m going to surrender.  I can’t hold it anymore. I’m afraid to say this but I feel that I’ll not be able to have my internship this semester.  A vacation which lasted more than a week helped me recuperate from the tedious activities I’ve been involved last semester. I never thought that this vacation will disillusion me later.  I can still remember my practicum coordinator reminding my batch to be alert enough to find companies for our internship for the second semester. I just nod my head as a sign of agreement.

         Days rashly slipped by as if being chased by multitudes of policemen; I was caught off-guard.  I was too over-confident that I missed to apply on the first week of the class. It is because I’m confident enough that I’ll be accepted in Company A. This company was also the company where my friends used to have their internship last semester. Unfortunately, lucky was not my best buddy; I was not accepted by Company A for there were too much interns. I was hurt. I never imagined that they will reject me.  Disappointment flooded my entire system.  

         My friend encouraged me to search for another prospect. I have no choice but to move on and continue my application.  I remember someone who was interviewed by my group during our thesis.  In the interview, he mentioned that he has a company that caters advertising.  After hours of ponder, I decided to try my remaining luck by applying. I contacted the number he had given to us during our research but unfortunately he changed his private number; that was the most discouraging part of my existence. I searched his company’s website and contacted the number posted and still nothing happened. I decided to look for another company instead.

          I applied to Company B and wish the best that I could. The front desk of company B told us that the company’s HR will just call us three days after. I don’t know what to do. I’m helpless. I know that they will not accept me for I’m a Mass Communication student. It is because Company B is all about marketing. I only applied on Company B for a personal relation task. I asked some of my classmates and found out that they've started their internship already. I’m planning to give up and search for something better. Until a classmate told me that he’s in the company of our interviewee. I couldn’t imagine myself during that time; I felt that a new door was opened for me. I asked for the number of the interviewee and contacted him. He told me to personally pass my resume anytime of the day. The next day, I went to the company full of hope and determination. Luckily, the interviewee and at the same time one of the owner of the company entertained me. W ithout a further due, he accepted me. I immediately started my internship. I was accepted at around 3:00 pm of Nov. 10, 2010.

       I went along with the production team heading to Ayala at 3:30 pm. I was so excited. We went there to record the event of BHW (Beauty Health and Wellness) in which will later be converted into an advertisement. I stayed there for three hours. The production team were also planning to go to Radisson Blue Hotel to record something. I wasn’t able to go with them because I wasn’t wearing formal attire for the event so I went home. 

1. Being overconfident in everything you do is quite shaky. Everyday is a great competition students like me should consider.

2. An internship is an avenue for students to internalize their endeavours and put them to realize. I promised myself that I’ll never underestimate a certain situation again. It’s better to      double check and produces better results than sit and relax without a great assurance of quality product.