Excitement, joy, sadness, mixed together in one. I never thought that it’ll be that fast for 10 days. I never thought I’d meet new friends at my work place. I never thought that goodbye will be that hard.

 It was Monday, and like the usual Monday, before working, there’s a flag raising ceremony. Since it was Monday, I’ve been expecting the office to be crowded like we’ve experienced before, I was right but it’s not that crowded like before. I’ve entered the office and started to roam around and observe.

          An employee from the Procurement Unit called us to help them in their office because they’re very busy. I and Eman went to their office and help them in tabbing the papers for the contract, our last day was so stressful yet it’s still fun doing it with your classmates.

          Our 10 days have passed very fast; we went back to the Planning department, said thank you and bid our goodbyes. Our 10 days have been really fun and we’ve learned a lot.

It’s been very warm in a room with 7 aircons all turned on because of the people in there. Thanks to everyone!

18 Things I’ve Learned in 80 hours

There are a lot of things that I’ve learned during our immersion, but let me give you my 18 reflections of the things I’ve learned:

1.     First things first, I’ve learned that patience is a great need at work. Patience is indeed a virtue, either you’re an applicant or an employee, you have to have enough patience for you to be hired or not to be fired.

2.    You have to accept wholeheartedly the task assigned to you.

3.    Love the things you are doing. Love it for it to be light and easy.

4.    Don’t assume that you’re a hero and can do anything, speak out your limits.

5.    Accept corrections and opinions.

6.    Never be discouraged on a negative comment, hence, use it as your motivation.

7.    Never be afraid to ask even a simple question.

8.    Don’t use your brain alone especially at work, learn to love even the hardest task you have.

9.    Don’t be too serious, socialize with your colleagues.

10.  It’s never a crime to have a rest.

11.  It’s always lighter when you have at least a partner.

12.  Focus but be vigilant on your surroundings.

13.  Treat your work as a game yet a serious game.

14.  Never answer your boss or anybody else in a disrespectful manner.

15.  Share your knowledge especially when someone ask you about something you know that they don’t.

16.  Time is gold. Don’t waste it on unnecessary things.

17.  Breathe. Eat. Relax. Sometimes, your work place can be your place of leisure or your home also.

18.  Be honest. It’s everything.

First day; What Will It Going To Be?

I, together with my colleagues went to the Department of Public Work and Highways-Compostela Valley Office of the District Engineer by 7:30 in the morning with a smile on our faces and a pounding heart. I was excited yet nervous at the same time. I was excited because I know that I can gain a lot of learning for 80 hours.

            First stop, human Resource Office for the orientation and deployment, but before anything else, “Bay, picture-ri sa ko.”

            We’ve waited at the office of the Human Resource (HR) for us to be deployed in the different sections. The HR Admin oriented us that we will be assigned on the different technical sections, 2 of us will be at the Quality Assurance Section, another 2 will be on the Construction Section, 2 for the Maintenance Section, and 2 for the Planning and Design Section. I am assigned at the Planning and Design Section together with Emanuel Caracho.

            The Chief of the Planning and Design Section was confused when we were introduced to him since there was no vacant seat and space for us, yet he told us to just do what we can do and what we’re supposed to do which was to observe. He didn’t let us do some clerical works since he believed that we will be engineers soon and that’s not the work of an engineer.

            It was nerve-wracking seeing everybody facing their computers, and for a beginner, I wished I’ll be there, on a very nice cubicle, with 2 monitors in front of me 8 years from now.

            That was my first day immersion story.