Discriminated. Seen as too easy. “Eew”.
There was once a BSM student who came across BACA students.
The snotty girl asks them: “Anot iyo course?”
The three freshies proudly answered: “Comm Arts”
And the snotty girl said: “Eew!” And walked away.
These encounters have been experienced by many Comm Arts students. This encounter happened a month ago and the freshies told us immediately of what happened. And as proud BACA peps that we are, we researched and plotted the murder of the snotty girl. We always do this whenever people downgrade our course. We are seen as too little, as an easy course that could be passed with flying colours. Having an A in BA instead of an S makes our course look easier. But they never go through the things we do. They never experience the hardships. They never have to think of a new essay to write every week. They never face the terrifying professors who have achieved so much that they expect perfection from the students. They never feel how harsh DH professors can be. But who cares right? Their course is still more challenging than ours. And so they think.
When I was a freshie, I was oblivious to the discrimination to my course. Right until foundation day when I overheard some people saying that only 3 divisions were fighting head to head. They didn’t consider our division, which enraged us so much that we made up costumes to outshine everyone else. Our chants “Damu la kamo, mahusay kami” and “Small but terrible” made us strong. We made the gods and goddesses of arts proud of us. And for those few moments, we didn’t care about what they said. Everyone was appreciating our efforts and it was paying off. But sadly the foundation celebration only lasted one day, and soon enough people were criticizing our “KSP” costume move. But we didn’t care, we knew there was something they didn’t understand about us, and we let them talk.
Now that I’m a sophie turning into a junior, I have encountered not only students who discriminate our course, but also adults. Whenever my relatives or my parents’ friends ask me what my course is and I answer proudly, they ask me, “So ano timo magiging trabaho hito?” It just sounds insulting in a way. Sure, Bio students become doctors, Accountancy students become accountants and Comp Sci students become an ace in the computer world, but why can’t they think of a job for Comm Arts? There is a world of possibilities for us. Our job qualifications range from journalist, a front desk person in a hotel to the personal secretary of the President of the country. We have limitless possibilities, and we’d see who’s asking what our possible job is when we become the bosses of the Bio, Accountancy and Comp Sci students, not that I am downgrading their capabilities.
I have also seen discrimination from incoming freshies. Imagine that, someone who hasn’t even entered UP saying that Comm Arts was a small course! When the UPCAT results were out, it was “trending” in my Facebook feed. And I was rather shocked when I saw someone who put up a status saying “Argh. B.A. Comm Arts la ak. -.-“ I immediately corrected her way of thinking saying “Don’t downgrade yourself. Comm Arts is a great course. Welcome to hell” I just didn’t understand her honestly. She got into U.P.: The University of the Philippines. Why the hell did she sign up for Comm Arts when she’d complain when she would pass?
So why Comm Arts? What is Comm Arts?
I simply love writing. I’ve been addicted to it since I was 11. It has been my ultimate vice. And so when I was filling up my UPCAT form, I knew right away that I wanted to be a Comm Arts student. And when I passed, I was practically in seventh heaven. I was going to a great school with my dream course. Being a Comm Arts student meant having the chance to get my writing skills further furnished. Like the course of Eng 5 where we are tasked to write an essay really pumped me up. It made me realize that everything can be your inspiration: from the death of my Lolo to a snotty girl from DM. And having a teacher criticize my work on where I should improve really helped a lot. I value other people’s opinion because it is the people who would read my work. And so being in my course really helped me a lot.
B.A. Communication Arts in U.P. Tacloban moulds students to be great not only in the English language but in the Tagalog and the Waraynon dialect. It promotes that language is an important part in the community. Being a Comm Arts student means that you are being trained to become someone who can someday speak a thrilling speech or write a life changing story. It all starts with simple subjects then the final furnishing of sleepless nights and tired bodies. Your course mates become your family, and we all help each other in every way possible. We are a close knit group, filled with overflowing creative juices and captivating ideas. Our DH teachers are funny yet wise. The people you come across are the people who’ll help boost you up when you’re down.
As a freshie, you would be welcomed warmly from the first BACA meeting. Some upperclassmen would even offer you tips on what subjects you should take and who are the best professors. Sure you’d struggle adjusting yourself, but we are all here behind you. You’d be amazed with the “Kalakaran” event of the seniors, and even more amazed with the “Oblation Run”(haha). Even when you decide to shift to another course, we’d still be your friends. As a sophie, you are faced with some of your major subjects. Some terror teachers wouldn’t be a terror anymore, and in the end you’d survive. You’d be comparing English grammar to Waray. You’d have closer friends, and writing would be an ease for you sooner or later. When you become a junior, you’d get excited with the thought that you have only one year to go. There are more major subjects, more paperwork. You’d be stressed over the struggles and the on the second sem you’d have to set up Largabista. The best thing is that there are no more Math subjects! You’d have your OJT during the summer, which would give you an insight into the real world. And as you cruise over to your senior year, you are bombarded with more work to be done. And when you time for “Kalakaran” comes, you’d be “sabog” and “sabaw” and clamouring for your term papers. But all ends well when you get to wear your sash and you get your diploma. Because the things you have learned and experienced would help you boost yourself in the real world.
So you see? Our course is nothing short of easy. We struggle and we keep fighting. We fight 3.0’s, dropped subjects and terror Profs. We fight student loans and STFAP problems. We are just like any other course, not below. We are of the same level as anyone, and we are not “eew”. We deserve to be respected for the things we go through. And even after you finish reading this and you still think little of us, then it’s your choice. We would go farther than your crab mentality. We are BACA. Don’t judge what you never went through. Because what you discriminate might surprise you in the end.
There was once a BSM student who came across BACA students.
The snotty girl asks them: “Anot iyo course?”
The three freshies proudly answered: “Comm Arts”
And the snotty girl said: “Eew!” And walked away.
These encounters have been experienced by many Comm Arts students. This encounter happened a month ago and the freshies told us immediately of what happened. And as proud BACA peps that we are, we researched and plotted the murder of the snotty girl. We always do this whenever people downgrade our course. We are seen as too little, as an easy course that could be passed with flying colours. Having an A in BA instead of an S makes our course look easier. But they never go through the things we do. They never experience the hardships. They never have to think of a new essay to write every week. They never face the terrifying professors who have achieved so much that they expect perfection from the students. They never feel how harsh DH professors can be. But who cares right? Their course is still more challenging than ours. And so they think.
When I was a freshie, I was oblivious to the discrimination to my course. Right until foundation day when I overheard some people saying that only 3 divisions were fighting head to head. They didn’t consider our division, which enraged us so much that we made up costumes to outshine everyone else. Our chants “Damu la kamo, mahusay kami” and “Small but terrible” made us strong. We made the gods and goddesses of arts proud of us. And for those few moments, we didn’t care about what they said. Everyone was appreciating our efforts and it was paying off. But sadly the foundation celebration only lasted one day, and soon enough people were criticizing our “KSP” costume move. But we didn’t care, we knew there was something they didn’t understand about us, and we let them talk.
Now that I’m a sophie turning into a junior, I have encountered not only students who discriminate our course, but also adults. Whenever my relatives or my parents’ friends ask me what my course is and I answer proudly, they ask me, “So ano timo magiging trabaho hito?” It just sounds insulting in a way. Sure, Bio students become doctors, Accountancy students become accountants and Comp Sci students become an ace in the computer world, but why can’t they think of a job for Comm Arts? There is a world of possibilities for us. Our job qualifications range from journalist, a front desk person in a hotel to the personal secretary of the President of the country. We have limitless possibilities, and we’d see who’s asking what our possible job is when we become the bosses of the Bio, Accountancy and Comp Sci students, not that I am downgrading their capabilities.
I have also seen discrimination from incoming freshies. Imagine that, someone who hasn’t even entered UP saying that Comm Arts was a small course! When the UPCAT results were out, it was “trending” in my Facebook feed. And I was rather shocked when I saw someone who put up a status saying “Argh. B.A. Comm Arts la ak. -.-“ I immediately corrected her way of thinking saying “Don’t downgrade yourself. Comm Arts is a great course. Welcome to hell” I just didn’t understand her honestly. She got into U.P.: The University of the Philippines. Why the hell did she sign up for Comm Arts when she’d complain when she would pass?
So why Comm Arts? What is Comm Arts?
I simply love writing. I’ve been addicted to it since I was 11. It has been my ultimate vice. And so when I was filling up my UPCAT form, I knew right away that I wanted to be a Comm Arts student. And when I passed, I was practically in seventh heaven. I was going to a great school with my dream course. Being a Comm Arts student meant having the chance to get my writing skills further furnished. Like the course of Eng 5 where we are tasked to write an essay really pumped me up. It made me realize that everything can be your inspiration: from the death of my Lolo to a snotty girl from DM. And having a teacher criticize my work on where I should improve really helped a lot. I value other people’s opinion because it is the people who would read my work. And so being in my course really helped me a lot.
B.A. Communication Arts in U.P. Tacloban moulds students to be great not only in the English language but in the Tagalog and the Waraynon dialect. It promotes that language is an important part in the community. Being a Comm Arts student means that you are being trained to become someone who can someday speak a thrilling speech or write a life changing story. It all starts with simple subjects then the final furnishing of sleepless nights and tired bodies. Your course mates become your family, and we all help each other in every way possible. We are a close knit group, filled with overflowing creative juices and captivating ideas. Our DH teachers are funny yet wise. The people you come across are the people who’ll help boost you up when you’re down.
As a freshie, you would be welcomed warmly from the first BACA meeting. Some upperclassmen would even offer you tips on what subjects you should take and who are the best professors. Sure you’d struggle adjusting yourself, but we are all here behind you. You’d be amazed with the “Kalakaran” event of the seniors, and even more amazed with the “Oblation Run”(haha). Even when you decide to shift to another course, we’d still be your friends. As a sophie, you are faced with some of your major subjects. Some terror teachers wouldn’t be a terror anymore, and in the end you’d survive. You’d be comparing English grammar to Waray. You’d have closer friends, and writing would be an ease for you sooner or later. When you become a junior, you’d get excited with the thought that you have only one year to go. There are more major subjects, more paperwork. You’d be stressed over the struggles and the on the second sem you’d have to set up Largabista. The best thing is that there are no more Math subjects! You’d have your OJT during the summer, which would give you an insight into the real world. And as you cruise over to your senior year, you are bombarded with more work to be done. And when you time for “Kalakaran” comes, you’d be “sabog” and “sabaw” and clamouring for your term papers. But all ends well when you get to wear your sash and you get your diploma. Because the things you have learned and experienced would help you boost yourself in the real world.
So you see? Our course is nothing short of easy. We struggle and we keep fighting. We fight 3.0’s, dropped subjects and terror Profs. We fight student loans and STFAP problems. We are just like any other course, not below. We are of the same level as anyone, and we are not “eew”. We deserve to be respected for the things we go through. And even after you finish reading this and you still think little of us, then it’s your choice. We would go farther than your crab mentality. We are BACA. Don’t judge what you never went through. Because what you discriminate might surprise you in the end.