I really would be lying if I will say that I am enjoying my Summer Practicum. Among others, this is one of the decisions I have made that I wish I could have reconsidered, that I could have taken a different route. For some reason, picking Ombudsman seemed to be not so bad after all. I was expecting to work with legal matters, have a look at how cases are being handled, and why cases are not being solved. However, it was not what I expected it to be.
Sadly, we were narrowed down to clerical work. Worse, the things we encode are not even related to the course, or to the cases that the Ombudsman is handling. We were assigned to different divisions. Accounting and HR divisions for some. For us, we were assigned to the General Services Department.
The worst feeling about this is that we were confined to administrative work that is basic to all offices. Inventories, encoding, evaluation of staff, etc. I bet other government offices also have these stuff, and even my classmates are also doing it. But at least they have to read materials related to the course. Human rights cases for example, or about ASEAN. Me? Telephone numbers, bills to be paid, etc.
Well, Im just really disappointed. But I need to do my job. The worst part is I dont feel socially relevant. Maybe this is the UP in me. This is what Prof. Tuazon meant on his message to the seniors, that there is a greater society to be served.
If there is one thing that is good about this experience, its the knowledge and the realization that I want to be a person that does a job that affects people's lives, serving the people, the poor just like what my brother and mom does. I might work in an NGO, doing project proposals, progress reports, wooing donors. Still, it is with that knowledge that with my work, Im changing the society in one way.
Its just that I want a work not only to earn means for living. At the same time, I hope I can make a dent in the society. At the end of the day, I want that feeling that I did something not only for myself, but for my country, and for other people as well.
:)
3 comments:
Keith. :) Wala lang. Sabi nga nila before mas maganda lang sa resume na nagwork ka sa mga offices, pero mas masaya talaga yung ginawa namin sa CenPEG. :) Saya ng immersions tapos research pa. Super related talaga sa course natin. Advice ko nalang, while doing the clerical work, take time to observe sa culture inside Ombudsman. Or maybe ask if you can use their library if meron or like materials na related sa polsci. Maaga pa naman ang summer. Hope you can still have fun with your practicum. :)
Thanks Te Mary. Dapat talaga nag CenPEG na ako eh. Tsk. Ewan ko ba bakit ako napunta sa Ombuds. Akala ko rin kasi makakatulong sa 198 topic ko. Baka makakuha ng ibang mga angles. Pero yun nga.. hindi pala. Sana may do-over. :( HAHA. Kasi nasasayangan talaga ako sa opportunity saka sa panahon.
ei.. nice rants. :D LOL well, it sounds like an eye-opener for you. welcome to the real world. the world of adults. a world where things turn out the way you don't expect them to be. lesson? just suck it up and stand by your decision - right or wrong. no practicum or class theories can prepare someone for the real world once they open the door and be exposed. but hey, live with it, learn from it.
Working... it's just that, WORK. don't forget to live. just keep your head high and try to learn as much as you can on the clerical work. it will give you insights on how the lower levels of organizations work and take that into consideration once you are in position. :D
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