Profile: INTERVIEWEE #1

Name: Dennis N. Mendoza

Age: 28

College Course: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Batch 2009

Current Field of work: Math Professor at Stonyhurst Southville International School

What were the difficulties that you’ve encountered to be able to achieve the success status that you are enjoying right now?

As an engineering student, the degree of hardness of the said course indeed gave me the difficulties during my college life. Honestly, from the very beginning, engineering is not my preferred course and that’s why I’ve had a hard time passing my program. But as time goes by, I’ve learned to love it and commitment became the instrument for me to surpass engineering. All the hard works were paid off when I’ve graduated, passed the board exam and received my license. I’ve chosen to be in the academe field because I really love teaching.

How did you use your imbibed Thomasian core values in your current field of expertise?

Competence is one of the Thomasian core values that I’ve acquired during my stay in UST and it really helped me to get a job in an international school. Then for compassion, I try to have good relationships with everyone and to be of help to anyone I can be of help to. And last for commitment, I try to be very dedicated and committed to what I am doing right now.

What can you advise to the younger Thomasians who are starting to build their careers?

Dedication and passion must be shown by them in their current program. They should also have a goal, a dream of what they want to become and always remember to have God with them. Patience and perseverance must also be executed. Put in mind that nothing in this life is easy; you can never get what you want in an easy way. And most important of all is they should not quit until they have nothing left.

Profile: INTERVIEWEE #2

Name: Marietta F. Jimenez

Age: 44

College Course: Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy

Current Field of work: Community Pharmacist owning a drugstore

What were the difficulties that you’ve encountered to be able to achieve the success status that you are enjoying right now?

Well, when I was a student just like your age, I thought passing the exams was the hardest thing to achieve. Of course, we have our own difficulties as we age. And during that time, I almost gave up on studying because of the loads that the program gave me. Pharmacy program let me experience consecutive sleepless nights and made me utter phrases like “I’ve done enough and I give up!” But those sleepless nights and failing examinations were paid off when I’ve graduated and passed the board exam. I was given the opportunity to work abroad but due to personal reasons I’ve chosen to stay in the Philippines for good and build my own drugstore. It was a dream come true when I first stepped inside my drugstore. I really felt fulfilled and contented.

How did you use your imbibed Thomasian core values in your current field of expertise?

The thing is, I always commit myself to the things that I want to do and being a pharmacist is really a dream for me since I was a teenager. So when I became a registered pharmacist I did get so excited but I know that I have still a long way to go. Now that I am operating my own drugstore, I commit myself not only in providing good quality medicines to consumers but also I will offer health, wellness and disease prevention. I am also compassionate to citizens. I provide them the patient care that they deserve. It’s because this is what UST mold me to be; compassionate, competent and committed.

What can you advise to the younger Thomasians who are starting to build their careers?

They should not only remember the terms or equations that they need to memorize. They should learn things by heart because in doing so, those that they’ve studied will remain in them for a long time. The most important thing is they should never give up. Never lose hope, strive

hard and don’t get distracted. Difficulties are always part of learning but you will reap your rewards if you strive and have faith in yourself.

As NSTP students, we’ve realized that there is more to success than monetary means. Success can also be measured by the number of people you help on a day-to-day basis. Success isn’t just about what you accomplish in your life. It’s about what you inspire others to do.