A WARM WELCOME TO COC

Have you ever found yourself thinking ‘What the hell am I doing here?’ after another stressful or uneventful day at school? Ever thought about just dropping certain subjects which (you think) won’t be of any help to your future career pursuits? Do you find yourself spacing out too often during early morning or late afternoon lectures and wishing your professor could just put in a little effort to make things more interesting?

If you answer yes to these questions then that means you are unhappy (and most probably, not learning as much as you need to)—whether with your school, your professors or your current course does not matter. Although transferring colleges can be tricky, its definitely worth it.

 I transferred to New Era University in the hopes of a fresh start. I seriously questioned if a fresh start was what I needed.  It was scary, it was new, and I was frightened.  I inwardly was wondering if I should just jump on my previous school where I was comfortable and didn’t have to face anything new. As a transfer student, it is one of the hardest thing to do in college because of the new grounds, new set of friends, new acquaintances, and how will you associate with your new classmates. I wondered where would I fit in until I reached the grade requirement in entering the college of communication at New Era University, I've experienced a huge adjustment. it's hard to find out how to get involved with them because the things you do in here is not the usual things you do in your previous school. But I am so glad I took that chance, because I have met some incredible people.

I feel totally independent now and focused on my education. I am able to go to the library often and take advantage of other programs being offered at school. This opportunity allows me to meet new people and focus on my life. There is a lot more freedom, which allows me to be responsible and realize what is important to me.

Let’s start with the college of communication’s staff, because most of the staffs are Iglesia Ni Cristo member and masscomm graduate, they treated their students as their new member of the family. As a transferee student, it feels great because you immediately feel their warm welcome to you. The faculty members are very nice in a way that when you talk to them, you’ll feel the care especially when you open up a problem about your academics which is every students needed. They are like a family to you. Being a transfer student is an awkward thing, because even though you are participating in all the new student activities you don’t feel like you are new.  You feel seasoned and comfortable with the academic portion of college, but socially you feel completely out of place.  Because coming in as a transfer you feel like you don’t quite fit in and the unashamed excitement that they possess, and at the same time the students who are your age on campus all have their established friends.  Being a transfer means starting from scratch and socially putting yourself out there more than ever before.  Little things like going to the café or walking to class become an unfriendly reminder that I am in a new place where people don’t know my name and I don’t feel like I belong. 

I interviewed one of the professors of New Era University College of Communication on how they welcome new students who will be part of their college.

This experience at COC so far has given me a softer heart to those around me who might not feel like they fit in, because for the first time in my life I am in that exact place.  It has been an adjustment for me the first couple weeks, but I am confident that I can push through and get outside of my comfort zone to thrive within this community because of the people who’s in here in this college. They do not just help students in academics but they also help new students to be fit in their department and to make new friends by simply making theater play which you will be closer to each other. 

The good thing also in this college of communication is they mold students to be good at writing, stage performing, and other skills in mass communication students can have because they are focusing on the development of these talents.

I write all of this not to criticize COC or how they welcome new students because in reality COC has been a great experience so far, but rather to provide a real perspective on what it means to transition and show how it is not always rainbows and butterflies.  For me it has been hard, but this was my own personal experience and I encourage those of you reading this to reach out to those new people on campus that you see to help them adjust and transition into this new stage of life.