Justin Kyle Marasigan completed his Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) program and graduated as Magna Cum Laude. Residing in Japan, he found that studying at the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) was the only viable path to achieving his academic goals. His experience at UPOU has contributed significantly to his career as a game designer in Japan.
His experience at UPOU has contributed significantly to his career path in Japan. He gained creative skills such as photography, photo editing, and video editing that have helped him grow as a professional. He also developed self-discipline and time management, given that he was working and studying at the same time.
This experience also came with challenges, especially as an offshore student. Most of Justin’s struggles involved the need for more local or Filipino-based resources. He had to rely on the online learning materials, which in turn required him to be resourceful when needed for research and assignments.
For Justin, balancing studies and his personal life abroad meant sticking to a schedule. He follows a strict schedule to develop the discipline and time management skills needed in fulfilling his responsibilities. His discipline paid off when he overcame all the challenges and eventually finished his degree program.
Justin advises future UPOU students to understand their capabilities and cultivate self-discipline. While assistance from classmates and professors is available, the online learning environment requires a high degree of independence and self-motivation.
Now that he has graduated, Justin said that he would miss learning new things especially from his program where every term, he gained new skills and knowledge. He felt that this academic experience has helped him grow his creative self.
UPOU has served him well. He is currently a game designer in Japan, attributing his success in landing the job to the skills he developed during his studies. Justin aspires to climb the career ladder and eventually become an Art Director.
Written by Zyrene Edrei Villanueva ♦ Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas
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