Finding oneself can be a long process, but excelling in the process gives a different kind of fulfillment. For Krizia Anne Estrella, it took an exploration of different courses from several University of the Philippines (UP) campuses until she found the right one at the UP Open University (UPOU). When she took the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies (BAMS) at UPOU, Krizia realized that Arts is much closer to her heart, given her background in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). This became more evident when she graduated with flying colors and attained her Summa cum laude award. She is one of the first two Summa cum laude graduates of UPOU who marched last 2023.
Being a Summa cum laude for her is more than just a reflection of high grades but a symbol of appreciation for all the hardships she experienced as an undergraduate student at UPOU – handling both her studies and online business to support her family.
Krizia transferred to UPOU during the pandemic. During this time, she was also handling an online business to support her family. Although it was a challenge for her to work and study at the same time, she still managed to perform well academically. Krizia was able to do all of these things with good habits. She managed her time wisely by knowing her priorities and doing these first. She advised potential students of UPOU to adopt these habits because learning in an online setup will require a considerable amount of effort.
Beyond her academic achievements, meeting new people was one of the most rewarding aspects of her journey at UPOU. After being surrounded by people who have excelled in STEM for a long time, it was a breath of fresh air for her to meet creatives and artists. These new experiences and relationships she built in UPOU have become a massive part of her self-discovery.
Her UPOU experience helped her build self-discipline and improve her time management skills. She acknowledged that these skills will also be essential for her as she embarks on the world of professionals. After graduating, she aims to find work in the digital marketing or UI/UX designing industry, which she hopes will fund her journey to obtaining a Master’s degree.
Written by Zyrene Edrei Villanueva ♦ Edited by Myra C. Almodiel and Anna Cañas-Llamas ♦ Photo by Phoebe Mae Apostol
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