Written by Reena Amon

I vividly remember myself drawing a ballerina when my preparatory teacher asked me what I wanted to become. That photo became part of my yearbook section, a page I come by from time to time. I had the freedom to choose any profession in the world, but what would you expect from a six-year-old surrounded by her Barbies? Now that I’m older and wiser than I was in preparatory school, life got complicated and filled with question marks. If you were to ask me now what I want to become… oh how I wish I could simply answer you with the same answer of becoming a ballerina.

Growing up, I’ve always been a person for others. I knew I wanted to serve, I knew my strengths and weaknesses, but what was the profession for me? Was I meant to pick up a scalpel and save a life? Design buildings to house the homeless? Create murals to inspire the youth? I had endless realities ahead of me. I didn’t want to confine myself to just one possibility. The way the universe works is complex, we all end up in places that were impossible to predict earlier in life. Hence, what better choice is there than a communication course like OrCom?

OrCom, in its definition, is diverse. It borrows from different studies — social studies, cultural studies, history, and even psychology. Hence, what career path is there to pursue? What assurance can we get from it?

Even though the course is inclined towards corporate, law, and media areas, there is NO LIMIT to the potential of us OrCom scholars. We live in a fast-paced and ever-evolving environment, meaning organizations need us more than ever. The organizational dynamics an OrCom major practices is one of the many reasons the need for a communications major never really diminishes. There is NO SHORTAGE OF OPPORTUNITY for us to practice and use what we learn in the real-world workplace.

Organizational Communications in UP Manila always had a place in my heart. It was everything I wanted in an undergraduate study. I wanted to work for organizations of people for the people. I wanted to learn how networks work together to maximize potential. I wanted to learn how to become a better communicator in all aspects — intrapersonal, interpersonal, and interculturally. I wanted to explore all the possibilities. If you share the same sentiments, I’m grateful I get to share the gift of OrCom with someone as passionate as you.

The most reliable way to predict your future is to create it. I write for a future filled with abogados ng bayan, organizational officers that bridge people together, responsible sales and marketing managers, journalists, entrepreneurs, researchers, educators…I write for you, the iskolar full of potential and zeal for their work. So hey, pick up your unfinished reflection paper or essay and take it one day at a time. Complete your to-do-list for today and the rest will follow.

As our answers change over time regarding the person we want to become, one thing remains certain – OrCom students are full of hope and endeavor. This fuels us to explore the endless possibilities under Organizational Communication. What’s life going to look like in a year? Five? Ten? The uncertainty of it all is unnerving and we are no stranger to it. But isn’t that what makes life exciting?

What did your preparatory yearbook look like? Let me know in the comments section!