THIS is College

De La Salle College of Saint Benilde celebrates its silver year 

College life, unanimous with wild parties, a liberated life, and lots of beautiful coeds. (The first two were partly true, but the last is an accepted fact.) Compared to high school, college gives high school a run for its money. College, a new beginning, a new environment and a new lifestyle.

Close friends from my block

Take a peek at my first few week at De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde. THIS is College, a whole new different experience.

The Beginning of an entirely new chapter

A week prior our first day the frosh students of De La Salle - College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) participated in InterAktiv 2013, an orientation program for froshies.

CSB Pep Squad welcomes the Froshies by performing a routine 

There the upperclassmen gave us an heads up on college life, giving us insights on how exciting our next few years would be. 

Professor Rogelio Delcano, also gave his time to give advice and tips for the froshmen, and the do's and don's of college life.

Professor Rogelio Delcano discusses college life in Benilde

One of the points that Professor Delcano made was, college life is a new beginning. In college we are given the chance to remain who we are, or change it. He stressed that in college all of us start on the same page, whatever our accomplishments were in the past, it wouldn't matter, we all start in square one. College is a fresh start, a world of possibilities. 

He encourages us to study hard and excel, for this is our time to shine. Professor Delcano recalled a number of students who didn't excel in high school but were able to succeed in college. Proving that no matter how bad your high school experience was, college is a time to redeem yourself. If you were the cream of the crop, now is a time to build yourself up even more. 

Adapting to the new environment and social climate

College is a melting pot, here you'll meet people from all walks of life. In fact, I have blockmates that come from various places, different schools, neighboring cities, to far off countries. One of my classmates came all the way from Abu Dhabi! Communication skills are a must here!

Not only that, in Saint Benilde, a number of students are blind and deaf! These students, under the School of Deaf and Applied Studies (SDEAS), do not suffer from any social discrimination, they are well respected. Everyone in Saint Benilde is accepted for their individuality, erasing stereotypes that being different is bad.

I can bet my name that people in CSB do not discriminate people based on their social status. My blockmates come from the upper class, yet not once have I heard them bad mouthing me and the scholars. They're warm and friendly, and I enjoy every moment I'm with them.

Student Trainers (STrains) get ready to welcome the Frosh

The upperclassmen are also congenial, kuya Gene and ate Krissa volunteered to show us around, and we from my block thank them so much, for their efforts. People from Student Trainers (STrains) welcomed us by shouting "WELCOME FROSH!" numerous times. The welcome might be deafening, but you can feel how warm their welcome was. The upperclassmen accepted us with open arms, which makes adjusting to college life easier.

TFCA1 poses with Kuya Gene (guy holding placard) and Ate Krissa (top left with white tee)
Photo credits to INTERAKTIV Documentation staff (both pictures) 

On the other hand, college professors interact like our age, they go beyond he simple teacher-student relationship. The way they teach, or pedagogy, is extremely different from high school teachers. Their methods are more interactive focusing on us students because DLS-CSB is a learner-centered institution.

The new lifestyle 

College is not simply an educational institution to get a degree from. College is a way of life. 

The class schedules in college are  manageable, no longer are you held for 10 hours. The schedules makes the workload easier to get through, since we have more time to do assignments without rushing.

However, a considerable portion of time of students' time is allotted to commuting, especially if your from far off. Now our parents no longer chauffeur us we have to rely on ourselves to get from point A to B. 

And quite frankly , things can get a 'lil messy. 

The LRT Hunger Games! 

Commuting to CSB can be difficult, you have to beat the morning rush, if you don't you'll find yourself competing in the Hunger Games, against people who all want to get on the train first. Also, in public trains, you  have to be carefull since considerable number of thief cases happen. 

STARWeek At CSB

College also opens doors for interaction outside the classroom thorugh student organizations. During the Student Associations Recruitment Week or STARWeek, Plaza Villarosa became flooded with booths of organizations waiting to recruit new members. 

The culmination of my first week happened during  UNITE, the kickoff party for the year long celebration of CSB's 25th anniversary. The night was simply, amazing, celebrating it with my friends. And it ended spectacularly.

So THIS is College, a whole new different experience, I think I might like it here, so wish me luck, I'll be writing more soon!   

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