Leadership: Session 1 Assignment
Reflection Paper: Defining Moment / Life Story
Family:
Born as a middle child of three siblings to a middle class family, at an early age I was already exposed to responsibilities and obligations. My parents trained us of household chores even if we have a helper at that time. They taught us how to do laundry, wash the dishes, and clean the house, backyard, and other related stuffs. They are instilling that it is good that we know how to do household chores because it will be useful when we grow up. My parents are both working during those times to provide us a good education. My father is a weekend father; he is based in Manila and works in bank. My mother on the other hand works in the company owned by her sister in San Fernando Pampanga.
Being a middle child is hard, having a very intelligent older brother; it is very hard being compared to him because we are of really different personalities, adding up is having a younger sister, only daughter and youngest making her the favourite and spoiled. That is one of the challenges have encountered in the family. Nonetheless, I believed that our Parents have loved us all of the same.
School:
Elementary
In the family, I am the most business minded. It started when I was in elementary; I used to sell "sipa" to my classmates to have additional allowance. I also make ice candies during summer vacation and sell it to our neighborhood for me to have money during the break.
I can say that I had a happy and fruitful elementary life. I was very active in sports, and in the academics. I am a chosen representative for school competitions, and always elected an officer in the class. I was a consistent in the honour roll, every year I am being recognized and even graduated with high honours. My rollercoaster life began the time I entered high school.
High School
After graduation in elementary, my parents wanted me to enrol to the school where my brother is, I said I don't like and I preferred some other school instead and so they let me. During the first month of my high school in the school preferred, I met an accident. It was our during recess time, coming from our room at the 4th floor we are all rushing to the canteen to buy food. Going down the stairs, I slipped and fell on the floor my arm. My bones got fractured, all my classmates and other students saw my lying on the floor and they saw my arm. I was helpless all I can do is cry and ask for help. I was rushed to the hospital. I was scared that my arm might get amputated. The hospital where I was admitted, the doctor tried on a procedure that might not require operation but it has not been successful. He said that I need to undergo operation. I was so sorry for what happen and I keep telling it to my parents because I know we don't have that enough money for unexpected expenses. I parents decided to bring me to Manila and have the operation in a hospital where my case is an expertise of them. The operation was indeed successful. We were able to overcome that big obstacle in my life. During those hard times I saw my family's unconditional love for me especially my mom who never left my side.
The accident has left me trauma. I was so scared to go back to school because I heard a lot of stories that some students making jokes of my accident and even teachers. My self-esteem was at a very low. I also started having inferiority; I don't want to talk to people because they would just ask what happened to me. Of course they will not understand that every time I will answer that question it will refresh the pain and that is the reason on why I would rather preferred to be alone.
My academics suffered because of the incident, I was going through a lot at that time. My enthusiasm in school has changed. From the active me in elementary, I chose just to be an ordinary student. I started being just a member of a group, or an organization. I became too relaxed and started enjoying being lazy. Come third grade, I was shocked that due to my low grades I was moved to the lower section. First time in my life that I was not in the best or star section, I started regretting all that I have done and have promised to eventually come back. I was able to bring back the fire in me. I made extra effort to be the top in class for the reason that I want to be in the best section come senior year. I excelled, I became the class president and officer in different school organization. I also represented the class and was able to lead it to victory. Blessing in disguise that it is in the lower section that I was able to realize what I did before and was able to make it right then. I became active in sports again. Chain reaction, I was able to encourage and change my classmates study habits which have given me a feeling that I was able to have a potential leadership skill in me. Senior year I was transferred to the best section again, but have requested to stay on the lower section because I believed that I can flourish more.
College:
Come college, I enrolled at the same University. My parents again wanted me to follow my brother in UST but I refused to. I am also an active member of the College at that time. I was a class officer, and also an officer of the organization of the course I took. I am the only one who took my bachelor's degree in the province. My sister also went to UST for college. Even if I stayed in my comfort zone I can say that I was a performer, some highlights of my college was when I rank 3rd of the graduating class, best thesis and I was the leader of the group for that, and competed for a National competition and was a finalist. I graduated Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Marketing in 2007.
Career:
After graduation, I wanted to be a Medical Representative. From my comfort zone, I was readying myself that eventually I might not be able to find a work in Pampanga and rather it will be elsewhere. I was interviewed in a multinational pharmaceutical company but unfortunately I didn't get the job. I felt disappointed. Then I mass produce my resume and forwarded it all to the pharmaceutical company that I know. While waiting for the interview schedule, I was able to work as a Sales Officer in an insurance company in the Makati Business District. I was doing well already in my work when a pharmaceutical company called me. I left the insurance company to undergo training for a medical representative position. The training was hard, it was stressful and the pressure is high. Training lasted for more than a month. I was able to make it to the end until the company needs to choose between me and another one. Unfortunately, I was not the one they chose. I returned home to Pampanga to take a break, I got depressed. The insurance company where I was employed before wants to have me back but I refused the offer. I also got the trauma of applying for a job that requires training before you can actually get hired. My next employer was a gaming company. I was an Account Executive. The job requires heavy field work. During my third month I got sick due to Dengue. I resigned immediately after. Then right after resigning I got the job in San Miguel Brewery. I was assigned in Dagupan Pangasinan to work as an Account Specialist. I worked there for a year and resign. I left with regret, I love my job in the company but I cannot take some things that are not acceptable in my belief and principles. It made me realize that I need back to school.
MBA:
I enrolled in MBA because I believe learning should be continuous. Since my brother is licensed professional, I said to myself that I will have an at least an MBA degree to complement my brother. I was enjoying my time studying and unemployed. During the course, I felt that I need to be working while taking up MBA to be able to contribute to the class my experience working. Then I was hired in Security Bank. Again, from Pangasinan, I am back in the Makati Business District. 3
Working with the bank is the least of what I dreamt of. I did not even imagine myself working in a bank and as of today it is my longest working experience. I am now on my 5th year in the bank. There are different issues that I have encountered also in this bank. From officemates, internal clients, external clients, and management But I chose to stay as of the moment. Maybe because of the experiences I have encountered in the past made me stronger and matured.
Experience is really the best teacher. But a strong foundation learned and acquired at home and school helps you to be more prepared in life. A defining moment for me is an event in your life whether good or a bad, small or big experience that have made you realize of something and learned from it and helps you to be who and what you are today. My defining moment maybe is not as deep as others, but for me enough to realize and learned how blessed I am and thankful. I am still young and there are still a lot of things that might happen and I know that I might not be ready for it but one thing is for sure, I know I will overcome it with the help of my family, friends, and most importantly GOD.
Rophele Louie C. Ocampo
AGSB Clark - Leadership 3
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