Moving to greener pastures: Enderun’s transferees share their transition experiences

Choosing the right college is undoubtedly one of the most critical decisions one has to make in a lifetime. Excellent programs, a conducive environment, complete facilities, and a competent faculty are only some of the many factors that should be considered when searching for the school that will ultimately help in molding one into who they want to become.

For anyone who has been in college, it’s not really surprising to have classmates who are transferees. Sometimes, in the process of choosing the right college, a student misses one or two  important factors, only later realized. Sometimes, it’s a complete change of heart—shifting programs, or just finding greener pastures in which to grow. For colleges and universities, welcoming transferees is common, even at Enderun Colleges.

Christopher Young, BS Operations Management

What was the main reason you moved?

I didn’t like the culture at my previous school. I wasn’t failing or anything. It was just a bad fit for me.

What are the differences you noticed about your previous school and Enderun?

Well, I prefer it here more than my previous school’s style of teaching, because here, they mix theory with actual practical experiences that they’ve had. Where I moved from, we had to do a lot of readings, and I mean a LOT of readings.

Also, the professors there aren’t as open as the professors here at Enderun. Like, you can have lunch with your professors here. They’ll talk to you about their experiences, they’ll guide you. 

What do you like about Enderun, so far?

I feel more at home here. Here, we have spaces to eat in, spaces to sit. There, it was crowded. So I guess if you’re an introvert, you’d prefer it here. I also like that we have a bar that serves nice coffee.

Enderun has also given me more opportunities. The thing is, here, they teach us how to manage our business, or eventually become a boss. In my previous school, they taught us how to be a good employee. Like, basically, you work for someone, do well, then keep that job.

Did you join any extra-curricular activities? Organizations or sports?

I always did sports, here and there. It’s a lot easier to get to our gym here. I like how our facilities here are free to use. Because there’s not a lot of student traffic in the area.

How’s Student Life at Enderun?

It’s a whole different crowd here. You get more international students. Students here are also more open.

To wrap it up: Do you like Enderun?

I love it here!

 

Fil Garciano, BS Entrepreneurship

What are you taking up in Enderun now?

Here at Enderun, I’m taking up Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship. I’ve been here for three years na. This is my last year. In my previous school, I took up Political Science.

What do you like most about Enderun?

What I like about Enderun… is probably, first, professors. Sobrang intimate ng environment with the professors. Learning is really emphasized by the practical experiences na dala dala ng mga professors, unlike in more traditional schools na hierarchical yung relationships ng students and teachers.

I also like the attitude of the students. Mas practical-oriented. Parang, mas emphasis yung theory and practice, kaysa ‘yung traditional lang na theory-heavy. Sa Enderun, the core essence of why you’re studying is dapat paglabas mo ng classroom mo, i-apply mo sa racket mo, sa startup mo, or where you’re gonna be working.

Do you feel like you have accomplished more here?

I think I accomplished more here. But maybe because I’ve been here longer than in my previous school. I think I’ve gone further than what I could imagine. Specifically because ang tight-knit ng community.  Especially since the opportunities are just there. Tsaka yung environment… You can talk to the President. You can tell them your ideas. It’s easy to shine in Enderun, so long as you have the talent.

What have you accomplished here so far?

Nung first year, medyo lay-low lang ako. Kasi kakalipat ko lang, tsaka I was focusing on my studies. Second Year, I became Vice President for Kultura. Tapos, while I was VP for Kultura, 15 Overture was by far, the most profitable student-run event. That was a big thing, which led me to a collaboration between the three biggest orgs at the time: EES, Kultura, and Lux Lucis.

Also, the first-ever community bar sa isang college, which was Pub Night. It was a weekly event. After that, I also became a delegate at the Metro Manila Business Conference. I also hosted the Enderun Sustainability Summit. Tapos, I became Lux Lucis President.

Can you tell us more about your scholarship at MIT [Massachusetts Institute of Technology]?

Sa University of Pennsylvania na ako ngayon, eh. Hindi na sa MIT. I accepted this offer sa Center for Social Impact. I will be taking up an Executive Program for Social Impact Strategy. This was also possible because of my professors [at Enderun], Sir Erwin. He referred me. So I applied, took an exam, then had a phone interview with the head of the department. It was a difficult process, but sobrang laking tulong nila Dean Ed, Sir Erwin. Si Sir Wilson din, since he’s a UPenn grad. I was accepted for a program for next year, but I might defer it to next next year na lang.

How about your internships?

I took part of my internship under Atty. Martellino. I was a paralegal. Since its a medium-sized law firm, so they had a lot to handle. Wala silang partners, and only had a few associates. So I was pretty much doing what associate lawyers will do. So we incorporated corporations here. We did a major American pharmaceutical company, putting up a regional operating headquarters here. So sobrang intense ng work. We went to court, signed deals… Stuff like that. The most important thing is, sobrang practical niya. It gave me an opportunity to have a higher understanding of law, which is important.

‘Yung ngayon naman, ganon din. High-level management din ‘yung involvement ko here. I’m in Solid Manila Corp. I’d say, one of the most ambitious players ngayon sa real estate industry, sa hospitality industry. Nasa Business Development ako. There, we’re in charge of creating new ventures. So right now, I’ve been tasked to oversee the construction of a Lady’s Dorm in Tandang Sora, which also doubles as a community center for the people there in Quezon City. So that’s the big project I’m handling now. So everything from construction, market study, and staffing, inaasikaso namin ‘yun. Tapos, magkakaron din kami ng projects in Cebu and Baguio.

How do you feel about Enderun’s facilities, student life, and faculty?

Facilities-wise, gusto ko yung architecture.  It’s conducive, tsaka sobrang professional. It’s not like you’re going to  school. It’s like you’re going to work. It helped us become not intimidated by actual work places. Student life gets a lot of support from the President. We were pretty much given the liberty to do anything that we want. So, kahit ‘yung personal advocacies ko for the marginalized, we were able to do that at the Advocacy Series. Sila Sir Jack Tuason, sila Dean Ed, they’ve been very supportive, and I think that’s not something that’s present at a lot of different schools.