Ms. Divine Shares That Enderun is More Than an Institution
Enderun Colleges has been through so much in less than two decades of being established. If someone looks closely enough, they would find a number of supportive and loyal members of the staff and faculty. A mini-series of articles featuring the Enderun Employees could give everyone a glimpse of what is like being part of the community.
Ms. Divine Barcelona, currently the Student Life Manager, started as a school nurse. She applied because she just wanted to experience working in a school setup, but ended up staying for a decade. When I asked her what made her stay all these years, she said, “It’s because of the people I work with– the employees and the students. It’s a different feeling working for Enderun. It’s the feeling of family within Enderun and there’s something special about the culture – the team and the environment.” There’s something special about being part of a close-knit community. Ms. Divine didn’t just feel it with the students but also with her colleagues and superiors. She felt mentored, supported, and guided throughout her journey with Enderun. She is proud to be part of an open and welcome community where students can freely reach out to anyone and ask for guidance. She loves to talk to students, offer comfort and advice, and guide them through their challenges in life. The students become part of the community where everyone pushes each other to be better.
Managing students has always been a challenge for her. Now that the school is accepting more and more students, paying attention to every individual can be a bit difficult. Each student has their own personalities and stories so she has to approach them differently. “I have been handling different sections of Student Life. Everyday is a challenge. Everything I do is a challenge. But, I always make sure that these challenges are faced positively, especially when handling students’ concerns. I always show them that I am open and ready to listen to their concerns and problems.”
Being part of the Student Life, she works closely with athletes, scholars, and student organizations. Working with all these people, she has witnessed students managing multiple responsibilities. However, Enderun still makes sure that the students set their priorities straight as being a student always comes first. She loves seeing students grow from shy and reserved freshmen to a determined and brave young leader of the industries. They gain confidence and experience through their internships and she loves seeing the change in the students. She has always been like the ate who is always there to listen and help the students be a better version of themselves. She is proud of the influence that she has. She mentioned that several alumni would message her and thank her for the guidance that she gave when they were still a student. “The biggest motivation I have for continuing this job is the students. Meeting different levels of students makes me more resilient. I love hearing their stories and getting to know their personalities.”
One would really see the genuine love and devotion Ms. Divine have with her current profession. For her, Enderun is not just an academic institution, it is a community where everyone supports and helps each other.
