THESIS TALK #2 PROBLEMS

When we were making our undergrad thesis, I was suffering from chronic vertigo and a sprained ankle; 2 of my members were working students; the other one was only allowed by her guardian to meet us on specifically limited times; and our original statistician died in the middle of our work. Not to mention, we were all graduating students complying with other projects and requirements with barely a peso on our individual bank accounts (as if we even had one). BUT we finished nonetheless. So did the rest of our mates who were dealing with their own personal dilemmas... So did the rest of our batchmates... So did every graduating student who preceded us.

So, you see.  I basically do not believe in excuses.

Ika nga: "kung gusto, laging may paraan; kung ayaw, laging may dahilan."

So much so that if we did not get what we strove for, it is maybe because we didn't want  it enough... or that we didn't work for it hard enough. What we get is what we deserve... and we determine what we deserve based on how willing we are to endeavour for success and how we actually endeavour for it.

If you are faced with a problem, think about this: everybody who came before you also underwent the same problem--- probably even worse.

They too cried in front of the computer screen while editing their rationale and/or theoretical background. They too sighed a gazillion times while scanning through the corners of their brain , if not the corners of the web, looking for the appropriate term and/or synonym. They too, after having finished encoding the draft, experienced losing all the files saved in their flashdrives, prompting them to redo the work. They too tried to take "POWER NAPS" as advised by one of their teachers but to no avail because their groupmates kept on asking for thesis updates. They too rummaged their closets (and their friends' closets) looking for the proper outfit to wear for the thesis proposal, trying to avoid being questioned by their panel on their 'costumes' than on their thesis. They too suffered  anxiety, mental anguish, sleepless nights, and wounded feelings, among others, which would have been enough to file an action for damages in civil courts (and would've won). Above all, they too spent hours staring at the face of their professor in class, if not at the door of one of the comfort room cubicles, while thinking about where to get the money to pay for their panel's snacks. 

We all have our fair share of problems BUT it is not without a solution. 

Do not rely on excuses. Never ---ever--- justify failure.

Remember, every student who got up on stage and received their degree had, in one way or another, struggled to be where they were. You? Where do you want to be? How far will you go to get there? It is all up to you. Prove yourself worthy.


THESIS TALK #1  

THESIS ADVICE: PAANO MAGHANAP NG TOPIC?

:)

THESIS ADVICE: PAANO MAGHANAP NG TOPIC?

Hindi naman talaga mahirap gumawa ng thesis. 

Wow! Bonggang intro noh? haha! But seriously, it really isn't hard provided, ofcourse, that you're workng with

1)matitinong ka-groupmates,

2)masipag na adviser/s, at

3)espiritong determinadong maka-gradweyt!

If you fall short in any of these, d'yan mo masasabing "Gosh! This is so mahirap!"

Otherwise, you'll do just fine. :)

Granting that you have met the 3 requisites already (a group, an adviser, and yourself), WHAT NEXT?

As the title suggests, FIND A TOPIC?

There are many ways to find a topic. I have known a lot who were able to come up with a topic through different means: years and years of thorough thinking, suggestion, checking the web, by chance, or being-pressured-to-study-suggested-topics-by-their-over-zealous-parents-who-wish-their-children-were-in-harvard-but-had-to-settle-with-highly-accredited-schools-in-the-locality...among others. So you see? There are many ways. To each his own, so to speak.

But before you say, "walang kwentang write-up naman to! So paano nga kami makakapili?!"

Calm your you-know-whats! Relax ka lang d'yan. I will help you.:) 

Here goes:

In finding a topic, what you ought to do (as you've always done in all other academic undertakings) is THINK! Yes, think. Gather your groupmates and brainstorm. Payo ko lang, kapag nagbi-brainstorm na, h'wag naman puro chika lang ng chika. Kung pupwede, mag-assign ng Sgt. at Arms sa grupo para s'yang taga-saway!

On a sheet of paper, write ALL possible topics that come to mind. Write it all down regardless of how ridiculous you think it is (who knows? The craziest idea could win you the "Grand Thesis Award". Kung mangangambisyon ka rin lang naman, lubos -lubosin mo na!). BUT limit yourself to the things that is OF INTEREST to you personally. 

So by now, may listahan na kayo (ala listahan ng mga pangalan ng mga kaklase mong umuutang sayo na di pa nagbabayad.*ehem-parinig-ehem*)

When you've written down all of the suggestions, run through them and, as a group, put them in order according to the most interesting. Remember, this time, you order them according to interest AS A GROUP. H'wag makipag-away para lang masunod ang gusto. Kaya nga GROUP THESIS diba?! Kung di mo carry ang mag-accede sa desisyon ng grupo, nag-solo ka nalang sana!

After which, you eliminate those which you think are not feasible for study or have already been studied before (unless you think a restudy of the topic could be had due to significant developments). This then will require you to do research to see if materials for your prospective topic is available or if your prospective topic would duplicate an already existing one. Better yet, humingi ka ng advice sa adviser mo! Para ano pa't naging adviser n'yo yan kung wala siyang ikaka-advise sa inyo.

Sa stage na ito, elimination nalang ang gawin nyo. Tanggalin na ang mga di n'yo trip, may sabit, or walang kakwenta2(kasali na dito yung ridiculous na idea na nanatiling riduculous til the end---di nag-evolve into brilliancy). Kung ano yung natira, yun ang WAGI! 

Basta, maging open kayo sa mga mungkahi. H'wag selfish! Dahil pagdating sa Panel Defense, kelangan mo ng matibay na hukbo ng sandatahang lakas. HAHA! Sa battlefield, pare, di pupwedeng ikaw lang ang may alam kasi ikaw lang ang gumawa ng thesis kasi ikaw lang ang interesado! HAHA Dahil kung ganun, goodluck nalang kung di ka bigyan ng award with matching background music na "all by myself" by mariah carey... dahil, pare... Oo na! ikaw na! Ikaw na ang bida! hahahaha!

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