INQUIRER, ST. THERESA’S COLLEGE-QC PARTNER FOR ON-THE-JOB IMMERSION PROGRAM
The Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) accepted senior high school students of St. Theresa’s College (STCQC), for their On-the-Job Immersion program (OJI) held from Feb. 26 to March 14.
A component of the K-12 education reform, OJI is a pre-requisite to graduation. This aimed to expose the students to work simulation and enrich their competencies in areas of specialization.
Bianca Kasilag-Macahilig, supervisor of the students, from the PDI Corporate Affairs department, shared her thoughts on the STCQC and PDI collaboration,
“I’m very happy to partner again with St. Theresa’s College. It is because I saw how the youth work. They’re very fast learners, and they submit things earlier than expected.”
The 17 students were assigned to different PDI departments that was closely aligned with their desired career, namely: Research, Supplements, Corporate Affairs, Accounting, Marketing, and Human Resources.
As the students immersed themselves in the corporate world, they developed technical and relational skills that they don't normally learn in the classroom. “It’s a new learning environment, and we realized that experience is the best teacher,” said Carla Tayam, who had her OJI at the Accounting department. “It’s okay not to understand things right away because everything is a learning, adaptive process.”
Denise del Rosario, a student assigned at the Corporate Affairs department, also shared her insights about the experience. “Of course it was not easy, but they (employees of PDI) were patient in helping us learn and expand our knowledge in our chosen field. They were able to give us an idea of what the ‘real world’ is like.”
The students were shown the ropes at their respective assigned PDI departments, and PDI as a whole. Students from the Research department, for example, were given the chance to assist in writing background information and researching fast-facts; sitting in during newsmeetings; socializing with department heads, editors, and reporters; and conversing with institutions that have important, primary sources of information. “Experiencing my OJI here had made me a more resourceful, skillful and integral person,” said Alex Palacio, who got assigned at the Research department.
A ceremony was held last March 14 at the PDI Employees’ Hub. As a culmination of their OJI, students shared their personal experiences and the knowledge that they obtained. Mentors from PDI then gave their own messages, bidding the students farewell and good luck as they continue to pursue their own passions.