#002
“You learn how much a day is
truly worth, because they’re all so different”
-Every
day (David Levithan)
Blogger’s Note: Please do bear
with me if this post is quite long, and also for some typo graphical and grammar
errors. I just hope that you’ll enjoy and like this entry from me.
Dedicated to my Thesis Group
mates: the researCHIKS, Reisanne Galban, Rachelle Ann Garcia, Pedro Padlan Jr.,
Maria Elvira Punzalan, Rhodora Grace Ramiscal, Ellix Santiago, Tifanie Solante
and Tresia Vito.
(Hi mga CHIKS!! ♥♥♥ )
Ciao J
Chapter I
INTRODUCTION AND ITS
BACKGROUND
Introduction
Thesis is usually part of a bachelor’s or master’s course in which
the author/s will submit a document where their research study and findings are
presented. It also supports the completion of one’s academic degree or
professional qualification. Thesis making requires a lot of time and effort. It
is not like an ordinary school paper you can finish in a span of one or two
weeks. It usually takes months before an individual or group of students could
submit their final draft and hardbound copies. That includes all the activities
involved in its construction. In doing a more detailed and complicated
research, of course, we may not avoid some difficulties and struggles. One good
tip before a student takes up research on their specific year in college,
they should at least have some background and ideas on how a thesis could drain
them up, maybe physically, mentally, emotionally or financially. By that way,
they have themselves well prepared before starting to get things rolling.
Thesis may be listed as a minor subject under curriculums, but most of
the students treat this subject as if it was a major subject on their course
they have to pass.
Last April 3, 2013, our group finally submitted our hardbound
thesis copy to our research adviser. It took us almost five months before we
finished our research. We started last November 2012, second semester of this
school year. From then on, the following days, weeks, and months has been like
a roller coaster ride for our group. It was really quite an experience, that’s
why I want to share it here.
Background of the Post
In forming a group for a non-individual research, most students
prefer the “choose your own group” system. In this system
everyone has the privilege to pick the group they want to join and work with.
In this way, you tend to choose your own group of friends as members, maybe
because of the good rapport you had established over the year of friendship
and you just don’t want to undergo further adjustments in case you we’re group
into other people, especially when you only know them just for months. Or if
you were that one kind of a lazy kid, you want your friend to be in the same
group of yours so you could depend on their brain and works without you helping
them, yet your name still appears on the front page next to theirs. And
maybe you just want to work with your buds to know them better and to keep the
long list of memories going. Whether you choose your own group or not, you
still have all the choices to enjoy the entire moment with your group mates.
You just have to be responsible and committed enough so there will be no reason
for your group mates to dislike you and who knows maybe your new found group
mates will also be your new found buddies.
Our group was also formed by means of choose your own
group system. Though not all of us were in the same circle of friends
because some of us came from other class sections (Well, except to my friends
from our former section) before we met each other for our course’ major. It is
only one semester ago since we've known each other, and honestly
speaking we haven’t establish a good classmate-classmate relationship by that
time. So, during the time our professor/research adviser asks us to form our
thesis group, me and two of my other friends who were present that time listed
our names immediately together with the names of our two other friends who were
absent that time. And that makes us five already, then there is this one
classmate of ours who joined our group after declining the offer of her
classmates (from their former section) to join their group. I even remember her
line pertaining to her bud: “Magsawa naman kayo sa akin.” Since our adviser
requires us to have at least eight members per group we also added two more
classmates, who were also absent that day to our list because we’re the only
group left who haven’t completed our members yet. If you think that our group
formation ends there, well you’re wrong. Because after a week (if I remember it
accurately) while we are waiting for our next class around early afternoon,
there is this one student from another year and section who approached our
group leader and asked if he could join our thesis group. A little hesitation
was registered on our leader’s face so the guy added that he badly needs to
find group mates for him to pass the subject and also because he is a
graduating student. Even there is a doubt from the group about letting this
student being part of us, we still have him in as long as he would be of help
and would be easy to find unlike other irregular students we've met
before. And that is how our five month thesis journey had started.
Conceptual Framework
 |
Figure 1 shows the different factors that affects the thesis
making process of our group. Thesis methodology includes some of the
strategies we've used in order to finish our research. Also listed
above are the conflicts or difficulties our group had encountered during the duration
of our thesis construction. And also some of the extra
activities we've done in between to chill down and have some fun
during the time too much pressure.
Statement of the Problem
As mentioned in the introduction, thesis is a one tough subject
for a college student. It really requires a lot of time, effort and patience.
It is not like a typical school paper wherein you just have to give your
comments into sets of paragraph and then it’s ready to go. Thesis is a more
detailed and complicated study that needs accurate information. So aside from
the convenience of online researching of sources, researchers also needs to
conduct field research and study like library research and surveying to support
the details they need for their topic. And throughout the entire construction
of a thesis, hindrances and obstacles would really be there. There are those
sleepless nights you have to endure with because you’re still editing your
file, also the moments when you’re stressing yourself out because most of your
group mates are nowhere to be found. That crying moment when your wallet is so drained and you just have that exact amount of fare going home. And those
annoying moments when you have to move from place to place just to find a
working electrical outlet so you could plug in the net book you are using for
editing. And also the misunderstandings whether from the members itself or to
your research adviser who really has a different point of view from the topic
you are trying to justify, and so on and so forth. Difficulties and struggles
are really part of one’s life. We may not avoid this but we may overcome
it. And that makes the victory even sweeter. It just depend on the
researchers whether these problems would make them or break them into pieces.
Scope and Limitation
This post is limited to all the happenings, people and places our
group had encountered for the past five months during and in between the
construction of our thesis up to the day we submitted our final draft and
hardbound copies.
Definition of Terms
This section provides the words or terms our group had coined base
on some instances we had experienced throughout the entire construction of our
thesis. (Note: definition of the following words may differ from its original
meaning because the blogger defined the words base on how it is understood and
used in our research group.)
Cyber Brainstorming – Exchange of ideas and discussions from the
members made thru facebook.
Group Overnight – Turning nights into day. A more than 24 hour of editing,
researching, tallying, bullying, eating, movie marathon, tripping and laughter
that results to a little thesis progress.
Ninja Moves – Strategies or movements on how you’ll avoid the hidden lens of
someone’s camera trying to do some stolen shots.
Sabaw – This word does not only refer to a “soup” for us, but also to a
state of mind where you can’t come up with a good idea, or when your brain is
not working well to think or to do work.
Square root of 9 – The term we have coined because of the usual three members
attendance in most of the group meetings.
Stolen Shots – Act of taking pictures without someone’s knowledge. It normally
ends up with funny facial expression from the subject.
SUV (USB) – Refers to a flash drive or device where you can save your files
and documents. It also comes up with different memory capacity.
Thesis Buddies – One of the terms used when we are referring to each other. CHIKS,
BABOY, KUPS, BRAD, DUDE and BEY are the other pet
names we have.
Unlitally (Unlimited Tally) – The process of never ending tally of
results we have obtained from our survey.
Chapter II
RE-VIEW OF RELATED MOMENTS AND EXPERIENCES
The five month thesis journey of our group starts right after the
moment we’re formed. First task is to propose a desired topic to our research adviser which was personally chosen by the
group to and will be subjected for her approval. No
wonder, our first proposal has been rejected because we've come up
with that topic during the state of our “sabaw na utak” when
no one of us could even think of a justifiable topic that we could handle.
Since we need to pass another set of topic for the next meeting, our group
discussed our plans and ideas to be able to come up with something better or
else we’ll say goodbye to that class and repeat next semester. After that, all
the discussion and suggestions by the members has been made thru facebook which
we call “Cyber Brainstorming”. This method actually saves us from
the expense we could make if we decided to do it on our off school
days. Though it was actually tough to do all the discussion and arguments
online, our group finally come up with different sets of topics to be presented
on the second day of the proposal. And finally our proposed study about the PUP
Laboratory High School has been approved. Class meetings to our research
adviser weren't necessary at all for us to have additional time we
need for the planning and thesis making unless we have questions or have
something to consult with her.
After the topic has been approved, the day of research and its construction finally begun. And our five month roller coaster ride had started. To do the re-VIEW more easily, I’ll sum up all the significant
places that have been special to us, activities we've done that
results to priceless memories and conflicts that made our journey more
interesting for the past five months.
The most important place of all the location we have been for this
study is no other than our Sintang Paaralan, the Polytechnic
University of the Philippines- Sta. Mesa Campus. Most of the events in this
journey happened in different parts of our campus. And there are these spots
that have been memorable to us.
There’s this several area where we spent most of our times just
for the electrical outlet when we need to plug in the netbook we are using.
Like in the 3rd floor south wing of the main bldg. where we
have to use our bags just to cover the outlet, because the security guards
won’t allow us to use the outlet because they say that it is prohibited. So,
there are times that we have to move places to places just to find a working
outlet so we could continue our work. Until some of our classmates recommended
this area on the west end wing also in 3rd floor where we can
use the outlet of a certain Christian organization. From then on, we call that area
as our usual place, so that area will be the first stop we have to look for every
time we have to meet or do some work. But I guess we really do have issues with
this security guards, because one time, while we are working on our draft for
the upcoming defense at the said area nearly 10 pm, there’s one guard who pass
by and without saying a thing turns off the light switch with us dumb
founded why the heck he did that. We know that students are only allowed to
stay until 10 pm, but we are quite unconscious about the time during that
moment because we're too busy with our thesis. Though the security guard has
some point about letting us leave the area, he must approached and remind
us first before he hit the switch off. Since we can't stay any longer and
don't want to argue with him further, we just pack our things and stormed out
of the area really annoyed on what just happened.
Moving on, aside from those areas from the main academic building,
we also have this other places in school which have been part of our five month
journey, there’s the campus library, where we spent some of our time doing
research and editing. Sampaguita canteen, lagoon, linear park and name a few
where we spent our early lunch (around 9 am after our first class in the
morning, skipping our research class because we have nothing to do in there, so
better fill our hungry stomachs instead). And speaking of food, you’re not
considered as a true blooded PUPian if you haven’t try to go on a food trip in
the PUP’s most famous Teresa St. And as a group who’s always hungry and starving, there are
those times when we used to eat before going home. We try eating twice on
a “lugawan” along the street of Teresa, and also the ever
popular foods on stick like kwek-kwek, hotdogs, kikiam etc. Those
are the moments when we slow down from our thesis works and just satisfying our
appetite.
And the most important place in school I would like to thank the
most is the PUP Laboratory High School. This is where we conducted our survey
study to our target respondents. We may only spent some couple of days in the
area but it is still quite memorable because this area is the main subject of
our research topic: the university type of environment among PUPLHS
senior students. One of the days I really remember aside from the actual
survey proper, is the day we got really excited because after long last of
revisions and arguments between us and our research adviser, finally our
questionnaire has been validated by one of the teachers in PUPLHS. Due to time
pressure, we have everything on rush. We attended a seminar earlier that day to
get excused to our other class, then have to prepare a letter for the principal
regarding our survey. Our letter has to be signed by our adviser first before
we make our way to PUPLHS. We thought that office hours on LHS is until 5 pm only, but it was almost 5 pm and our letter hasn't signed yet, so
right after our adviser put on her final remark on the request, we run so fast
like we've never made before just to make it to the principal’s office
before the clock strike at five. We are panting when we enter the office
and couldn't say a word to the principal so she asks us: “bakit
ba kayo hinihingal mga hija?”, then I responded, “di ba po hanggang
5pm lang ang office hours?” (While catching my breath) then she
answer “hanggang 6 pm pa ako ditto.” And I swear
that moment was really an epic one. We've rushed our way to make it
to her office at exactly 5 o’clock only to find out that she’s staying
until 6 pm. That was quite a fail, but in the end we charged it as
experience and laugh about it.
Way back in November and December, our group wasn't really like this, I mean; we mostly talk only about our research but still not showing our insane side, just this January when I notice some changes. There are more interactions between us, bullying each other and do some stuffs we haven't done before. Just like the day of our actual survey, where we are having some trouble on catching our respondents’ free time that day so we had ditched some of our class in order to monitor their schedule. While waiting along the compound of PUPLHS, we are making fun of the "Nissin Wafers" we had on pack as freebies to our respondents. We are tempting each other to eat the wafers instead of giving them away. We actually ate some of the excess packs after we surveyed two sections, and kept a certain number of pieces for the remaining section. The next day, the group had assigned only three members to continue the survey, and we had learned that they didn't give the remaining freebies because it was not enough for the class. So they just kept it home and divided it to each one of us the next class day. Since then, wafer is not most requested food among us.
Beside from our Sintang Paaralan we've been
also into different places, like the National Library, where we gather majority
of the information we've used in our thesis. Take note of the Filipino Time during our meet ups at the National Library. Meeting time was set at 10 am, then there is some one who would come at around 1 pm. Just look at the time difference. Well, I must also admit that there are times that I'm also coming late, but not like that. ( HAHAHA :] ) And also the residences of our
fellow group mates where we spent some time in editing and constructing our
thesis. I would just like to thank their parents for letting us use their facilities even if we're not 100% focus on what we are doing, and some of the time are being wasted because it was occupied by our chit chats and stories. Our five month journey happens in different places with different
circumstances. And as we construct our thesis, we also create memories that
will stay in our hearts and our thoughts.
All of us have been into different places in our life. But there
are this places that are really significant to us. Places that is close to our
hearts, enveloping memories of laughter and tears. Place that we’ll never get
tired of looking back as it holds moments that last forever.
p.s. our group name was coined because of our overnight. One of
us is teasing another member for being a CHIC, because of his whining the day
of our overnight while he is on his way. researCHIKS officially
originated days after our defense while we are discussing our revision plans.
we even wrote it on one of the blackboard of a vacant room and have our names
arrange around it.
Chapter III
METHODOLOGY
This chapter presents the methodologies the researchers had used
in order to complete their thesis study. This may include some parts that was
not actually needed on an actual thesis but still done by the researchers in
order to add some spice and have some fun during those hard times in our five
month journey.
Our group had done different strategies on how we’ll construct our
thesis and to apply its revision. There are those time when we divided the tasks
by threes so everyone would have something to do with and could be of help to
the group, and also for the benefit of our group mates who has work. There are
those assigned for the library research, in which they have look for more
resources at the National Library, while others’ task is to do online research
for additional information, and the remaining ones are responsible for the
construction and editing of our draft. At first, the strategy was quite
effective though there are some people who’ll get you into the nerves because
they haven’t done their duties well. So that makes the effort double because
you have to repeat the process just to get the right one.
When at school during our class days, we are doing some editing to
lessen our work. But we don’t have all the time in school, because we still
have classes and some other activities that get us distracted in doing our
thesis. And because of the lack of time to work as a group, we have set our
overnight twice at one of our group mate’s home. The first one is sometime
around December when we have to pass a draft of the first two chapters. And the
other one is just last January on the same house we've stayed before.
Our defense day was approaching that time, so we need better progress to make
it at least half way through our thesis. The second overnight experience is
quite fun, because for the first time outside school premises our attendance is
not square root of 9.
As a group of typical teenagers, who still wants to find time to
chill down and narrow their focus from a difficult
task, we've distracted ourselves in between our production by means
of movie marathon. We had watched around five movies during the entire duration
of our thesis. There’s Pitch Perfect that we've tried
to watch in school twice but still don’t reach the end of the movie (so I did
watch it on my own at home), then Sinister which we've watched
on the first day of our Department week. That day was supposed to be intended
for our revision but we feel so lazy so we watch the movie instead. And during
our 2nd overnight, we've watched Cabin in the
Woods sometime around midnight. That was a suspense movie, but we’re trying to
hold our screams and reactions because we might wake up other people. There are
also other movies that we may not watched as a group but is still seen by some
of us during breaks from our work ( Brave, John Carter, Life of Pi ).
Aside from movie marathons there are also times when we just tease or bully
each other, talking some craps and reality sometimes, just to take everything
at ease and to slow down ourselves from too much work.
It was really a tough five months for us. There are times that we
feel so disappointed and about to lose hope. Yet there are still these people
who make it possible for us to make it up to the finish line. It has been a
five month roller coaster ride. One day we're so carefree and happy and the
next day we're so burned out and frustrated. Those things, I think made our
group more bonded. Though at some point in our research we've feel
that there are some who are unintentionally trying to neglect other members, because of no
appearance and communication which even cause for some misunderstandings
between the group. And in order for us to pass and finish on time, we had
denied all the negativity surrounds us and pushed ourselves even more, with the
goal that all sacrifices will all come8 to an end and we’ll soon get our reward
after.
CHAPTER IV
PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA
|
 |
| Before
and After defense: majority of us we're really tired and drained that day because of all the works and stress we've encountered for our final draft. Though we didn't expect the defense to be that way, we're still thankful that we did pass and hand them our draft on time. |
 |
| Random
pics: some were taken days after our defense while we're trying to discuss what we will do next for our revision. and others are taken after we submitted our thesis study in hard bound copy. |
 |
| researCHIKS
signature pose: well i would describe that one as a twisted peace sign. it was coined as our signature pose after one of our group mate did some hilarious moves, that eventually turned into some sort of dance steps. We’re really a group of insane people you know. :)) and on the lower right was our group name written on one of the black boards in a vacant room, the day it was coined. |
 |
| Stolen
Shots: this was actually our past time when everything seems tough. We just have to do our moves quietly before we get caught. it was mostly me who always took stolen shots of my group mates, but i am also a victim some times. If you don't want to get caught by our hidden cameras, better practice the “ninja moves" dear. ;) |
 |
| The
final product of our hard work, perseverance, tears, sleepless nights and empty pockets. We feel so much relief the day we submitted this, because everything we've been through for the past five months finally paid off. |
 |
| Thesis
Knock-Out Zone: Sneaking out some sleep during our group's over night. |
 |
| 1st
and 2nd Overnight: Picture Break SMILE though your BRAIN is DRAINING.. :)) |
CHAPTER V
SUMMARY, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATION
Summary
Our
thesis journey started last November 2012, 2nd semester of the
current school year. Our group was not that really close during that time, well
except for the ones we've been with the past years of our college life. We
selected our topic and work on it for the next days. There are really some
distractions and hindrance in finishing our thesis but that was a part of it.
There is also a point when our group was about to eliminate other member
because of some misunderstandings. Good thing is that everything was settled
before our defense day. Thesis defense day, we’re so drained and tired during because of the works and stress we had encounter during the past days
in finalizing our draft. It really not went the way we thought it would be, but
we’re still thankful that we still pass. Work has not yet ended even after our
defense because we have to apply all the suggestions the panelist had made for
our study, from its content to its format up to its title. The second wave of
revision was kinda frustrating because it never ends with just one
consultation. It was already Holy Week but we’re still on school doing its
revision, it took us about how many sets of printed drafts before the panelist
approved our work. After the Holy Week we came back to
school to have our draft signed so we can have it on the process of book bind.
But it doesn't end there, since it was the season were most students are
taking up thesis, book binding businesses along Teresa street is also in
demand, so it took us a while before we found one who will bind our thesis up. And finally, last April 3, 2013 we had submitted our thesis in hard
bound form.
Conclusion
The
blogger therefore conclude that thesis making is truly stressful and time
consuming. It just depends on who you are with the entire process that makes
everything light and worth it. You may encounter different obstacle during your journey,
but there are those people who will make you feel at ease and could make you
laugh in an instant. There will be misunderstandings, but in the end it is your
concern and friendship that will rule. You might also think about surrendering
and letting go, but giving up is never an option. Nothing beats the feeling of
having a victory with your own hardship and perseverance. This not only applies
in thesis making, but also in our own journey in life. And to quote a tweet I've read from twitter: “We’re all in the same game, just different levels. Dealing
with the same hell; just different devils.”
Every
one of us has a journey to take, problems to solve, and dreams to fulfill. We
may differ
from choices and parting paths, but in the end we’re on the same goal: to
achieve what we believe is ours. We just have to be strong, persistent and
patient along the way. There’s no such thing as overnight success. Everything
takes place on the right time. And after a very long journey, there is that
feeling of fulfillment and happiness.
And to end things up, in behalf
of our group, I would like to send our million thanks to all the people who had
helped and been part of the completion of our thesis. I could not recite all
your names but thanks for making things possible. Much love and appreciation
from us. J
© area2013
04-16-13
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