Stepping Out

Growing up, I guess I sort of had it pretty easy. My older sister was and is an achiever, and as her younger sister, it’s only natural that I engage myself in her many interests. In school, she would excel in academics and extra-curricular activities. Almost every extra-co activity that she would join in, I would participate in as well.

I had it pretty easy because I thought my life had already been planned out for me. I simply had to follow everything my sister did, and I would be secured of a pretty good future.

Unfortunately, life caught up with me and for the first time in my life, I had to make a major decision for myself. You see, a Tita of mine urged my mother to have me take the entrance exam of one of the science high schools in the country. I wasn’t really interested in studying there, but where’s the harm in taking an entrance exam, right?

So, my mom made me take the first screening, and surprisingly I passed. I then took the second screening and i passed once again! Never in my wildest dreams did I think of entering a science high school. Not only was the idea so far fetched, it wasn’t anywhere near my plans since my older sister studied at Assumption for her secondary education! My mom actually got excited because I passed the exams. Probably took it as a sign from God or something. Anyway, my mom suddenly presents the idea that I study at Pisay. She even got my titas to persuade me to consider it. It was only natural that I decline. Back then, it was definitely not an option for me to enter that school.

Here are my reasons:
1. I’m not a math and science person. I loathe the subjects.And to enter a school which specializes in those subjects is just scary.
2. It was uncharted territory. I didn’t know any close friends or relatives who ever studied there.
3. Back then, Pisay had a reputation of being slave-drivers toward their students…I didn’t want to suffer.

As much as I wanted to continue my studies at Assumption, I must admit, the thought of studying at Pisay intrigued me. Aside from the quality of education that I would receive, the thought of being a scholar also fascinated me. By the time I agreed to enter Pisay, my mom decided to enroll me at Assumption because she was afraid I would end up being unhappy at Pisay. Long story short, I enrolled at Pisay and ended up liking it there.



I really loved my high school.

1. The teachers were great, accommodating and open-minded.

2. My classmates were the most humble and selfless people I have ever met. I admired how they put so much into their studies..

3.Had a blast with all the different personalities I got to encounter in school. Everybody was unique and we all emraced the many categories that we fit in without shame.

4. Turns out, they weren't slave-drivers at all. The workload was very reasonable

5. I learned to appreciate math and science (Although I wish they taught accounting at Pisay). And I learned that I am capable of tackling math and science problems.

6.I passed the really good universities that I applied in. It's not that Assumption has a poor curriculum but they focus more on values formation and the arts...not much on science and math. In a way, it helped me out greatly to pass Ateneo.


I guess taking a risk really played out well for me. It was the better choice to enter Pisay, otherwise I would have incurred greater opportunity cost if Istayed at Assumption. I probably found it very difficult to get into Ateneo I could have remained in my sister's shadow for long long time. At least, for once in my life, I was able to make a decision on my own and not just follow in the footsteps of my sister. It shows that it is important to take risks and to be an individual.I got to discover certain aspects about myself that I never knew I could be capable of. At the end of the day, it’s the only way to live.


Opportunity Cost: the cost associated with opportunities that are foregone by not putting the firm's resources to their best alternative use.

Source: Pindyck, R. and Rubinfeld D. Microeconomics, Prentice-Hall International Inc.

Focus is Key

After reading Alexis’ entry on Returns to Scale, I must admit, I was moved (nothing sappy okay? Just couldn’t find the appropriate word to use ) to relate the Law of Marginal Returns to my own experiences regarding my life and my studies.


I personally think there’s nothing wrong with being an overachiever. In fact, I admire people who put so much time and effort into their studies because it’s something that I find very difficult to do. It’s not that I’m lazy or that I take my studies for granted…I’m not one of those people and I condemn those who are like them. In fact, I’m a firm believer in education and its many benefits.

Here are the reasons why I find studying so difficult:
1. I’ve never developed a study habit growing up.
2. Sometimes, I would get away with really high grades without reviewing or studying. Of course I would get low scores too, but I remember feeling really elated whenever I’d get away with high grades (you know how it feels hahahaha).
3. I easily give -in to distractions/temptations (e.g TV!!!!, food, people going in and out of my room, fanfiction, phonecalls, daydreams, music etc) and;
4. probably the most shameful reason …SLEEP! Mind you, I once had around 6-8 30 minute naps in one day. My body’s weird and I’m not proud of it sleeping all the time(I think I’ve tried every remedy available: coffee, energy drinks, bubblegum etc…they don’t work AT ALL!!!). Shameful right?

But at the end of the day, it’s really the lack of study habit that’s the problem. But it’s never been a constant practice (or lack of it) of mine. I guess I go through phases in my life where I would study hard and then revert to my old ways.

The thing is, I just realized (very recently actually), that I’ve actually been following the Law of Diminishing Marginal Returns (LDMR) in my studies. I realized that I usually do well during the first few years in school... and end up losing focus by the end of the schoolyear.

I went to a science high school (and back then I loathed science and math), and I remember studying so hard as a freshman because I was afraid of getting failing grades. But at the end of first year, I got into the Director’s list (it’s the equivalent of the Dean’s list in college) and I remember feeling so good about myself because I got really good results from my hard work.In a way, I did follow the LMR which states that:

“…as the use of an input increases in equal increments (with other inputs fixed), a point will eventually be reached at which the additions to output decreases.”

By increasing my effort (input) towards my studies, I got high grades (output) which led me to reach my optimal point (a place in the Director’s List).

At that time, despite my hard work, I thought that I once again got away with something I didn’t work so hard for. In the succeeding years, I started to lose focus. I would work on the problems and I would still take down notes, but my focus was definitely not there. As cheesy as this may sound, my heart was definitely out of it. My grades weren’t as high anymore, and all throughout high school, despite my efforts, I never regained my focus.

When I started to attend Ateneo, I felt it was my duty to redeem myself. Once again, I put my heart and soul into my studies. I reached my optimal point once again after freshman year (yey!), but come summer, I once again lost focus. I dunno, it seems pretty hazy, but I’ve sort of been using the LDMR for most part of my life.

Physically, my input was increasing. I was exerting effort…I read all the readings , solved all the problems but my drive was definitely gone. If I were to read an article, I would do so without fully grasping it. I would solve accounting and math problems without understanding them, but answering them nonetheless through patterns and formulas.

I can really attest to the fact that understanding and focus are key to one’s studies. But I am trying to change my ways, especially since I believe I’m more mature now. In a way, it's not very admirable that I change my priorities after getting into the DL. I want to change...and I am aware that it entails a lot of mental conditioning on my part, but it's simply the right thing to do. Education after all is very important. In time I think I can get back to my good old ways.

source: Pindyck, R. and Rubinfeld D. Microeconomics, Prentice-Hall International Inc.