I feel like I express myself much better through writing, so I wanted to share a short blog post. Even though I still have some time left as a student ambassador, I thought this would be a great way for my shy friends who have joined or are thinking about joining to see my thoughts!
(It might be a little too much information, but that's just who I am.)
Time really flies, and we often say that when we don't want moments to end. While it’s hard to let go, I’ve learned that every ending opens the door to new opportunities. With this in mind, I want to share a look back at my experience as a Galaxy Campus Batch 2 student ambassador and how it helped me grow into a better version of myself.
Before joining the program, I’m aware that I’ll need to create contents, I didn’t know why I was so chill about it, but when we became an official ambassadors that’s where it hit me, oh, we had to create contents.
I've always been a low-key person, both in real life and on social media. I would always use the "close friends" option to share personal updates, keeping my life mostly private. Before I began my journey with Galaxy Campus, I didn't use Facebook, didn’t have TikTok, and my Instagram only had 80 followers and I would soft block anyone who follows me that I don't recognize.
I remember feeling really anxious that I had to let out a huge cry before posting my first mission on Facebook. That app makes me nervous because it brings back painful memories of being bullied. In my preteen years, I was teased for silly reasons, like fake rumors about me, being too thin, and even by people I thought were my friends. This made me develop social anxiety.
I grew up only using the Messenger feature on Facebook and avoided everything else. I never thought I'd have to face my past traumas, but when that moment came, I took a deep breath and reminded myself why I joined the program. Looking back, I think it was one of the bravest things I've ever done.
I was really surprised by TikTok. When I first created my account for the program, I only had three followers: my mom, my dad, and my friend Ysa, who was also in the program. I gained about 20 more followers from the other ambassadors I met at the kick-off event.
I posted my first individual mission, and that’s when everything changed. My followers quickly grew to over 1,000, and I got good engagement on my posts. I started connecting with different Samsung users online, which helped me feel more confident about sharing my content.
Creating content changed my perspective on social media. I learned to be more open and stopped worrying about what others think. So, to my old self: congratulations on stepping out of your shell; it's not so terrifying after all!
One thing I was really excited about was getting to use the latest Galaxy devices! Throughout the year, I had the opportunity to try out the newest gadgets and create content with them. These devices have been helpful for both my studies and everyday life.
I also started a new hobby: running. As someone who has never enjoyed physical education classes or physical activity in general, it surprised me how much I started to like it. Running sparked my interest in leading a healthy lifestyle and being more health-conscious.
I came here with my best friend, thinking that having her with me would be enough to get through the program. But I was surprised at how easy it was to make new friends and bond with everyone. I have made friends with people living in Davao, as well as with other Bisaya ambassadors from different parts of the Visayas and Mindanao. I even became close with some ambassadors from Luzon!
TMI: Although I identify as Tagalog since I’m not originally from Davao, I thought it would be hard to connect with others because I'm used to Bisaya culture, humor, and energy. But they’re really fun to be around!
I get to work with different people on various missions and a challenging capstone project. Although it was tough to find time for it, collaborating with people outside the campus turned out to be a fun experience.
I really love how friendly and welcoming everyone is. I'm so happy to have found this new group of friends that I can talk to, even outside the program!
As someone living in Davao, I initially thought we wouldn't have much access to events, but I was pleasantly surprised. They flew us out to enjoy events with my fellow ambassadors from across the country. These events are the ones I enjoy the most, they feel like a short escape from my stressful academic life. Additionally, from the comfort of our homes, we have the opportunity to attend workshops that will benefit us as ambassadors in this program and in our future careers!
When I started my journey in content creation, I thought it would be difficult. Editing my first few videos really made me overthink everything. I had never filmed myself talking in public before, and I felt really awkward listening to my voice in the recordings. Since I only have about ten friends, I didn’t expect much from my posts and honestly didn’t think I could go viral.
Seeing my videos get so many views was surprising. My mom would keep me updated on the likes and views, so I didn’t even need to check myself. To my amazement, my first video did really well! It was such a blessing and it set a positive trend for my future videos, which also got good interactions.
This experience made me realize my own capabilities. I learned that even someone who has been quiet her whole life can achieve things that others might think are impossible.
I had the chance to give a talk in Vietnam for Galaxy Campus Connect. It had been a long time since I spoke in front of an audience, the last time being during debate competitions in high school. I had forgotten how it felt! I'm used to working behind the scenes, like a director who stays behind the camera rather than being in front of it.
Speaking in English was also a challenge for me. Being multilingual sometimes feels like a disadvantage, especially since I get nervous easily. However, having the opportunity to be in front of an audience was a huge blessing.(I need to work on my public speaking skills; just living a director's life isn't enough!)
Over the past year, I feel like I’ve transformed into a different person. Last year, I was just a quiet student with hopes of stepping out and showing what I can really do. I’ve proven to myself that I am capable of more.
I know this is just the beginning, and there are many more steps to take beyond this program. I feel honored to be a part of the program and I am grateful for the chance to learn so much things I didn’t even realize I needed to know. From planning and research to creating and editing content, I’m excited to use what I’ve learned in my career and for my overall well-being.
If you're thinking about joining, don't let shyness hold you back. Take the plunge, it's worth it!
