A total of 32 SIFI scholars from partner mill and planters associations in Pampanga attended a skills enhancement seminar on July 6, 2019 at PASPAI Office, San Fernando City, Pampanga. With the training title “Adjustments to College: Strengthening Social Support,” the scholars were meaningfully guided into discussions on the transitions of college life and the different stressors that come with it.
The resource person, Ms. June Rivera-De Leon of Pampanga State Agricultural University assisted the scholars in understanding the stages in college life that one goes through and how each of them could overcome the different challenges along the way. She identified financial struggles, schedules, peer pressure, image and college coursework as common stressors in college life and one way to overcome those is to build connections and build social support. She also encouraged the scholars to be more involved in school and community events, to utilize school resources (e.g., library, sports complex, career and counseling center, etc.), and to continue nurturing themselves given that they are in a scholarship program thus, additional effort is expected from them.
The seminar ended with a plenary session wherein the scholar expressed their views on the topics as well as shared words of encouragement to their co-scholars. They also identified the SIFI scholarship program as one of the support groups they could depend on in the course of their journey through college.
