Elwynn Taylor, a retired extension climatologist from Iowa State University, once said ...
"If it weren't for agriculture, there would be no culture at all."
Hence, let me rephrase it with these set of words:
"If I weren't for agriculture, there would be no other path I'll be more compassionate to."
Way back in high school, I only dreamt of to take this specific degree course in college: "Bachelor of Science in Agriculture."
Upon taking the College Admission Test (CAT) in that prestigious university, Central Luzon State University, in January 2019? Different thoughts are circulating and bombarding my own mind and the ultimate questions are: "What if I failed the entrance examination? What will happen to that dream? To me?"
Still, I am lucky enough to passed it. More so, to be qualified to my dream course. And by that time, I could say that: "I am destined for it. For the farmers, to be a Licenced Agriculturist."
Because if it's not for me, He wouldn't permit me to passed the CAT, enter the university, and be qualified for BS Agriculture. I only have one thing to do on my own: "To graduate!"
During the first year in college (A.Y. 2019-2020), everything starts so smoothly. Learned a lot of things, be enlightened, built a solid bond with the whole block, and got to experienced the following:
- Slaughtered a chicken & individually determine each parts, both internal and external.
- Grow crops for the whole Academic Year, manage everything, treat pests.
- Diagnose a plant disease, personally saw a virus under the microscope.
- Composting. Play with carabao & chicken manures.
- Ploughed a farm plot.
I, myself were enjoying everything despite of the unending sources of stress and tiredness. Apparently, COVID-19 start to exist. It begins to infect thousands to millions of people, became more dangerous and burdensome causing a pandemic to occur. Therefore, classes at all level are suspended. At first, it's only for 2-weeks until it prolonged to 2-years.
Automatically, online classes were established to replaced the traditional way of learning. Yes, distant learning modality may be more inexpensive and safe. However, not that effective in terms of learning. Especially if a certain degree course is on applied science like BS Agriculture. Why? Because technically, "not everything must only be read, we must practice it too."
Studying with only the means of supplementary materials, gadgets, and self-teaching were too draining in all aspects. Yes, it's still effective but not that much as compared to face-to-face modality.
And, FINALLYYYY! After murmuring uncountable of "sana all (hope all)" and be envious of those students who attends face-to-face classes? The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) allows our university to participate on the limited face-to-face classes under New Normal. Yeyy!
And yesterday, 09.05.2022, face-to-face classes in selected courses including BD Agriculture begins.
Following my official schedule this semester of A.Y. 2022-2023, I MUST attend one laboratory class: "CPROT 4205 LAB - General Physiology & Toxicology."
Started to travel around 11:56AM and arrives at College of Agriculture exactly by 12:21PM. At this moment, can't help but to feel nostalgic. And by then, I silently said:
"WELCOME BACK TO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, SELF!" 🌿
CLSU - College of Agriculture (simple, CAG) is located outside the main campus to comply with the extensive farming requirements. There are six (6) departments here:
- Department of (1) Crop Protection; (2) Crop Science; (3) Extension Education; (4) Agricultural Management; (5) Soil Science.
- Department of Animal Science (to be found inside the main campus).
In CAG, this newly-built extension building of the Department of Crop Protection (where I belong) will be seen first:
"Welcome to Plant Pest Disease Clinic, Surveillance and Research Center!"
After less than 100-steps, finally arrived at the main building:
09.05.2022 feels like my very first day in college. Of course, our Instructor won't let "Introduce yourself" to be undone. Did a short self-introduction, quiz & orientation-slash-discussion.
The supposedly 1:00-4:00PM class didn't last that long as early dismissal was done. And, here's some of the views when exiting on CAG:
And by 09.05.2022, I REUNITED WITH CLSU CLSU and CAG! 💚💛
BLOG NO. 08 OF 2022
TITLE : <Welcome Back to College of Agriculture, Self!>
DATE OF PUBLISHING : <SEPTEMBER 06, 2022>
