CHOOSING A college program involves assessing different factors. Sometimes it is affected by the dreams of one’s parents; other times, it depends entirely on what you hope for yourself and your future. When I chose the latter, however, I found myself facing judgment.
At 15 years old, I already knew that I wanted to enter the media field, as I was exposed to movies, television, and my grandfather who worked as a radio reporter. Hence, I was excited when I found out that Ateneo offered a program aligned with my exact interests.
When I submitted my application, my peers and elders downplayed the course I had chosen, describing it as easy and reducing the work I hoped to do to “only” watching movies or writing articles.
Nonetheless, I brushed those comments off and worked hard to get into my dream course. However, getting accepted was an entirely different story.
As someone who excelled in senior high, I did not expect to constantly receive low grades in my first year of college. Culture shock was an understatement, and I even questioned if I was on the right path.
On top of poor academic performance, I also dealt with unwarranted comments about my chosen field, saying that I was lucky for only having to “deal with words.” Some would even make fun of my friends and me, telling us that we were simply not good enough to pass a math- or business-related program.
Course shaming is an unfamiliar term to most, but an experience that is common to many. With courses leaning toward arts and creativity often seen as “easy,” I face pressure to defend myself every time I struggle to get high grades on my essays and papers.
As a student, this type of shaming has not only affected my self-confidence but also really weighed heavily on my mind as I thought about major life decisions, such as my future career.
For one of my journalism classes, I interviewed a sociology lecturer to better understand why course shaming exists. The lecturer mentioned that the Philippine economy itself perpetuates the idea by prioritizing courses that involve numbers, thereby creating a hierarchy and competition between different fields.
Every day, I write more than a thousand words to obtain my degree and fulfill my dream of writing my own articles, informing people, and defending the truth. I see my friends staying up to finish their films and struggling to find literature for their research—only to hear people look down on them for choosing an “easy” course.
Why must there be a hierarchy when all fields contribute to the improvement of our country? What would our world be without reporters, teachers, philosophers, and all those specializing in the humanities, social sciences, and arts?
I truly believe that if we, as humanity, embrace the fact that society is sustained by both numbers and critical thinking, then we can break the stigma and foster a more inclusive environment. In doing so, students will feel empowered to choose paths that resonate more with them—a path where each one’s hard work is seen and validated.
Charley is a third year AB Communication junior specializing in Journalism and Public Relations, expecting to graduate in 2027. Her knowledge allows her to actively serve her organizations by building relationships and promoting advocacy for justice, truth, and the fight against misinformation.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
