With Honors

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/With_Honors_(film)

Yes, this is inspired by the movie. No, it's NOT a review :)

A few weeks ago hubby aka bosscat and select MDP7 crew (Marketing Diploma Program Batch 7 - Ateneo Graduate School of Business Center for Continuing Education) were informed of diplomas ready for pickup. I didn't receive any prompt - email, phone, text, FB message, what not - and since it was a year in the making and waiting (classes were Aug2009 to Feb2010), I had a few freaked out minutes  followed by, "Is this another academic failure?" Chocolate truffle-type bittersweet thoughts of retaking Math 11 way back college days and almost getting hospitalized that summer consumed me and poor bosscat who endured my self-pity panic mood. A few confirmation texts later (bosscat's and CCE) and I was fine as porcupine.

When someone says good things come to those who wait, you better listen and listen well.

Yup, this is me :)

A diploma, certificate and medal pleasantly surprised me at Ateneo CCE. Good thing I agreed to bosscat's request for pick up of our diplomas as he had to be at Chefs on Parade at SMX, Pasay City. Even better was knowing my efforts two years ago did pay off. I enrolled in the Marketing Diploma Program of Ateneo CCE in 2009 with hopes of becoming a great marketer someday soon. There were enticing options from other schools, but the schedule (after office, 2 to 3 days/week), professors/resource people and curriculum design made me take that crucial first step in Ateneo. Check out their course offerings here: cce.ateneo.edu (great segway, huh?)

The medal is for the Director's Award for Academic Excellence. You need to have a General Average of 3.5 or better, no grade below 3 and complete attendance for this. Apparently, I'm the third recipient (there are only 4 so far) since MDP batch 1's Arlene Amarante, Country Ambassador and Sales Director Yahoo! Philippines, batch 5's Grace Carmona-Salvador, Corporate Communications Manager Magsaysay Group of Companies and another learner from batch 9 (sorry didn't catch her name but heard companies are after her...for obvious reasons).

Take a look at the other recipients and back at me, then you'll notice I've a long way to go even just to catch up :) I've recently been transferred to the Marketing Services and Communications group from Internal Communications so in the Marketing world, I'm still a baby. Hopefully, someday soon, the baby will become a DRAGON lady haha :)

The award is a pleasant surprise and with it comes learnings. Allow me to share a few...

- Late doesn't apply to going after what you want be it a career change or life altering move.

- Ateneo = Excellence

- As shared in my FB post, "Nothing is impossible when you believe!" and now it's time to let the medal shine through others.

I enrolled a non-marketer and graduated with honors. It wasn't solo effort but a collaboration of shared knowledge and experiences with MDP7 buddies Mark, Kate, Elijah, Jojo, Pat, Howard, Ruth, Rom, Polo, Charles, Karlo, Jim, Johenson, Ria, RJ, Noonie, Chuck, Jon, Amaris, Cate, Mae, Johanne, Rain, Loi, Che plus our guest classmates (so many to name!). Of course our mentors notably Enrique Soriano, Titoy Colayco, Glenda Sy, Grace Marci (God bless), Brandlab, Harry Mosquera, Mon Reyes, Greg Banzon, Nick Lansang and guest teachers Tommy Lopez, Dondi Gomez, Arlene Amarante, Tess Bagaman, and Vivian Faustino.

So what's so With Honors with this post? My award. Get it? :) Seriously, the whole Ateneo CCE MDP experience was a lesson in humility and humanity - much like the movie. In Marketing you not only focus on the product or brand or idea but more on people - the consumers, your target market. It's not just a battle of features, brand positioning or promise or values, but you must communicate a specific human brand purpose, something that makes a difference in other's lives. It always goes back to humans :)

Another great learning I took home from Ateneo is that however excellent or successful in business you become, you should always have a deeper purpose/sense to what you're doing. And more importantly, give back to your community.