for that i say, thank you

Academic achievement or performance is not limited to an individual's hard work alone. It is influenced by a myriad of factors (e.g., socioeconomic status and social support). I won't delve into details since it would take a whole literature review section or even another research paper to prove this. I know that one thing is for sure: I may have reached my graduation by my own efforts, but I am surrounded by people who lift me up day by day. And this helped me reach this milestone in my life.

First of all, I would like to thank the Being Up There. Thank You, Almighty God. Thank You, dearest Mother Mary. Thank You for being my source of strength always especially when I feel like I could not go on anymore.

To my parents Rodolfo and Marivic, thank you for the support that you've given to me. Thank you for believing in me when I could not even believe in myself. I know very well the sacrifices that you make day by day just to let me reach my goals in life. And I know you've been waiting for so long for your last child to finish schooling. I hope you are proud of me. You now have two UP graduates! :)

To my brother King Anthony, thank you for encouraging me to do my best always. I can still remember the time when you happily announced to me that I passed the UPCAT, and I did not quite understand why you were so happy about it. Now that I'm leaving UP, I finally understand why. Thank you for helping me decide on school and other matters. Throughout my college life, you did not just stand as a sibling to me. You also became a precious friend to me as I began to understand you and the principles that you hold.

To my cousin, Mae Ann. Thank you for helping the family out and thank you for helping me with some of my academic stuff. Thank you for being someone I could talk to and share jokes with when I feel so frustrated with school already.

To my dogs Prince and Duke, you furbabies would not read this. But you doggos are the rays of sunshine that keep me going. I love you both and thank you for watching over me as I study and work. Thank you for waiting for me to come home even if it's already late in the evening and for sitting beside me during my emotional breakdowns.

To my extended family (Yap and Go Family), my parents' friends and relatives, thank you for answering surveys to help me pass my requirements. Thank you for bringing in the respondents that I need for interviews. Your support is more than enough to keep me going.To the Ninangs also who helped me get respondents and believed in my abilities, thank you very much!

To my professors and instructors, especially my Psych profs (who are ever patient and understanding) and profs from the College of Social Sciences, thank you for imparting your knowledge and skills to us all. I also aspire to be active in the academe in the future.

To B Squad (Claire, Shania, Meg, John Carl, Hazel, Journey, Arnold, Gwyngie), my college life would be dull without you guys!!! I found the most valuable friends in college and I am beyond thankful.Thank you for always being there for me even in the most simple ways such as saving me a seat and providing updates on school events and classes. Labyu all! I hope we will be able to get in touch even after years pass us by.

Shout out to my Thesis mates, Journey and Arnold! All the stress eating paid off. Our friendship became stronger due to our undergraduate thesis and I hope it will grow stronger in the future. Thank you very very very much!

To BA Palahubog -- Oops. To my classmates in Psych, it's a pleasure to share my college life with you. And to work on tons of research papers and projects with you guys. Aww, I have to get used to not hearing my nickname "Master" soon. Padayon lang jud ta, mga B! Let's rock it in the upcoming Psychometrician Board Exam, yes?

To all my orgmates from UPPsyMA,Tug-ani, TINTA, Kabataan PL UPC and NKE, SocSci Federation, thank you for making UP life even more vibrant. I will always remember the experiences I had from working with you guys and making big things happen not only inside the campus, but also to the communities and other sectors of society. Serve the people!

To the acquaintances and familiar faces I talked to or encountered in school, especially those who are more than willing to participate in our experiments and answer surveys, thank you so much! I hope I won't be too shy to smile or nod at you guys when I see any of you in the future.

I would also like to thank some of my high school friends who helped me and encouraged me all throughout my journey in UP.  Thank you for recommending respondents for me and also for becoming my respondents in some studies as well. Your support for me even in my college years goes to show how I can trust you guys in the future. You guys already know who you are. /wink/

While I was studying in UP, I was also working part time as a content writer. I don't know if any of them will come across this message, but I would like to thank my bosses for being extra patient with me in terms of my deadlines and errors. Thank you for helping me experience what it is like to work and to see the fruits of my labor.

Thank you also to the people I've worked with and learned from when I was an intern at the St. Theresa's College. It was a  short time, but it was indeed a wonderful working experience.

And for all those people who helped me get here...for all those who took time in answering surveys, criticized my works, allowed me to borrow or rent books, and even helped me with some of my studies, a massive THANK YOU!

Last but never the least, thank you to the Filipino people. Thank you to the masses. It is through the people that I get to study in the country's premier university. It is through the people that I saw our country's social reality (from which I had little to no knowledge of when I was younger). UP gave me several opportunities to get to know and to immerse with various faces of the Filipino people. I will make sure that whatever career path I choose to take, I will always think of my motherland and her people, especially now that she is being attacked by violence, fascism, territorial disputes, corruption, climate change, and several other issues. Now is the time for me to exhibit what Utak and Puso really means in the real world.

Daghang salamat, UP! Thank you, next.
Psych Grad ng Bayan, ngayon ay lumalaban!

Shameless plug: Visit www.thisisladyperez.blogspot.com to read more of my writings.


Lady Isabelle Yap Perez
2015-12028
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
University of the Philippines Cebu
Class of 2019