MAGDAS

If I were a mother, I wouldve considered MAGDAS as my first born. My involvement with MAGDAS was the sole reason why I became a volunteer for XUs Engineering Resource Center. MAGDAS is actually kind of a stressful project because every time something goes wrong with the station, I have to go all the way to Manresa to troubleshoot the problem as soon as possible since a lot of things could happen with the magnetic data while the station was down. However stressful the task may seem, I still find the happiness to do it. There is that certain glory in doing things not because you are told to do so but because you want to do it. The magnetic data that MAGDAS is measuring is actually very less appreciated. Although we have access, there are no initiations on what are the possible things that we could do with the data. As of the moment, the university still doesnt have any concrete program or project that could make use of the Magnetic Data measured by the MAGDAS station. It is a good thing though that with the help of the many collaborative projects that the Engineering Resource Center now has with Manila Observatory, we are starting to shed light on the many possible research activities that can be drawn from the data that we are having from the MAGDAS station. Volunteering for the MAGDAS project was a real challenge for me. Magnetic Data analysis is way beyond my scope of learning as an ECE student and now a graduate. I have only gotten myself acquainted with magnetic studies during my electromagnetic subject years ago and that is even nothing compared to how magnetic field behavior is being studied for the MAGDAS project. Aside from the fact that the project really requires technical expertise and studying of the manual, it also needs time management and a lot of patience. I am happy to say that it was because of my involvement with MAGDAS that I got to realize what the real rewards of being a volunteer really are for me. Definitely not the fame of which is inevitable, the little privileges that comes with being a volunteer or

even the free snacks that we usually get our hands on in every activity. The real reward for me was the opportunity to know what my capabilities were, what are my priorities as of the moment are and on which road I want to take in the near future.

Weather Station

The weather monitoring equipments of the Engineering Resource Center actually started out as a baby project of the University President. It just so happened that I was the only ECE volunteer in the office during that time so the task of installing the equipment was given to me. I was actually both happy and pressured upon acknowledging the responsibility. I was happy thinking that the director must have had such faith in me to have entrusted in my care such expensive equipment but pressured because taking care of a weather station would mean a great big deal of accountability for whatever might happen with the equipment. I initially thought that running a weather monitoring equipment was just easy. Then it turned out that weather observation was a very tough job. I really thought that as soon as I am able to install the equipment everything is going to be fine, however it didnt turned out that way. Having a weather monitoring equipment, it would mean that you are in charge of making sure that you are able to provide reliable weather information. Nonetheless, you have defeated the main purpose of having one. In the Philippine setting, weather monitoring is a very intricate issue. That is why the challenge for me I think is to provide reliable weather information following the ERC launching of the Warriors Weather Watch on-line. The launching of Warriors Weather Watch on-line was one of the highlights of ERC for the previous year. It even makes me more pressured in being able to do best in my weather monitoring task now that other people are also looking into my weather reports. It was a good thing that most of my friends and colleagues were very supportive of what I do and they really do try to extend their support, however you can never really please everyone. There are really a few of those who would find amusement in making nonsense comments and by questioning your credibility. But thats already all part of the package. I have expected things wouldnt be really as easy as writing a laboratory report because social acceptance is also something I need to consider.

Being a volunteer in ERC made me feel important and appreciated. It is that certain feeling of being valued more than how much I thought I was worth. What I also appreciate so much with the people in ERC is that although we are friends aside from workmates, we know how to value each others personal preferences and decisions and we accept one another amidst all the flaws. Being with ERC challenges my skill as an ECE graduate and how much have I really learned after being with the university for quite some time. I was accepted as a volunteer because in maybe in some way or another I must have shown my potential. I am an ECE graduate and the center relies on that fact for me to perform well in every project with respect to that requirement. With every project that I participate in, I get to see in which area of my knowledge I lack in order to adhere to the demands of the project. With that, I get this extra energy and drive to review my lessons and have a self-study about things that are not familiar to me. Doing this, I sometimes laugh at myself to having go through stage 1 of learning all over again after years of being in school. Software installation -ignorance -taking risks Hardware installation -functionality check -precaution -extra effort for location Keeping the Station Data always up -timeliness -monitoring the weather 24/7 -Accuracy and reliability of data Working under pressure -working within limits -working with available criticisms

Webpage Management -content reliability -dealing with pictures and illustrations -working with deadlines

SMART internet -scheduling the visit -knowing your limits