16th of May, 2016 - Scholastican Pia Angela Elemos began her 200-hour internship at the Accounting Department of the City Government of Biñan.

And now:

24th of June, 2016 - Scholastican Pia Angela Elemos completed her 200-hour internship at the Accounting Department of the City Government of Biñan. 

Notice the difference? If you still haven't figured it out yet for one reason or another, let me spell it out for you. I finally completed my 200-hour internship at the Accounting Department of the City Government of Biñan! To be honest, I got a little bit emotional when I bid goodbye to all of the employees. There was no food, no party or anything like that. What really pulled my heart strings is their sincerity of gratitude towards me. When all of them began saying "Thank you", it really touched me. It really showed how two simple words can affect a simple girl like me. But believe me, it wasn't a smooth sailing. As always. 

It was a Thursday of my first week of internship when I got a minor set back. I wasn't doing anything. Literally. I was at the office asking for job to do and all they say is, "Wala pa eh. Mamaya na lang." The minutes stretched to hours, and the hours went on and on. I was completely still and so I decided to go home. They weren't strict with the hours after all. Half day or not, you're automatically entitled to 8-hours in your record sheet. At that time, I thought, "what have I gotten myself into?" 

Why did I say that to begin with? Well, the working environment in the government is quite different as compared with the private companies. They are more relaxed and their load of work differs day to day. One day they are busy, one day they are not. One day they are frantic, one day they are laughing. Don't get me wrong. I am not venting or directing insults at the government employees. It was just a mere fact that I was able to observe during my time there. And that specific Thursday, I was fed up. I was fed up that I was not doing some "real" work. I was fed up because I was not used to working without stress looming over me. I was not used to just sitting there and waiting for lunch to come, or for the clock to strike 5pm.  And so, I went home a little bit sad and a little bit tired. 

Then reality hits. It's not their fault that their work load shifts day to day. It was the process. Because of being too paper-reliant, work is bound to either be light or heavy. What did I do with such fact? I accepted it. I accepted that it was their process and their work. I was putting to much pressure on myself, which only made me more frustrated. It wasn't their fault after all. It was me. I cannot change them, but I can change myself. 

And such acceptance led me to a rollercoaster ride that only goes up. There may be twists and turns, but I know that all in all, I was going upwards. I began talking, asking, and laughing. Day by day, I felt walls crumbling down. Day by day, I fell in tune with all of them. Day by day, I get to know them. That may be the reason why saying goodbye to them was difficult. I got attached to them. I got used to their inside jokes. I got used to asking for work each day. I got used to working. I got used to them. 

As such, I would like to thank them for opening their doors to me. I would like to thank them for everything that they had taught, as well as the laughter attached to it. Looking back to myself on that specific Thursday, I finally found an answer. I've gotten myself into a traditional and simple work place. No heavy loads of makeup. No high heels clicking. No neckties. No long sleeves. Only simplicity. Only work. Only laughter. No, scratch that. It wasn't "only." 

It was simplicity, work and laughter.