10 ways Thomasians Ace University Life
The real challenge for Thomasians start right after enrolling into the University of Santo Tomas. Whether it rains or shines, every student must be prepared to face the minor inconveniences that come along with the fun activities the university has in store for them.
To withstand every obstacle the university throws at their feet, here are ten survival measures that Thomasians go by:
We are hoarders of 1x1 photos.
Thomasians do not think twice on having our 1x1 photos taken before classes start. Aside from still being stress-free, these photos are definitely needed every semester for seat plans and recitation cards. Having at least five or more copies of your 1x1 photos until graduation is a must.
Registration forms are clamped between a notebook or so
A simple piece of paper can actually save thousands of Thomasian lives. It is an exaggeration—however, a necessity especially at times when student IDs have not been released yet. Some professors look for the student registration forms during their first meetings. Keeping it in our wallets is a surefire way to keep it safe.
Rainy season paraphernalia-ready.
It is a ground rule for Thomasians to never leave their umbrellas behind. Doing so will leave us dealing with the two types of weather in UST—either extremely sunny or exceptionally stormy. Speaking of rain, UST is and will always be dubbed as an aquatic institution. Bringing a pair of plastic slippers or wearing a pair of black rubber shoes during the rainy season keeps our precious leather black shoes from getting damage and prevents the icky feeling of wet socks.
Flood is only a state of mind.
A certified Thomasian definitely knows his way around flood, especially when he is equipped with all the apps, such as Waze, that guides them to avoid flooded areas. To keep themselves updated with typhoon alerts and class suspension announcements, Thomasians follow @UST_CSC on Twitter. From exam schedules to announcement of class suspensions, all important news that every Thomasian must be updated with is announced there.
SIDE NOTE: Flood is usually not enough to stop us Thomasians from doing what we do, but when it does, we know exactly where to go. With doors swinging open for students, the people of the Tan Yan Kee Student Center (TYK) will not hesitate to take us in and would even let us sleep in when the weather does not seem to get any better. Rumor has it that people get free food if they are still stranded around meal time! For Thomasians and even non-Thomasians stranded in the university, the Tan Yan Kee Student Center is the place to be.
Vamos tigres el campeon!
One of the most hyped events in the university is the University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP). UST is very supportive of their players so expect to have a lot of tiger days, commonly known as yellow day, in the university. Friendly reminder: Say good bye to your favorite colors and embrace the warm color of bananas; Thomasians always make sure to have at least one or two yellow shirts in their closets.
Say “Hi” to your own pocket WiFi.
No one does Christmas parties better than the Thomasian community. Known for its spectacular pyrotechnics accompanied with great music is the annual Paskuhan which is held every December to celebrate the ending of the first semester. However, the event can get pretty trippy as the university blocks signals from phones which prevents students from communicating with each other. In times like this, Thomasians proved it’s essential to have their own pocket WiFi as a means to keep in touch with their squad come hell or high water.
Throw away the plastic friends but keep the plastic containers.
Most food stalls inside and outside UST serve their meals in small, microwaveable containers. Instead of throwing them away after a scrumptious meal, we Thomasians keep these containers in our bags until we get home. These containers are still very reusable as they make very good tubs for left-over meals. Also, it is just the right size for organizing small but essential materials we do not want to lose.
Thriftiness is next to godliness
If there are two words which can perfectly sum up an average Thomasian, they are god-fearing and economical in every way possible. Majority of Thomasians come from middle-income families and legend says we give life to the union of posh and jologs classes. The birth of the iconic quote, “Kapag gipit, sa siomai rice kumakapit” is only one of the many manifestations of our frugality. Due to having a limited budget for food, most Thomasians have developed a knack of checking out great places that gives the best out of their money. Thomasians on a budget are not afraid of trying out new food and find the perfect place that suits their tastes and preferences.
‘Upping’ a post or two in the UST Book Market
College textbooks sure are pricey however, we Thomasians have ways in getting the books we need in affordable prices. With the sole purpose to help our co-Thomasians in need, the UST Book Market has been bringing the Thomasian community together so we can easily find high-quality but pre-loved versions of expensive college books in a cheaper price. You would be surprised to see hard to find books in the bookstores here.The group is also not limited to academic books, but it also allows reselling books that entertain the bookworm in us.
May the odds ever be in our favor.
From holding a novena at the Santisimo Rosario Parish to praying on every god they know, the anxiety of students around the hair-raising event of releasing of grades is unbelievable. However, what really adds to the anxiety is refreshing their Myuste accounts every time it shows: Error: 404 not found. Instead of refreshing the page over and over, other students, the easygoing and overly confident ones, wait for the day after the release of grades to view theirs as the site is not as crowded as the day before.These hacks that we make use of are essential in getting through our stay in the university. Even with these, we cannot guarantee that these tips will instantaneously grant you a diploma, some aspects of a Thomasian’s study will still be difficult. As unusual as it seems, these struggles which we could only confide in other tigers are to be blamed for making our stay in the university special and exceptional.
