Get “In the know” with professor Janet Tibaldo: A talk about how to be a professional in the communication field
How to be insightful and to be the best in the communication spectrum, life and how to be more vertically connected with God as a Christian being, we talk head to head with professor Janet S. Tibaldo
Communication may seem like an easy thing to do as we incorporate into our daily lives and it is our medium, but there is a thin line between communicating normally versus communicating to show a definitive standpoint that most of us don’t see.
In a recent interview on Tuesday (March 09, 2021) conducted by communication students of Saint Louis University, we got to know more about the outstanding professor, Mrs. Janet S. Tibaldo. She has been an acknowledged faculty member since 2002 (but did not start teaching under communication and journalism until 2004) throughout the university and other institutions. Showcasing her brave and light spirited visions in order to prepare and teach future media practitioners, she shares some insightful and comprehensive standpoints of her aspirations, work ethics and how to be an effective communicator and in the field of Journalism.
Through some questions brought by the batch of communication students through a Google classroom meeting, we got to know what goes in her mind as an agent of communication and a well known professor that speaks out her mind very vivid.
A “fresh graduate” in January 2020 from the program PhD in language education and sciences from Saint Louis University, professor Janet was also a noble scholar in dissertation commissioned by CHED (commission on higher education). Whilst feeling accomplished from her achievement, she has been displeased with the virtual ceremonies because she is not fond of the idea, despite the circumstances and the possible “on stage with the proud family” moment, she just rolls with it and still showing pure happiness in the discussion.
“I finished it technically speaking, December 2019 but I did not fill out the forms for graduation. I only filled it out late January 2020, so I was placed as the..uh..in the group of which is going to be the next batch of graduates however this particular pandemic came and we never had that particular graduation and then recently we had this virtual graduation.”
“I did not actually like to graduate honestly. I mean, to graduate virtually” Mrs. Janet exclaimed, “It has always been in my heart that I want to go up that particular stairs to be able to get the medal, and also for my family to be with me as I go up that particular stage.”
The woman who motivates and inspires young-lings, she is an example of how a person can progressively evolve as the years pass in the clearest way possible. A sentiment of professor Janet was, in her early student days:
“As a student, I was never grade conscious. Even my colleges who were also my classmates, they keep on asking me before when we were still taking our courses, “What’s your grade?”
She faintly replies, “I don’t even bother to get my pink form. I don’t know, but I just don’t want to fail, and I just put whatever it is that I could give to my schooling.”
She highly emphasizes that age does not really matter when it comes to individuals delivering their work as long as the flame of desire and passion as it is what’s going to keep one going. Despite all of the problems that one may be facing, there would still be that thirst for knowledge to be able to explore more about one’s field.
As the interview continued, she has also shared some insightful talks on her previous interviews from her peers, interviewers and colleagues from different Universities and organizations. One question that seemed to stick to her and also lets her constantly question to herself is that, what is her legacy?
“Looking at the legacy that I would have, I would not have to say that, it’s going to be, me being a good teacher kase I don’t think that would really matter. I think that all teachers are all good in their own rights, okay, although it may be seen differently.” She adds “It’s more on, uhm, that, kaya ba? Like if I’m going to search my heart, kaya ba ng konsensya ko to say that I did my job well?”
“Given this limitation of time and all the tasks I am forced to do, I think I’m still giving all the best I can given this situation that we are right now.” She exclaims some of her deepest thoughts while staring blankly because of all the tasks that are given to her and what not tires her. To add, she tells that experience of hers as a lost in space.
Although getting praise a lot and getting deserved recognition, Mrs. Janet still shows us weaknesses that tell us, as human beings we too have out limitations. Through the pandemic, she utterly shared her psychological coaching experience that she had undergo through the past months as stress was creeping up to her, affecting her work and would not let her sleep, insomiatic or sleep deprived if you will. Another one to mention was that it went to her mind the thought of giving up teaching or being a professor.
Although baffled, she believes that through her religious following in Christ who strengthens her, she continues to live out voraciously to be the best that she can as a certified journalism spearhead. She defines her “silver lining” as abstract as hope in order to give more definition in her vertical relationship with God as a Christian server, hoping that everyone would have good days ahead of them through their career and personal life. As she firmly believes that God want the best for all of us, that is what she holds on to the most, hope is everything.
Lastly, as the vivid discussion and knowledge filled interview dragged on with topics elaborated on academic, political standpoints. The main highlight of the interview is actually comprised of two parts: What was Mrs. Janet’s greatest fulfillment as a human being and
“If you’re going to ask me personally or as a human being on saan ba ang aking greatest fulfillment, it would be that I am able to have these two wonderful kids and I am able to lead them where they should indeed go to and that is to let them follow the path of Christ.”
Alongside this, she utterly gives a lot of notice on empathetic communication and how she can hurriedly recognize the emotions of others in order to understand other’s perspectives on a situation. She gives importance and let’s her two children harness this skill also for their benefit not only career wise, but also for their personal life while maintaining their strong vertical relationship with the Lord.
As for the second one, negative criticism handling. So how does she give words to enlighten individuals who have experienced it?
“It’s all about you. Gaano ka ba ka strong as an individual, gaano ba ang paniniwala mo sa sarili that you are a good person? And also it’s more on what you have already invested in yourself that would really make you stand despite negativities.”
She shows us the most basic perspective that we tend to overthink is that, no one is going to help us but ourselves in the end. After all of the negativities that would surround us and the negative judgments that we cannot escape, the main thing and right thing to do is to face it head on, show to the people that you are this person that wants nothing but a better perspective at life; if you ask me, that’s peak humanity.
“Know that it’s okay that you get to have particular criticisms; you cannot control perhaps what they will be telling about you although of course it matters din kung ano yung mga words na ginamit nila.” “But also its all on ‘buo ka pa ba?’ or ‘do you have a very good foundation?’ Going back to what I said, kung ikaw ay connected ka somehow siguro magkakaroon ka rin ng mga lapses or miss-steps somehow, but you would always go back kung saan ka connected and you would see ‘No, I am loved by God, he created me, I am a wonderful being. Yes I have my lapses but I am very willing to be able to make this particular corrections and the like.”
