Mixed emotions

FOR the past seven years, I have always felt sad about some of my students in research. I sometimes think, do I need to loosen up and allow my students to do their own? However, I often also heard students complaining about their advisers not correcting their papers or mentoring them.

A few weeks ago, I was in the middle of my desire to do the role of an adviser or mentor or just wait for the students to contact me when they feel they need my assistance. But in the end, I remained to follow our Gantt chart and make sure to at least beat deadlines.

But what if I do not do follow-ups every week? What if I do not read each of the sentences of their manuscript and not be able to identify the thesis paper’s weaknesses? What if the methodology does not fit the research questions? Am I ready to cry and be sad because of my inadequacies as an adviser or mentor? Will the students still say in the end, “ayos si Ma’am, dili makabungog”.

The students must know the consequences of the above behavior, which is undoubtedly frustrating. It will not only give the students a failing mark, but they may have to repeat their papers. They would be swamped with the revisions when everyone enjoys their semestral breaks. And yes, they cannot be able to post on Facebook their triumph in passing the thesis proposal defense out of hard work, which young people almost do.

On the other hand, what if I do follow-ups from time to time? What is wrong with every weekly meeting, being able to identify what needs to be revised? What is so sad about improving the thesis paper so early that there will be fewer worries and anxieties when the defense dates are almost coming? But am I ready to hear students’ words of criticism that I am so tight, strict and “makabungog”?

I believe a mentor who usually insists on meeting the students, yes, can be overwhelming. The adviser or mentor must understand that students have other major subjects to prioritize. And that other subjects also have requirements beyond what the nursing research subject calls. I would understand that students could not revise or edit the manuscript perfectly according to the instructions given because, to be honest, I also do my part in editing the paper itself. Still, I make sure to the best of my ability to explain why the need to include or exclude points.

I admit I am not a perfect adviser or mentor. Still, God knows I read and continuously update myself with the advancement in research guidelines, methodologies, and processes.

And I also accept that I must learn more because what I have is not enough compared to great researchers.

I also believe that advisers and mentors will not be too “bantay pari” as students claimed if the students can do with less supervision because they can do the task as instructed upon assessment.

Yes, I said I have felt sad for the past seven years for some of my students. But then, by chance, I saw two of my previous students last year and in 2018. One was in the elevator, and she told me she was working in an NGO as a researcher and told me how I was able to help her learn to love and see the beauty of research. And the other one, Mr. James Albert, a fourth-year student, told me something I will never forget, “Ma’am, I have heard others complaining about how rigid you are in research, but they will only realize your intentions in the end.”

Our talk was quick, and I had mixed emotions; I realized that at times, people would misinterpret you when you are “makabungog”, but if you are doing what is right and what can best help many, then I feel that we do not have to feel guilty about it when the intention is good. It means that our objective when doing an act will determine the outcome. So, it is essential to be with pure intention rather than perfect action.