HUMSS 12-1

In the face of a Towering Hurdle : The struggles faced by students in an academic defense.

What do you feel whenever your professor says "prepare for your upcoming defense"? do you feel anxious? Do you feel afraid? shaking? or excited? Inside the chaotic and joyful classrooms of a school are students who have different experiences and perspectives. In the midst of our differences, we students find ourselves a common experience that we all shared despite the course of time. Academic defenses serve as a crucial aspect in fulfilling the academic standards set by the government for quality education of the people of its country. While it's helpful to both students and the society, academic defenses actually pose a huge challenge to every student.

This blog would help students in knowing the challenges that they might face when the time comes for.

I. Pressure and anxiety that students get from public speaking.

Academic defenses are one of the best ways to showcase not only the knowledge of a student but also their public speaking skills. Although it is a great way to hone the confidence and critical thinking of a person, it should remain as no surprise that a large number of people suffer in public speaking.

•According to Grieve, R. Et al., (2021) public speaking and oral assessments are common assessment types in measuring a student’s capacity to deliver and inform their arguments to different people.

•According to a study made by the Yale University (2021), public speaking is a common fear but despite that, it is rarely taught in schools and institutions which causes students to not properly exercise public speaking and puts them in a state of stress and anxiety whenever they speak in front of people. The best example of applying public speaking in an academic work are academic defenses.

•As a student, there's always stress and anxiety in speaking in front of the panelists as they are professional people in the field that we are trying to defend. The expectation to perform at its highest may pressure students.

II. Challenging questions coming from the panelists that can come as unexpected to students.

What do you feel whenever you are standing in front of your professor? Do you feel anxious while thinking of a correct answer to their questions? Fearing that you might fail if you don't answer the question right? Of course, you would! You would definitely feel both fear and anxiousness if you don't give the right answer especially if the question came from a panelist.

One of the challenges that a student might face in an academic defense is the questions coming from the panelists that can come unexpected to the students especially when they are not fully prepared or too anxious to think of an answer.

• Stated by Cababaro, N., & Bueno, D. (2024), challenges in communication and lack of elaboration from panelists can have a negative effect on the participants as they might not understand or misunderstood the questions.

• Abrar, M., et al. (2024), students find it difficult to defend their research and even barely communicate with the panelists during the defense because they lack confidence, vocabulary, and correct pronunciation. Unpredictable questions are also a challenge to the students.

• Starhat solution (2024), panelists may pose challenging questions to assess the depth of your understanding.

• We find it hard to answer the panelists questions because most of the time the members lack preparation for the defense. There are members whose presences are not present in the preparation for the defense.

III. Speaking challenges and lack of confidence to perform in an academic defense

Our vocabulary and the way we speak and present ourselves to the panelists matters a lot as it fosters formality and it shows that we greatly value their presence in helping us in our academic defense. However, their are students who have limited vocabulary which may affect their overall.

• Academic defenses are a very hard task, and there are also the internal factors that affect students. According to Abrar, M. Et al. (2024) students faced many challenges in an academic defense and that includes having a limited vocabulary, lack of pronunciation, and worst of all, low self confidence.

• In the country of the Philippines, english is seen as a second language, and although many Filipinos speak english, few are fluent in speaking this language. In some cases, Academic defense requires speaking in engIish and many students are faced in a challenging task. A study conducted by Ahmad, A. Et al., (2023), says that in countries that uses english as a second language, scholars and student have a hard time in writing and defending a dissertation.

• Majority of the people I’ve seen during defenses struggled in having a good vocabulary and high self esteem. That poses as a big hurdle in having an overall great performance in an academic defense.

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By: GROUP 2 | HUMSS 12-1

“If you don’t recognize yourself, that means you did it right.”

Life is full of challenges, and sometimes we don’t even know if we’ll ever make it through. We often find ourselves stuck in cycles, repeating the same struggles and mistakes. However, there comes a time when we must break free from them in order to grow. Change and stepping out of your comfort zone may be uncomfortable and even unrecognizable, but that’s how self-improvement begins. According to Gaikwad (2023), this kind of experience will help us shape our perspectives and understanding, which will help in molding our character. In our case, our recent product defense in Entrepreneurship shaped us into new individuals, as we overcame countless challenges we once thought were beyond our reach. In our blog, we want to share how our hardships and efforts taught us valuable lessons that we can use as stepping stones to move forward and grow into more capable and resilient individuals.

Jasmine: One thing I learned from our product defense is that academic knowledge alone is not enough for proper execution. It also requires a careful strategy to deliver it effectively. Throughout my life, I have always relied on my knowledge to overcome challenges, and based on Goldsmith (2016), in your life, you will learn how to learn where in you will eventually teach yourself different things that can be a useful skill in the future. With this experience, it definitely tested my ability to strategize and develop thoughtful solutions to every problem that arose during our defense.

Alianna: After our Entrepreneurship defense, I realized the importance of collaboration in building a successful product because just like the statement of Bueno (2024), it is important to collaborate with your team members. With that being said, by working together, our team was able to identify and address the needs of our product more precisely. This experience taught me that collaboration is the key to creating a well-made and profitable product.  

Jay: I actually thought the defense would be difficult for me because I'm a shy person in front of others, and I felt that I wouldn't be able to handle it due to my lack of experience. However, when the defense started, I found it to be fun and enjoyable. I didn't feel any pressure at that moment; instead, I felt joy and happiness, even though we weren’t one of the two groups chosen for business implementation. One reason I did not feel disappointed or sad was because I know and believe that we did our best during the defense. One of the lessons I learned is that your dream doesn't end with one failure. Instead of taking it as a negative, take it as a positive and make it your motivation to succeed next time because according to Biswas (2019), perserverance is important in overcoming challenges faced by students.

Rhoanne: We don't know what the panelists will ask, so I realized that we need to know and understand every part of our presentation and be well-prepared before the defense. It's very important to practice speaking and standing in front with confidence. According to Sukumar (2020), being professional is a must because we need to be prepared for all of the possible questions that may arise during the defense. Aside from that, I learned that we should accept and apply all the feedback and suggestions from the panelists, as their suggestions can help us improve our work even more.

Micaella: I believe that the most beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it from you, just like what happened in our defense. Our entrepreneurship defense was a very delicate yet enjoyable experience; it helped us learn how to build connections with our groupmates. The experience itself taught us to be practical and use our thinking skills because according to Meador (2019), even if you are the most gifted student in the world, you will not achieve much if you are not willing to face hardships. With that being said, our entrepreneurship defense was a memorable experience that strengthened our teamwork and prepared us for future challenges.

Daniella:  They said being uncomfortable with what you're doing can sometimes lead to greater things. When I was preparing for our defense for the subject Entrepreneurship, I didn’t really know what I was doing or what I was going to say at that time. During the Entrep defense, I couldn’t help but feel nervous. My mind was about to go blank when the panelists started asking questions, including ones about our product and possible challenges along the way.  After the Entrep defense was over, we needed possible solutions for the obstacles that might occur because it was one of our failures during our product presentation. However, according to Blossom (2020), failure is inevitable in our life, but what’s important is that we learned something from that failure. After that, I learned many things during and after our defense. I learned to be more confident in my knowledge and skills. I learned that I don’t have to overthink everything. I learned that whatever happens during the defense, at least we tried. Lastly, be gentle with your groupmates and guide them because you guys are in this together.

To sum it all up, the entrepreneurship defense taught us different lessons that will surely help us grow and do better next time. We learned that having knowledge is not enough and it also needs strategy, teamwork, and confidence in order to succeed. Working together allowed us to improve our product, and being open to feedback helped us see areas for growth. Most of us faced challenges like nervousness and fear of failure, but we realized that these experiences only make us stronger. Just like the statement of Hotchkiss (2023), life is a journey filled with challenges, problems, and setbacks that are inevitable in our life. However, we need to remember that through it all, resiliency must still shine because every challenge we face is an opportunity for us to grow independently. With that being said, no matter the outcome, what matters most is that we did our best, learned lessons, and we are now prepared for our upcoming implementation of our products.

Becoming an Entrepreneur: Steps and Process to be Successful

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”

Has starting a business ever crossed your mind? If so, this blog is here to help guide you on your journey to becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Guide in Making a Business Plan:

• Think of a possible business

• Study the demographic

• Exposure to different business models

• Drafting the business plan

• Research for information about the business

• Finalization and approval of business

Before you start your business, there's a step-by-step process that you need to do or finish before you start doing the next part. First, brainstorm ideas of possible business that are innovative and creative. Second, study your demographic and the ideas of your business, have insights or knowledge about every part of the business to avoid confusion. Next, having exposure to successful entrepreneurial models is also important as it could be a helpful factor to stimulate the students' confidence in their ability to start a business and improve their attitude towards entrepreneurship. Then, after you have fully gained knowledge about your business, you can start drafting your business plan and make sure that all the details and information are complete and clear. Lastly, proofread and finalize your business plan before proceeding and asking for approval of your business proposal. Following these steps can guide you to finish and successfully start your business.

Guide for your Business Defense:

• You should have enough knowledge about your business

• Be presentable

• Prepare an example of your business for the panelists to visualize your business

• Speak clear and loud

• Give concise answers

• Take criticism well

• Take notes

Here are some steps on how you will defend your paper. Before everything starts, you need to check the paper and make some final changes so that we can make sure that all information is correct. Remember to study the business so you can make sure that you know everything about your business. You don't have to memorize; you just need to know and understand everything in the paper. You should already know all the information that you have put in your business plan before presenting yourself to the panelist. Be sure that you're prepared and presentable enough to face the panelist. Bring an example of your business before entering the defense room for the panelists to visualize and analyze your business. When delivering your presentation, always remember to speak loud and clear, avoid stuttering, avoid making unnecessary movements, and avoid looking at your paper. When asked by the panelist, give a concise answer. Listen and take constructive criticism as a chance to improve and to learn more. Acknowledge the presence, time, effort, and knowledge that the panelist shared before leaving the defense room. And lastly, don't forget to take down notes on what happens during the defense presentation for you to apply to your business.

Becoming a Successful Entrepreneur:

In order to become a successful entrepreneur, you must possess and follow the right skills and mindset. First, you need to know how to solve problems that arise in your business. Make sure you research everything, including your customers' preferences and the market your business operates in. Second, as an entrepreneur, you must have a mission and vision for your business. This should include both short-term and long-term goals. Additionally, you need to create a strategy, especially regarding your financial plan and marketing. Developing a strong strategy is crucial, as it will significantly increase your business’s chances of success. Third, adaptability is essential. The business world is constantly evolving, so in order for your business to thrive, you must be open to new ideas, especially those related to trends and technology. Next, you must build a strong team. Surround yourself with people who will help uplift your business and contribute to its growth. Lastly, maintaining a strong and positive mindset is key. The entrepreneurial journey can be tough, and you will face bumps and setbacks along the way. However, these challenges will help you become stronger and more effective in your decision-making. To be a successful entrepreneur, you need courage and consistency. Don’t let problems affect your thinking. Success is a long-term journey, but with focus and determination, you will achieve your goals.

The Shield to Overcome the Thrilling Challenges of Defense

BY: GROUP 1 | HUMSS 12-1

Have you ever had a difficult time before and during an academic defense? Worry not, because you are not the only one! Being a student, means we come into a phase in our lives where at least once we ought to face a big academic obstacle—a defense. To overcome that, one must stand firm, yield a strong shield, and push through amidst challenges!

In this blog, you will see several ways or tips that can help you achieve successful preparation and execution of defense, overcoming the thrilling challenges brought by it.

But before all of that, let us first understand the academic or thesis defense and the challenges related to it.

What is Defense?

An academic or thesis defense is a presentation of your work and field as a whole in front of the panelists who will examine your mastery and knowledge. Students see it as challenging because they are worried about the problems they might encounter before and on the day of defense, how complex the questions asked by the panelists are, and how hard they can be on the students or defenders.

What are the common challenges during preparation and the day of the defense?

Stress/Anxiety/Nervousness:

Students experience stress, anxiety, or nervousness due to the pressure of defense and the bunch of activities they need to prioritize when preparing for it---causing them to have a tough time staying in shape and possibly get burnt out. Also, when it is finally the defense day, they may find it hard to articulate their thoughts and points because of the mental distress they are experiencing.

Time Management:

Time Management is one of the struggles of students when preparing for their upcoming defense since they need to do a lot of work regarding it while also dealing with other school tasks, house chores, and other personal stuff.

Technical Issues:

For the technical issues, most of the students have experienced problems with their technology, affecting their preparation and presentation during the defense. One example is the disruption of online presentation and communication with co-defenders because of internet connection loss or other device and software errors.

Ways that can help you to overcome the said struggles/challenges:

- Give yourself a good enough amount of time to prepare for the defense that you will face.

- Create a roadmap for your defense preparation to have a clear vision of progress and guide to what task you still need to accomplish.

- Apply effective time management strategies for efficient time use and prevent having troubles in the schedule when doing preparations.

- Develop stress or anxiety management techniques and make sure to still do self-care regardless of how many pending tasks you have.

- Ask academic advisers for guidance and engage in academic defense support or practice groups, online or in-person sessions.

- Do a thorough study of your work and presentation content until you master it.

- Learn the possible questions that will be asked by the panelists and practice yourself in answering those.

- Improve your speaking and delivering skills by doing mock presentations on your own or in front of people you can practice with.

- Before the day of your presentation, ensure that your internet connection, devices, software, files, and slides are in great condition or accessible.

- Be confident and trust your capabilities, especially when you are well aware that you did your best to prepare.

Now, herewith is the shared real-life experience of a student who went through defense challenges:

“When I was in the eleventh grade, we had a title defense for our research. I was the group leader, despite not having enough knowledge in that field. Of course, with that, I was experiencing a lot of pressure since my group mates were counting on me. They are also struggling to remember and understand the content of our slide presentation. Before the day of the defense, I encouraged them to practice. I provided them with some tips and tricks to make it easier for them to understand our research together. On the day of the defense, I was scared, but I pulled a confident attitude so my group would be encouraged. After an in-depth study and practice, we managed to defend our title and get the approval of the panelists. We were so happy because our efforts did not go to waste.”

-Jedi Ferando, a student from PHINMA-Saint Jude College Manila, Philippines

Conclusion & Takeaways

The process of going through an academic defense requires a lot of effort, efficient preparation, stress management, and having faith in your capabilities. Without those, you will most likely get knocked down by the challenges you might encounter along the way of academic defense.