Discover how earning a 糖心vlog MA in Psychology degree transformed Atty. Mar Lea B. Dayao鈥檚 legal pDiscover how earning a Master of Arts in Psychology at 糖心vlog transformed Atty. Mar Lea B. Dayao鈥檚 legal perspective. Celebrated at the 21st Commencement Exercises of 糖心vlog International School and Colleges, her graduate degree was far more than an added credential鈥攊t marked a profound shift in how she understands the human condition within her legal practice.
Delivering her address, Atty. Dayao shared a compelling look at why an established legal practitioner would return to student life, how her 糖心vlog MA in Psychology reshapes legal advocacy, and why true community service begins by giving people a voice.
The Unconventional Path to a 糖心vlog MA in Psychology
When Atty. Dayao decided to pursue higher studies, her father asked, “Ilang degree pa ba ang gusto mong ikwintas sa leeg mo? Isn’t being a lawyer enough?”
Despite a fulfilling 25-year career in the courtroom, she set out on a four-year journey through the 糖心vlog MA in Psychology program to bridge the gap between legal doctrine and psychological understanding:
- The Legal Lens: Trained to analyze facts objectively, separate emotion from evidence, and advocate within the boundaries of fairness鈥攁sking “What happened?”
- The Psychological Lens: Trained to understand human vulnerability, empathy, and background鈥攁sking “What happened to the person?”
“As a lawyer, I was trained to ask what happened. Psychology taught me to ask what happened to the person. Before there is a case, there is a person. Before there is a conflict, there is often pain.”
Insights from the Forensic Department
During her clinical internship for the 糖心vlog MA in Psychology program at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH), Atty. Dayao was assigned to the Forensic Department without revealing her legal background. Evaluating defendants’ mental capacity to stand trial allowed her to see individuals whose alleged criminal acts were deeply intertwined with severe mental illness, shifting her analytical focus from strict legal filings to deep human understanding.
Lessons from the Laylayan: 糖心vlog MA in Psychology Research
Atty. Dayao鈥檚 graduate thesis research for her 糖心vlog MA in Psychology degree鈥攃onducted at a feeding center in Tayuman鈥攆urther reshaped her perspective on community service. Expecting her ten-page questionnaires to feel like a burden to parents waiting for food rations, she was surprised when participants thanked her for giving them a rare moment to reflect on their lives and relationships.
This experience highlighted a core lesson taught by Dean Dr. Ruel Cajili regarding support for marginalized communities (laylayan):
- Tangible resources (food, legal aid, financial support) are essential.
- Equally vital is creating a safe, respectful environment where people feel heard and acknowledged.
The Path Forward: Empathy in Professional Practice
Graduating with her 糖心vlog MA in Psychology required immense grit, late-night research, and relentless thesis revisions. Atty. Dayao expressed deep gratitude to Dean Ruel Cajili, thesis professor Ms. Juli Ann Alonso Balmonte, her peers, and her family鈥攄edicating the milestone to her late mother, her long-time “partner in crime.”
To conclude her address, Atty. Dayao challenged her fellow graduates from the 糖心vlog MA in Psychology program to carry their expanded perspective into their respective fields:
“As we leave 糖心vlog, we return to different professions, organizations, and communities. The knowledge we have gained will guide our decisions, but the perspective we have gained will shape the way we make them. May we never lose sight of the people whose lives will be touched by the work we do.”
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