In every organization, success is built not just on strategies or systems, but on people. Human Resource Management (HRM), often seen as a quiet profession, is the discipline that molds leaders, bridges gaps, and strengthens the backbone of every workplace. 

Yet, despite its impact, HRM is a program that many often overlook, overshadowed by more popular fields in business. For Michael Fritz Policarpio, a fourth-year HRM student, that perception is what he hopes to change through a journey that blends discipline, resilience, and a genuine desire to serve.

A Student with a Calling

For Policarpio, being an HRM student has never been confined to the four walls of a classroom. Beyond the typical load of a graduating student, he constantly juggles and shifts between being a working student and an intern.

What makes him stand out is not just the balancing act, but the values guiding him through. He finds comfort in the Harry Potter series, collects fast-food toys he once longed for as a child, and gives them away to less fortunate children every Christmas. For him, these small joys reflect what HR truly stands for: empathy, compassion, and a genuine desire to help.

Walking the Tightrope

During his On-the-Job training (OJT) at the Social Security System (SSS) Service Office in Clark, Policarpio assisted clients in updating records and navigating online accounts. The hands-on experience turned abstract HR concepts into practical lessons, proving that theories only come alive in real-world practice.

However, not all encounters were easy. He vividly recalls helping clients who struggled with literacy showed him HR’s deeper role: bridging gaps between people and systems, ensuring that no one gets left behind. HR, he realized, is not just about compliance but about extending patience and inclusion.

Balancing OJT, work, and academics meant constant role-shifting. Each day meant shifting roles from student to intern to employee. The overlapping responsibilities demanded strict discipline, which he managed through a system of tight scheduling and persistence

To stay on track, he created a strict system for himself. He checked Canvas after internship hours, finished assignments during breaks, and kept pace with deadlines. His persistence paid off, allowing him to maintain commendable grades while also receiving a perfect evaluation from his OJT supervisor.

Beyond the Misconceptions

These experiences shaped his view of HR as a career built on communication, time management, and collaboration. Being part of a small HRM batch—just 10 regular students, only strengthened those skills, turning classmates into family and proving their worth through successful projects like a seminar on compensation administration.

Policarpio also wants to dispel misconceptions about HRM. Some still assume HR is a career “only for women,” or that HR professionals rarely hold leadership roles. Such views not only limit the perception of HR but also discourage students from exploring a field that is crucial in shaping workplace culture. But Policarpio has seen otherwise. He has met HR managers who are not only leaders but also trailblazers who shape workplaces and drive change.

As he looks forward to graduation, Policarpio envisions himself working full-time in his current company while pursuing a master’s degree. He also dreams of becoming a public speaker in the HR field, particularly in areas such as employee retention, social media recruitment, career development, and compensation. His goal is not just to be an HR practitioner but to become a recognized expert in his chosen specialization.

Above all, he hopes to encourage younger School of Business and Accountancy (SBA) students to consider HRM as a program worth pursuing. To him, HR is not about administrative monotony but about shaping workplace culture, empowering employees, and ensuring fairness in organizations.

Looking Ahead

Policarpio’s story reflects the true essence of HRM. It is not merely about balancing work, school, and internship schedules but about finding meaning in service to others. His journey embodies the values of empathy, collaboration, and resilience, qualities that go beyond grades and job titles. For him, HR is not just a degree or a profession but a calling to make a difference in people’s lives.

Human Resource Management may be a program that often gets disregarded, but behind every strong organization is a professional whose quiet strength makes all the difference.