I have been busy these past few days. It has been a wonderful ride for me, those two days of exhausting but most important days of my college life. The moment I, together with my parents, have been waiting for the past five years had arrived. The very end has already come.
The only Latin honor recipient in the graduating engineering class did the response and it was quite inspiring, but it was indeed full of emotions. I thought while listening to his speech, that somehow, he had a different story to tell - and I should not compare mine to his. But sure it made me think that what if, I was the one who experienced the same tragedy-to-success story he shared to us. It would have been a very much different story.
Then, at the middle of his speech, while half of my attention was listening to it, I thought of something much more different speech I read long before the graduation day set in. It was the speech of an engineering graduate of master's degree in University of the Philippines, who also received a Latin honor. He delivered his speech by introducing a transcript of records full of failing marks, which nearly would have kicked a student out of a university. By the end of his speech, he told everyone that the TOR was his and he was nearly dismissed from DLSU. That how my story almost went.
But what is the connection of the two speeches for me? Let us just put it this way. I almost got kicked out of the University after second term, academic year 2008-2009. I was already in my third year then. Not on the same level of losing someone important in his life, this had been my most tragic day in college. I spent the next three years anxious and insecure while still studying in the University. I was like a person who is terminally ill, not knowing when he would die. People would ask me "When will you be graduating?" and with oppressed heart and shattered conviction, I always answered "I don't know." Every single day of my life in the University was a hell because of those feelings, and couple that with very difficult lessons I had - it was really exhausting.
I did not know where and when the things turned its way. What I did realized was the change in my attitude towards things. Before, I was so feigned serious, on the verge of being angry when things did not go my way. I was not really true to what I said and thought so whatever happened, I was easily affected. Today, I am very much more sincere. When things aren't on track compared to what I exactly expected it, I say it, no more and no less. I am not easily affected by things happening around me. Sometimes, I ask questions as to why things happened. But most of the times, you need not to ask - you just know in your heart why, and accept it as it is. Finally, I am not pretending to be okay when I am not.
I pushed back harder when life pushed me to the wall. Exams were really nerve-wracking, and what I did was just to study - much more focused than ever. Sure there were distractions such as my beloved Twitter account, but I still did whatever I could to pass each test. More often than not, I still failed the exams. I have proven that I was not a brilliant student, a belief I was holding on to until high school graduation. Projects were time-consuming. People I was with were not really in sync. But I got through these, by pushing myself, and the people I know, more and more to what we could possibly do. These things really showed the character I have beyond this facade the Lord has given me. Maturity of self-discipline and hardwork, two things the school have molded in me throughout my stay. And finally, I, we made it.
"Challenges will not warn you, and opportunities will not wait for you." Yes. I agree. For challenges are the warning itself that what lies ahead are opportunities to change and to do better; for opportunities do not wait for people who will ignore them. I was knocked down not just once my entire college life. I almost got kicked out of the university, I had no greater chance of becoming an editor in our school publication. These were just two of the most excruciating challenges in my college life. But with hardwork and self-discipline, I accomplished my academic responsibilities; and, with courage of accepting things and strong sense of resilience, I garnered the most wonderful gift I could ever get - the respect of people (mostly) I was working with.
5 YEARS, 8 MONTHS, 1 WEEK, and 2 DAYS all boiled down yesterday in the 163rd DLSU Commencement Exercises. Sure I only went up to the stage once, but it was enough for me to be proud. For some people, it is just a beginning of much more different life out in the real world. For others, it is the end. For me, it was one of the most fulfilling event ever. After Bro. Erguiza gave us the dummy diploma, I was very happy; smiling really while walking towards my seat in the Plenary Hall. After we sat down, I really wanted to cry. My tears were really setting in my eyes, but I needed to pull myself together. I did not want to cry.
I learned so many things in DLSU that I will cherish and definitely can use as the real world welcomes me. I am sure that life has so many things to offer me, or to throw at me at times; but, what I have become while inside the university is strong enough to handle those, or so I believe. I know I still have so many things to learn in life like conquering my own fears. But this time, I'd like to thank De La Salle University for giving me the challenges and opportunities that bring me maturity I needed in life; to my professors, especially the Faculty of Electronics and Communications Engineering for giving us lessons that sure made us insane, and truly educated Lasallians; to my friends in Ang Pahayagang Plaridel and other colleges, and colleagues in the Electronics and Communications Engineering and Gokongwei College of Engineering for being my companions for the past five years, whether you love, respect, cooperate with me or not; to my Tabing family and Del Carmen clan, especially to my parents and my one and only sister, for giving me the support I needed ever since my journey as an individual began 22 years ago; and finally, to my God for being my guide and strength through my life.
For those with awards, the medals are the bonus of your hard work given to you and shown to us as inspiration to do better next time. For those who graduated without any but the diploma in hand, success is not measured entirely by a single medal or so. It is measured by what we have experienced in the University and how much of it we'd apply well in the real world. Congratulations!
Life never wants us to take things for granted, or to expect things in an instant. Life gives us challenges and opportunities to work harder and smarter than we ever used to. And getting a degree was no exception; it should never be taken for granted nor instantly. We have to work hard for it, and yesterday was the mark to tell us that we actually had. After college, life still never wants us to take things for granted, or to expect things in an instant. But do not forget that while life requires us to work hard, that life won't want us to be serious about it. Life has always been tough, so do not be tough on yourself, too. By working with those tough times, strong resilience is a gift. Have fun while working hard. Be sincere. Just the right attitude, my friend, will make you go along smoothly with life.
Congratulations fellow graduates Class of February 2012 for making it. See you around.
Congratulations fellow graduates Class of February 2012 for making it. See you around.
Animo La Salle!