“Success or failure depends more upon attitude than capacity. Successful men act as though they have accomplished or are enjoying something. Soon it becomes a reality. Act, look, feel successful, conduct yourself accordingly, and you will be amazed of the positive results.” – William James
The first time I stepped in the gates of this institution, I was hoping to finally earn the degree I have chosen. Today, the culmination has come after all the wondering, hoping, expecting and wishing for this very day, by not just me but of the whole batch of STI College Iloilo graduating class of 2014. My fellow graduates, let us all welcome our guest – Mr. Ponciano Ligutom, the Administration, our Academic Head, faculty, staff, families and friends.
Graduation is one of those awkward moments in our lives when we are torn between the past and the future. Looking back triggers emotions and I must admit being the crybaby; these will really put me into tears later. And looking forward of the future brings excitement with sprinkles of nervousness and fear of what we will become.
I was once a student of one of the most prestigious universities in the country, and I didn’t expect that college life would be this difficult. I had those moments that whenever there was a project or even just an assignment, I’d just copy and paste from the web or from my classmates without studying it or even understanding it. All I thought about is that the subject was difficult and I needed to pass. I was contented of a grade of 3, felt a bit of relief when I received a 4 since I still had the chance for a removal and was very happy passing the 2.75 and up grade. Failing was a shame, that’s true but I learned to try and try again. But when I failed for how many times, that was when I realized that I needed to move on with my life. To transfer to another school came up to my mind and I was determined to push things through. I risked the fact that I might be scolded by my parents and even receive insulting comments for me leaving the university and extending my number of years to earn a degree. Though I was allowed to transfer and I was not scolded like I expected, regrets can’t be avoided. Who won’t right? I was already in a prestigious university but then I chose to leave it. Insults and side comments – I had received lots of that. There’s even an instance when someone said, “Paenroll naman? San-o ka pa magraduate?” I just smiled on that remark and shrugged it off. That hurts big time, but that’s the consequence I had to face for the decision I made.
When I first stepped in this institution to inquire for courses and for evaluation of subjects after inquiring and observing other schools, I had known and definitely felt that there wer a lot of great things in stored for me. And I was not mistaken for I learned different things, explored places and experienced lots of adventures. I finally understood the Java Programming language and its syntax that I simply used to type in and copy and paste before. I also learned new things and gained more knowledge. I reached different places, some because of the COS with Sir Lloyd and of the competitions I was able to join in. Who would have thought that Tammy and I will have the chance to be in the Queen City of the South and travel around together before graduation? That’s just a dream come true for us and that was just one of the places that a STIer can go to if you’d try your very best and prove to everybody that you are worth it.
Exciting… Amazing… Mind boggling… Scary… Fulfilling… those were just some adjectives I can define for the experiences I had. I was able to join different competitions in and out of school and the most memorable competition will be that during the ILO-PRISAA where I had the longest competition and where I had really realized how supportive my friends were that they stayed with me from the start to finish despite that they had hurt their butts for sitting and cheering for me for so long. And that was also the moment when I realized that my family most especially my parents were very proud of me, of my achievements. Because of this institution, I had experienced how difficult it was to be a leader, a follower and even as an event organizer. I was able to balance my duties being an officer and an irregular student with a complicated schedule. And I was able to push myself forward to strive more, extended my patience longer, and discovered and learned new things.
During my STIer life, I have learned that you won’t achieve anything if you’d just think of how difficult your task is. All you need to do is to enjoy and love what you do. Aim for the top. For despite how difficult the task or the challenge is, if you love what you do and you enjoy it, you’d surely get the best results that you can achieve. Failure is a natural thing. It is okay to stumble and fall but always remember to stand up and do better. Make that failure your guide to reach your goal. Giving up is not an option.
I may have bored you guys of a part of the story of my life’s journey but give me a little time more to thank and extend my gratitude to these wonderful people.
To my RHP Family, MARJJGEBAP SOCIETY and my little brothers and sisters – thank you so much for believing in me, for the support and for being there always. For all the cheers, I owe you guys coz that’s one of my drive to do better! I may be facing another journey but always remember that Manang Pearl or Ate Pearl for some of you will always be here, just a text, call tweet or chat away. To Mommy Janice – thanks for checking up on me always, for sharing your wisdom and for building up my morale. For my Momi Nica and Daddy Dren, thank you for being my shock absorbers, listeners and advisers. You are a big help!
To my inspirations… Young JV, James Reid and Tricia Santos, DJ Buddah, Arron Villaflor and the others, thank you as well for the brief moments with you, for your smiles and the shared conversation and laughter. Those little things helped a lot for me to do things better.
In behalf of the graduates, I would like to thank the Administration and the STI Academic Family for enduring and understanding our lapses for the past years. We enter life’s battlefield determined to prove our gratitude to you, by lives devoted to duty, true in thought and deed to the noble principles you have taught us. But most of all, I would like to thank my Big 3 – Sir Omyr, Maam Che and most especially Sir Ronnie. When I entered STI, you guys were the ones who really encouraged me to explore my capabilities, join competitions, and pushed me to do the best that I can. Of course, aside from my family and friends, you guys are my number one supporters. I can’t be who I am; I can’t explore places and be in front of all of you without you.
And to our families, our parents, in behalf of each of the graduates, I would like to extend our outmost gratitude to you. We will never be in the end of this journey without your help, your presence, and your support. I would like to encourage my fellow graduates and schoolmates that give your thanks to your very own parents and acknowledge their presence in your lives coz without them each one of us are nothing. Of course to my family, most especially for my parents – to nanay, who is present here today, all of my achievements and my accomplishments, these are for you. And I want to tell the world how proud I am to have you. You are the one who gave up everything for us and did everything to raise us properly. Nay, thank you for being there since birth and from that very moment that I told you I wanted to transfer, to joining competitions and until now. As of the moment I can’t promise anything big but what I can promise you is I will do my very best to aim success.
To Papa God, it is with you whom I really owe big time. Through thick and thin, you were always there. A big thanks Papa God!
To my dear fellow graduates, this is our moment and I want to share a quote from a commercial of Apple Computers – “Here's to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes... the ones who see things differently -- they're not fond of rules... You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can't do is ignore them because they change things... they push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world, are the ones who do.”
Yes, we are crazy, complicated, rebellious, hardheaded bunch of students but bear in mind, that we can change the world. The graduating class is made up of students who never give up on any trouble. We fight until the end! It is up to us on how to do that, on what steps we are going to take as we face the real world. I’m not sure how we will get to where we need to be, how we will achieve our dreams but the only thing I know is that, all of us are capable to beat each and every hindrance life has to offer.Now, let’s look back a bit…
Do you remember the crazy going to and fro of the two buildings during enrollment and skipping class on the first day, the funny look on ID pictures, unending complaints during typhoon and heavy rains, our very long smiles each time classes were suspended, the terror and giddy feeling during the earthquake, moments of asking papers from classmates, the copy paste assignments and the incomparable happiness holidays have brought to us?
Who would forget those vacant moments? Those times of staying in the library not to read or to research but to sneakily sleep and charge gadgets. Those times of staying and spending time on the shed to do or copy homework, talk and jam with friends or simply observe and wait for someone.
Schoolmates, though the dear happy years we have spent together are over, yet the ties of friendship are bonds of union that time and absence will only strengthen. We shall not forget the memories and experiences shared as well as the learning acquired. These things are those which we will have in mind for as long as we can and in heart for as long as we live.
Fellow graduates, duty bids us to go forward into an active life. Let us go cheerfully, hopefully and earnestly, and set ourselves to find our special part. Plato once wrote, “The direction in which education starts a man, will determine his future life” but these days, it seems that competition is not just tough but way much tougher than ever and education only gets us in the door. To find a job that will best justify our education is harder than to graduate.
It is time for us to hunt for a career of our own. We have been provided with strong education which is connected with real life experience vital for our professional development. Do not just confine the theories you have learned and real life training you have gained. Apply them. Do not just enter the door of opportunities but stay there and make a stand.
The real battle starts today, so use your diploma as your sword against pride, greed and conceit. Use your toga as your armors against humiliations and temptations. Use your cap as your headgear against negative thoughts. And use your education not just to survive but succeed.
Fellow graduates, a chapter of our life has ended and we are about to face a new one, a new journey with lots of adventures, drama, action and even romance. Being afraid of what the future holds is normal, but don’t be scared to flip pages and continue the journey for in the end you will realize how beautiful you have become as a person. Life goes on, so let’s live it up!
Congratulations Class of 2014!!!All the best! Thank You!!!
