what matters most...

"If you made it in Laguna College, you'll make it anywhere."

This was (i think) my high school's motto, and I thought that the cliche holds water.
Most of my high school classmates and friends will graduate with honors! And I am so proud of them! I am proud that  I belonged to A1 batch 2008.
Back in  high school, I flunked one subject and was just an average student. My high school was really though, academically. We had two math and science subjects per year. Imagine my burden considering that those subjects were my water loo. Anyway, I am glad that LC honed me to be competitive and industrious.
My highschool thought me that I may not have walked on stage with a medal on my neck but it thought me the value of  *"getting even."
To my highschool batchmate, congratulations!
***
*getting even? I meant this. Read this please! (Lifted from Facebook):

ISANG MALUPIT NA GRADUATION SPEECH:

This speech was delivered by a La Sallian engineer in one of the graduation ceremonies at the UP College of Engineering.

"Ngayong araw na ito, sa ating pagtatapos, mayroon akong dalang Transcript of Record. Ang estudyanteng may-ari ng transcript na ito ay nag-aral sa De La Salle University. Sa unibersidad na ito, kapag ikaw ay isang undergraduate, may ID number ka na nagsisimula sa “94” at pataas, kung lumipas ang isang buong school year at umabot ka sa 15 units na bagsak, masisipa ka sa paaralan.

Ang transcript na hawak ko ay mayroong 27 units ng bagsak. 12 sa mga ito ay tinamo ng estudyante sa iisang schoolyear lang. Ang isang subject ay kadalasang may bigat na 3 units. Kung iisiping mabuti, isang subject na bagsak na lang ay pwede na masipa ang estudyanteng may-ari ng transcript na ito.

Ang speech na ito ay hindi ko ginawa para i-acknowledge ang paghihirap ng ating mga magulang sa pagpapaaral satin. Hindi ko din ito ginawa para maghayag ng political statement, o kumbinsihin kayo na huwag umalis sa bansa at tulungan itong makaahon. Ang speech na ito ay para sa mga normal na estudyante na kagaya ng may may-ari ng transcript na hawak ko, dahil madalas, wala talagang pakialam ang unibersidad sa mga achievements nila. May mga awards na gaya ng “Summa Cum Laude”, “Best Thesis Award” at “Leadership Award.” Pero ni minsan, hindi pa ako nakakakita ng unibersidad na nagbigay ng “Hang-on and managed to graduate despite nearly getting kicked-out during his academic stay” award.


Maaaring isang malaking kagaguhan ang konseptong ito para sa karamihan. Bakit mo pararangalan ang isang estudyanteng bulakbol, bobo, tamad o iresponsable? Hindi ba dapat isuka ito ng unibersidad? Ito yung mga tipo ng estudyanteng walang ia-asenso sa buhay, hindi ba?

Ayun. Natumbok niyo. Iyun na nga ang dahilan.

Madalas, pag ang isang estudyante ay may pangit na marka sa paaralan, lalong lalo na sa kolehiyo, nakakapanghina ito ng loob. Nandiyan yung tatamarin ka mag-aral, nandyan yung iisipin mo “Ano pa kayang trabaho ang makukuha ko? Call center na naman o clerical? Ba’t kasi ang bobo ko. Kung matalino lang ako, sana, sa Proctor and Gamble ako, o kung saang sikat na kumpanya.”

Mas mahirap ang dinadaanan ng mga estudyanteng bumabagsak. Kahit na sabihin mong kasalanan nilang bumabagsak sila, hindi ninyo alam kung ano ang pakiramdam ng ganun. Madaling sabihin na “Kaya mo yan, mag-aral ka lang,” pero alam ba natin talaga ang sinasabi natin?

Kapag ang isang estudyante ay bumabagsak sa unibersidad, nandiyan yung tatawanan niya lang yan. O di kaya naman, ipagmamalaki niya pang “TAKE 5 NA KO!!!” o “Pare, magpi-PhD na ako sa Anmath3/Calculus/etc.” Pero hindi alam ng mga isang Summa Cum Laude kung ano ang nasa isip ng isang normal na estudyante sa tuwing matutulog ito at alam niyang pag-gising niya, kailangan niya na namang ulitin ang isang subject na nakuha niya na sa susunod na term.

Kahit kalian, hindi naging problema sa “Star Student” na sabihing “Nay, bagsak ako.” at hindi kailanman sumagi sa isip nila na “Paano kaya kung sa walang-pangalang kumpanya lang ako makapagtrabaho?” Dahil sigurado sila sa kinabukasan nila.

Huwag na tayong maglokohan. Grades are everything. Kahit bali-baligtarin mo iyan, hindi magiging patas ang mga kumpanyang kumukuha ng fresh graduates para magtrabaho sa kanila. Minsan din naman, nadadaan sa palakasan, pero ganun pa din. Kung hindi ka academically good, wala kang patutunguhan. Kung hindi man yun, mas mahirap yung dadaanan mo para lang makaabot sa prestihiyosong posisyon.Kaya ngayong graduation, ang speech na ito ay inaaalay ko para sa mga estudyanteng lumagpak, muntik-muntikan nang masipa o yung sa lahat ng paraang pwede, ginawa na para lang makatapos. Gagawin kong patas ang mundo para sa inyo kahit isang araw lang. Kahit ano pa ang sabihin ng ibang tao, kesyo kasalanan mo man na pangit ang marka mo o muntik ka nang makick-out, saludo ako sa hindi mo pagtigil sa pag-aaral. Saludo ako na may lakas ka ng loob na harapin pa rin ang mundo kahit alam mong hindi ito magiging patas sa iyo. Saludo ako na kahit pangit ang transcript mo, taas noo ka pa rin ngayong graduation at proud na proud sa sarili mo.

Ano ngayon ang mangyayari sa mga graduates pagkatapos nitong graduation? Ayoko nang puntahan yung pwedeng mangyayari sa mga Cum Laude. Baduy. Alam mo namang may patutunguhan ang buhay nila e. Pero dun sa mga lumagpak, ano ang meron?

Maaring makakuha kayo ng mediocre na trabaho lang. Pwede ka rin swertehin, baka makapagtrabaho ka sa magandang kumpanya. Madami pang pwedeng mangyari. Huwag kayong mawalan ng pag-asa. Kung nung college, nagtiyaga kayo e ba’t titigilan niyo yung pagti-tiyaga ngayon?

Pwede ring ganito: Mag-aral ka ulit. Ipakita mo sa kanila na kung sisipagin ka lang, malayo ang mararating mo. Subukan mong patunayan sa kanila na kapag pinilit mo, kaya mo ring abutin yung naabot nila. Na hindi ka bobo, kundi tinamad ka lang.

Baka sabihin ninyo, drowing lang ako.

I’ve been on both sides. Naranasan ko na ring lumagpak, at muntikan na din akong masipa. Naranasan ko na ang umulit ng 4 na beses sa iisang subject. Naranasan ko na ang masumbatan ng magulang, kapatid at kung sino-sino pang propesor na walang pakialam sa pakiramdam ng estuyante. Naranasan ko nang hindi makatulog ng maraming gabi sa pagiisip kung paano ko na naman sasabihin sa magulang ko na may bagsak na naman ako. Kaya alam ko ang pakiramdam ninyo.

Akin ang transcript na ito.

Pagkagraduate ko ng college, ano ang ginawa ko? Eto. Nagtrabaho muna ng konti, tapos aral ulit. Kuha ng Masteral sa kurso ko. Hindi para sa trabaho o kung ano man. Kundi para patunayan sa sarili ko na noong mga panahong bumabagsak ako, tinatamad lang ako.

This is a rebellion. I raise my middle finger to every professor, over-achiever, naysayer and detractor THAT TOLD ME THAT I CAN'T MAKE IT. I raise my middle finger to every valedictory or graduation speech that only gratifies the university, those who were achievers in school or those who gratify the country when it’s supposed to be the graduate’s moment of glory. You are supposed to acknowledge EVERYONE. Even those who failed many times.

Kaya sa inyong mga graduates na medyo hindi maganda ang marka, para sa inyo ito. Kung kinaya ko ito, kaya niyo rin to. Imposibleng hindi."

pre-graduation

Graduation paraphernalia:

I am all set for my graduation tomorrow. I have my toga already, and I received other grad stuff: cross, tickets and the lifetime alumni card, which offers perks and privileges...

Left: High school graduation picture
Right: Four years after...

Honorable

I did not graduate with flying colors back when I was in high school, and since then I promised myself that I will end up with honors once I finished college. Fortunately, I did (or I will; our graduation is slated on the 30th).

Aiming for the gold was beyond the vain attempt for self recognition, but its main purpose was to give back to my payrents. I would be hypocrite if I said that I did not want to end up marching with the Latin recognition (for it has its perks, once I step into the "real world") but like I said, the award primarily must be addressed to my pay-rents.

The following essays pretty much encapsulated my thoughts on graduating with the distinction. With Honors and With Honor.

"It (graduating with honors) is something, but it is by no means everything."


***

With Honors

iThink

By JAMES SORIANO

March 21, 2012, 4:09am

(from the Manila Bulletin) 

What does it mean to graduate cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude?

Literally, the Latin phrase cum laude means “with honor” or “with praise,” the latter being a more direct translation of the word laude. Similarly, magna cum laude means “with great praise”, and summa cum laude means “with the highest praise.”

So whenever we say, in a tone fraught with respect for the depth of meaning and gravitas that the original Latin term offers, that a student is graduating cum laude, magna cum laude,or summa cum laude, what we are saying is that the student is graduating with praise, great praise, or the highest praise.

The meaning of the term really says very little, so that perhaps it is a little disappointing to work so hard for four to five years to attain those famed Latin distinctions, only to find that they add very little, if at all, to the obvious.

 But perhaps that is the beauty of it: that it says so little about who you are to the world that there is so much room for you to determine what it really means for yourself.

To the outside world, graduating with honors is the mark of an exceptional graduate: gifted, hardworking, intelligent, with all the tools to succeed in life and career. Yet all that graduating with honors really means is that one has performed well in the classroom: that one scores well on tests, participates in class, and makes good presentations. If one goes to school to study, then graduating with honors proves that one has been a good student.

On the one hand, there is good reason to believe that students who graduate with honors are likely to become successful.

On the other hand, if it is true that the classroom is an entirely different setting from the workplace, the community, and even the home, then graduating with honors might mean very little. In that case, to go from exceptional student to exceptional individual is a huge logical leap, and it cannot predict whether one will find success or meaning in his or her life.

In the so-called “real world”, we find that this is the case. While there are many honor graduates who end up becoming rich or famous or otherwise successful, there are just as many graduates who may not have earned special academic distinctions at school, but have become just as successful as their honorable peers, if not more so. This suggests that in the bigger picture, there are multiple other factorsthat affect a graduating student’s chances of success apart from academic honors.

To have academic honors is to have a certain incentive or added pressure: one must succeed if he or she is to be worthy of the distinction. For some it might be nice to have, but it is a pressure or incentive that one can do without.

Graduating with honors means that one has a mind well-versed in logical thinking and critical analysis, tools that enable one to get ahead. But it does not measure whether one can engage in creative or divergent thinking, communicate well, or lead and inspire others, tools that enable one to get to the top. These are skills that are developed in a bigger way outside of the classroom: through extra-curricular activities, leadership positions, competitions athletic and otherwise, and engagement with peers and outside communities.

Graduating with honors in no way insures one’s moral character or scruples. Many honorable graduates have shaped and shifted industries and communities, for better or for worse. Many a valedictorian has impacted the history of this nation, for better and for worse.

 Those of us who are graduating with honors cannot assure, by the mere fact of our graduating with some sort of a laude, that we will turn out to be honorable people.

But what cannot be doubted is that graduating with honors is a tribute to all those who have helped or contributed to get one to his or her standing. From experience, consistently getting high grades—the only prerequisite to graduating with honors—is a tricky business, one that is just as much science as it is art. Individual merit and motivation is one part of the equation; the other parts are the nature of the course, the teacher’s skill, perceptions and expectations, conditions within the project group, the barkada, or the family, and even political and economic conditions at large.

So that when one goes up the stage to receive his or her diploma, medal and five seconds of applause, one represents, in a very significant way, the confluence of factors that have made the distinction possible. One’s individual achievement, in a broad sense, is actually a collective effort. After all, no one ever makes it alone.

So when one graduates with cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude, one can be proud that he or she has a very particular kind of achievement: a successful career as a student, at least partly the result of a favorable confluence of factors and conditions, which may or may not promise future success.

 It is something, but it is by no means everything.

***

With Honor

Excluded Middles

By AVERILL PIZARRO

March 21, 2012, 4:09am

(from the Manila Bulletin)

MANILA, Philippines — Let me just come out and say it, so we can get it out of the way already — graduating with honors is overrated.

I graduated from UP Diliman a year ago with a degree in Philosophy, magna cum laude, and this is a lot less impressive than it sounds.

For one, my class, the Class of 2011, produced 21 summa cum laude, 215 magna cum laude, and 794 cum laude. The feat isn’t exactly extraordinary if 1,000 other people in the same room can do it too.

At the University graduation, only the summa cum laude get to sit on the stage with their parents, along with the members of the Board of Regents, former presidents and faculty.

Magna cum laude get to sit in the front rows, but it is not a big enough achievement — our parents have to sit at the back under the hot sun like everyone else.

Of course I wanted to graduate with honors, and it felt good when I did. Sometimes, it still does. My parents like telling their friends about it, and so do my aunts and uncles. Fortunately, as far as I know, none of them had a tarpaulin printed out and hung at the municipal hall.I have to admit — magna cum laude looks very good on paper. Most people are immediately impressed when they hear about it — and one of them, my current boss, was impressed enough to offer me a job.

But that’s about as far as graduating with honors has taken me.

It got me into a job, but staying in the job, and performing well in it, is a different matter entirely. That’s a fact that people often miss: it doesn’t make you better or smarter than anyone else. It means you got better grades, but it says little about your intelligence, ability, or lack thereof, because most people who graduate with honors intend to graduate with honors but don’t intend to learn.

It’s easy to go through college taking all the easy professors and getting all the free unos, and graduating with a summa or magna or cum laude following your name. But this doesn’t mean you learned well, nor that you made the most of your opportunities, and this does not prepare you in any way to meet real challenges.

Most of the time it’s an investment in image rather than in substance, and it is a dishonor to the University that took time and money to teach you. It is easier to graduate with honors than to graduate with honor.

This is a lesson I first learned in UP.

On the first day of class, a Literature professor had asked us to introduce ourselves to her by submitting a list of all the real books we had ever read in our 16-year lives. “Don’t tell me you were valedictorian, or an awardee this or awardee that,” she said rather crossly. “Don’t tell me you were editor-in-chief of your high school paper. Guess what--we all were. Now tell me the books you’ve read when nobody asked you to and I will judge how well-prepared you are for this class.”

We were all frightened.

Today, though, she is still one of my best teachers, and that was still one of the best classes I ever took in my life.I find that working is much the same. In our office especially, my boss has a habit of hiring honor graduates. Everyone is summa, magna or cum laude. Or a lawyer. Or has a master’s degree in something from prestigious universities here or abroad. It doesn’t make you special. It doesn’t determine the quality of your output. I came in as a fresh graduate, armed with honors, and I had to start from the bottom of the food chain, learn everything as I went along, and learn fast. Sometimes, the philosophy has helped me. The books I read in my spare time have helped me.

But I find that what has helped me the most in my job is not the cerbral knowledge I gained in my fours years in college, not the stuff that got me through exams and gave me good grades — it’s all the things and disciplines surrounding that, outside that, beyond that.

It’s the coolness under pressure, the habituation to deadlines, the initiative and foresight picked up from doing volunteer work that you get through experience,  and by watching older people do something well.

It’s the clarity of mind and the determination to work well and hard even when a professor is discouraging or angry or aloof, and you don’t hope to get a good mark anyway, but you want to be able to say you gave it the best you have.

It’s the willingness to get your hands dirty and to give more than the minimum because you believe in the innate value of honor and excellence.

It’s all of these and more — the elements of a good education, about how well you learned, including, especially, from your failures — and such things just cannot be measured by numbers.

***

The true-er measurement of one's achievements lies on his ability to rise above adversity--whether he graduated with honors or not. 

Being honorable is different from graduating with honor. 

March 23

March 23, 2012 marked some personal memorable moments. One, it was my birthday. Second, it signaled the almost end of my college journey and the start of a new chapter.

The 2008 batch from the University of Santo Tomas simultaneously passed under the monumental Arch of the Century. UST has this legend that undergraduate students must never cross the arch if they want to successfully finish their supposed four or five year-college stay. Hence, for almost four years, I resisted the urge to pass under the archway! Haha.

UST baccalaureate mass would not go by without completing traditions such as writing on another student's uniform and goofing around the fountain. Unfortunately, UST turned off the fountains ahead of scheduled time! Ergo, we failed to cap off our celebration with playing in the fountain.

my vandalized uniform!

I was very happy and grateful that I was able to march under the Arch together with the people whom I walked with four years ago. We made it friends!

Flame

Our first and last photo op.
Editors & Editorial Board: Ardi, Cam, Marianne, Jenn, Azer, Angel and Eli.
So long, Flamers!

21

JobStreet greeted me a day ahead. :''>

simple joys

I am officially graduating this 30th!

Our final week has formally ended last Saturday and the feelings and emotions are indescribable. Mixed emotions: happiness, contentment, anxiety, sadness, relief, gratitude…on the thought that I am (hypothetically) graduating.

Besides the pat on the back that I think I deserve (hihi), I have rewarded myself with something tangible. And these are what I get, clothes, my simple joys... 

Thrifted sheer top and high waist shorts I got for less than P200! :

POSITIVISM

I will tell you a secret. Ssh, would you like to know it?

“Thoughts become things.”

That’s it. The secret of a happy  and contented life apparently lies on the cliché above.

Believe it or not, but our minds are powerful organs that send signal to the universe to conspire with the thoughts we have in mind. 

Complicated, right? But the main idea simply goes as: you are what you attract. 

Following the law of attraction, what constantly occupies our minds will be attracted and manifested to our daily lives. Ergo, if you want to get away with negativities, think happy thoughts! 

"Whether you think you can or cannot, you are right," Henry Ford

not so fast, march

How could a person miss many activities in just a short span of time?

My blog had been in hiatus for the last three weeks. Apparently, even I was missing in action. Because of inevitable circumstances I was put into (I had on and off sickness), I skipped most of my classes, missed bonding with my friends and the other moments that I should have witnessed and participated.

I even missed an important job interview, but thank Heavens the corporation was considerate enough to reschedule my appointment, twice!

After my recuperation, I was again faced with the familiar feeling and atmosphere: deadlines all over the place. But I was not annoyed or anything, I perfectly understood the demands of graduating and finally stepping out from my university.

It’s just that the last few days have gone so fast…