What I Would Say If I Were To Give A Valedictory Address
Graduation has come and gone. I am officially an alumnus of the University of the Philippines- Diliman. Easily the five best years of my life. All the ups and downs, all the drama, the laughter, good times, bad times. The memories. The people.
Five years ago, I was an average Catholic schooled-boy from the province who was privileged enough to pass the UPCAT and enrol in the university of his dreams. I was lucky enough to get here, but I never expected to be anything beyond average. I had a weak background in Math, and that is what scared me most, considering that my course was civil engineering. I was fairly good in English and public speaking (because, really, that’s what I got from high school apart from my edge in religion), and was diligent enough in reading and studying lessons that had a lot to do with memorizing. At the end of my first semester, I got a flat 1.0 in all my GE subjects (Comm 3, Bio 1, Soc Sci 1, Eng 12, and Kas 2) and a fat 2.0 for my Math 17. Still, it was good enough for me as long as I passed Math.
Plus, I was in a choir back then- one of the top choirs in the country, in fact. The schedule was hectic and tiring, but I was having fun. In fact, it was actually one of the best times in my life in some aspects. As long as I could do what I loved and managed to pass all my subjects, then I was contented. I managed to squeeze out a measly 2.50 for Math 53, my first ever encounter with calculus.
Things started to change towards the end of that first year, when I had to make what I still consider to be one of the most difficult decisions in my college life. I had been presented with an opportunity to go on tour with my choir- a very rare chance to travel abroad and share my talent and passion to the world. But I was scared. I didn’t think I was ready. There were too many consequences which weighed on my shoulders then- being delayed perhaps the heaviest of them all. I ended up passing up that opportunity, but I still managed to stay part of the choir. I chose to play it safe- that is, to remain average- when I could’ve had it better and more challenging.
With the main performing group gone, I was left with the alumni members for local performances during my second year. The schedule was a lot more flexible, and I had a lot more time to devote to my academics. But with so much time, I found myself wanting to join an organization. I planned on joining either Aces or Aggre, but the pressure and the rivalry between them just made me say to myself, “I don’t want to be part of this.” I ended up applying for Subol Society, the provincial organization of Pangasinan. Then, I met someone who changed my perspective on Math and academics in general- Phillip Lapidez, who ended up becoming a magna cum laude and the valedictorian of our CE batch. We became close friends, and in many ways, he inspired me to aspire to be better. This is perhaps another turning point in my college life. For the first time, I proved to myself that I can juggle between my duties as a student and doing things that I loved. This semester ultimately holds the record for giving me my highest GWA ever, and my first and only uno in Math. It was the first time I actually thought of being more than average.
From 63 in my Math 17 midterms to 95 in Math 54.
I enrolled during the summer of that second year in an effort to advance subjects just in case I had to repeat others. It was then that I was roomed in Yakal with and became close friends with the duo of JP Mendoza and Maxell Lumbera, who also later became a magna cum laude and the third in our batch. This summer was another turning point in my life. I had just gotten accepted into the UP Presidential Scholarship, when the devastating news came that my mother was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer. It was then that I determined that my focus would be to maintain that scholarship, so that majority of our finances would be for Mama’s chemotherapy and other treatments. Though I had already been inactive in choir for a few months since the main group came back in the second semester, it was only during that summer that I decided to truly finally call it quits. That was the point of no more coming back and having to leave behind that which made my heart fill with so much gladness. It was a sacrifice I was more than willing to make just so that I wouldn’t be an added burden to my mother.
I ended up leaving one thing to excel at another. Academically, I was at the top of my game. I also became an officer of Subol. Maxell and I were also accepted as student assistants at the institute. I met someone who inspired me too. With Mama on her way to recovery, things seemed to have finally hit their balance for me. I still performed solo occassionally in Yakal events, joined a few contests but never won first place. Still, I was contented. And looking back, I wouldn’t have had it any other way.
When I was a freshman in Kalayaan Residence Hall, I was a shy introvert who was on the brink of being anti-social. I had a lot of friends- Sigaw, UPSA, my block G6, my floormates the Dos Boys. But to be honest, I think none of them really got to know me because of my shyness then. But in my five-year stay in UP, I gradually opened up, learned to let my guard down, and share myself to other people. I met wonderful friends- the Thursday group, who inspired me and always shared good and bad times of life with me. I had a very supportive organization. I met someone who dared to take down my walls and taught me that it was okay to open your heart to others. But I guess I became selfish and wanted it all just a bit too much. We ended up breaking each other’s hearts (I hope I’m not being too presumptuous on this) and letting each other walk away. But time heals all wounds and somehow, we became friends again.
So I guess here are some things I learned outside the confines of a classroom during my stay in the university:
1.) Don’t settle for average. Push yourself to your limits, then push yourself some more. Don’t be afraid to dream the big dreams. Eventually, you’ll start working for these dreams, and even if you don’t make them all a reality, you would have achieved a great deal along the way.
2.) Prioritize. Be ready to make sacrifices. A person can’t always have it all. What you love is not necessarily what you need, and what you need is not necessarily what you love.
3.) Let other people touch your life. Don’t be afraid touch the lives of others too. Remember all those who were part of your life. Keep good friends and treasure what you have.
4.) Forgive and let go of all the hurt you feel inside. The added weight will only bring you down. Keep a positive outlook in life.
5.) Disappointment and failure are part of life. Everyone goes through these things at some point in time. Hang on yo your faith and believe that things will work out just fine. Miracles are real. Keep on trying over and over again. Just work hard and smart and do what you have to do without stepping on other people. Never let opportunities pass without having considered all factors involved.
Looking back, I guess some would say that I was the guy who almost had it all. I was almost magna cum laude, but I didn’t make it because of my earlier poor grades in Math. I got so close to being the best in thesis, but I guess the judges couldn’t see my work as more important than that of the other finalists. I was almost the Singing CEnsation, but I wasn’t named the winner. I almost went on a European tour with an award-winning choir. I almost went to Taiwan for a building design competition. I almost had a wonderful girlfriend, but things didn’t work out as I envisioned.
Still, I wouldn’t change a thing. So, thank you UP. Thank you for imbuing in me the values of honor and excellence, the love for learning, and a tenacity to never compromise my integrity. Thank you for equipping me with the tools I need to serve and give back to my country. Thank you to my parents, to my friends, to my orgmates, to my coursemates, to my teachers. To Him who made all this possible. To the people who made the last five years the best I’ve ever had. Here’s to you. This one’s for you.
Mabuhay ka Iskolar ng Bayan!
