I know I’m not the valedictorian and all. I know I didn’t even graduate with honors. I know I didn’t even graduate on time. There is absolutely no chance for me to give this speech in any event, but I’m writing it down anyway. Maybe to try and inspire the ordinary student like me. Or maybe, to also inspire myself. I did not excel academically to be able to earn the right to deliver this speech, but I don’t regret anything in my college life.
I entered college an entirely different person. Not entirely bad, but a different person. And I am proud to say that my six long years in college have changed me into a better person. Or rather, my very diverse group of friends and acquaintances have proved to be a great catalyst to make me a better person. To name a few changes, I have become less self-centered. I have learned to listen to the points of view of other people, take into consideration their backgrounds and reasons and personal beliefs. I have learned patience. I have become less paranoid about the world. I have learned a lot of love - love for God, love for myself, for my family and friends and colleagues, and love for my country.
I started college with only one dream - to graduate on time. Although I truly wished there was a way around the bush to finish IE in less than 5 years, when I finally realized how difficult it was I just resigned to aiming to graduate on time. That was unlike a lot of my blockmates aiming for honors. I was an ordinary engineering student after all. And like the ordinary engineering student, I eventually encountered my downfall. It was just one major subject, the first and only one I ever failed in my whole life of studying, and it cost me one whole year. I got delayed like a lot of people. It crushed me like nothing else. But I did not let it stop me. I did not let anything stop me from finishing my degree.
My college life was never focused on my academics though, for I was never like that. I discovered a love for dancing. I enjoyed the company of my blockmates. I took part in my organizations’ events. I ate at almost all places found inside the campus, including the isaw places and fishball places, and cart, and college cafeterias. I went to parties. I spent a lot of time at my organizations’ tambayans. I watched movies in between classes. I skipped classes. I walked around the campus every imaginable moment. I loved, and sometimes loved in return. In other words, I did almost everything I wanted to do in my college life. And for that, I don’t regret any moment of my life, and I don’t regret not doing anything I could’ve done.
Perhaps the most important thing I learned in college, and the thing I want to share to everyone, is the lesson about making decisions. In college, we begin having the responsibility to make decisions for ourselves, be it regarding small things or great things. And every little decision we make affects our lives, and those around us. As simple as our decision to smile on a very difficult day can affect our own disposition, and can even help others get through their day. A decision to stay or leave from an event can provide or rid you of opportunities to converse with different people, and to experience whatever the event presents.
Decisions. I’ve made a lot of decisions in the six long years I have spent in college. There are some decisions I have made that I am very proud of. For one, there was a point that I gave up my position as director for my organization to lead a team to establish the university-based Gawad Kalinga in UP Diliman, which eventually paved the way in the establishment of the same in other units and campuses of the university. Somehow I guess, though I did not do it alone and the credit is really not due me, I know that I have made a difference in the university.
I was delayed for a year. But now I have finally reached my moment, I have graduated. I have made it a point to make that extra year count. I made each moment of my college life count.
Before I congratulate those who graduated with honors, and those who graduated on time, let me first congratulate those who have finally graduated after 6 years, or 7 years, or maybe even 8 years in college, for truly you deserve to celebrate this moment. It’s not how long you’ve waited, or how many times you have fallen, but how many times you have picked yourself up and continued on, and somehow have reached your goal. Now you are more equiped to face the possible disappointments in the real world. Those who graduated with honors, or those who graduated without failing anything would never understand that the way you do.
Maybe I could’ve just spent the rest of my dollars shopping here… joke! I was happy to spend Christmas in a new place, gain new experiences. I was happy to have the chance to see my friend here (bossing Derek, thanks so much for everything!!! For the dinner, the chocolates, and the Kenzo!). It was just too bad I wasn’t able to contact my other friend who was working here. Maybe another time.
