We need fire to forge, shape and reshape. Raising the young requires passion, determination, persistence and devotion, courage and en"courage"ment. Let us sing 'em no more lullabye as it will only put them to sleep. They have to be awake to realize their dreams.
So that afternoon of April 25, during our commencement exercises sending off the graduating elementary and high school students, I changed course. No adoration and sweet talk as this special batch of potential achievers needs to reflect on things that should matter.
Opening Address
April 25, 2015
“Even the smallest person can change the course of the
future” – J.R.R. Tolkien
Congratulations...
To note, for the school year
2014-2015 that is ending, there are 32 candidates for graduation in Grade 6 and
31 in Fourth Year.
This year’s grade 6 is 1 year short of the prescribed 6
years of elementary. If the K to 12
program will not go awry or kaput, they
will have to go through an extra year as G12.
Is this batch ready for High
School? They should be.
Let us take a look at the
seniors. Nothing was altered. 6 years in elementary and 4 in high school, but
before that, two to three years in Preschool. Are you ready to face the world? This world that will tempt you to try to be
different or be like everyone else except yourself? That is precisely the purpose of your education but how you are going to use it to arm you is something I cannot predict.
One more question:
Will you be a wonderful
contribution to your country and fellowmen?
I hope so.
Honestly, do you think that
your HEDCen education will matter when you go to your respective universities
or to a different high school?
In the years that you were in
HEDCen, what was your greatest challenge? Your all-time difficulties? Whatever it is or was, are or were, there is only YOU at the bottomline. No
devil. No other reason other than the
failure to understand and respond to who you are, your compulsions and
demons. Your nature. You are your greatest ally or nemesis. Spiderman knows that.
Another question: Will you buckle down at the
slightest sign of difficulty or will you own up and get up and revise, reinvent
or re-align if needed? Will you desire nothing else but to learn from your valuable mistakes to become a better person? a changed individual?
I have endless questions but
meanwhile I am not giving you any accolade yet, just because you are graduating
today.
Dapat lang. (That is to be expected.)
Dapat lang na makatapos ng pag-aaral. (It is to be expected that you finish your
studies if you have the resources.)
Dapat lang na maipagpatuloy sa unibersidad. (It is to be expected that you continue to
tertiary level.) Dapat lang maging
college scholar. (It is right to expect that you rise to the highest form
of achievement like getting a college scholarship if you try hard enough and if
you set your goal high enough.) Have an ambition. Do not fear hard work and adversities.
Dapat, ang pag-aaral ay buong buhay – o
ika nga “life-long, sa paaralan man o labas nito. (Education should be life-long whether it be
inside a classroom or out of it.)
Dapat ding
umiwas sa masasama, sa pang-aapi, sa pandaraya, katamaran o sa pag wawalang bahala. Anong tawag dun? ++++++ (Habitual callousness and insensitivity to the
needs around you should be shunned especially those that take the form of
cheating, indolence, or simply the devil-may-care attitude.)
Wag
mayabang. Wag mamili kung sino ang irerespeto. Irespeto ang lahat ng nilalang. Di
lang kayo ang maalam. Huwag maliitin ang inyong mga makakasalamuha.
(Don’t be arrogant. Don’t choose who to
respect or disrespect. All creatures and beings, including everyone here, YOU deserve to be respected. The lowliest and the greatest share the
same air and place under the sun.
For the people you have hurt or have taken for
granted, now is the time to look back with gratitude and to seek their
forgiveness, for we must start fresh and clean to be able to carry their
blessings on our back when we seek our adventures outside this school.
This is after all, the essence of the graduation theme that you have chosen: "Even the smallest person can change the course of the future".
“May the Force be with you.”
and “may you live long and prosper”!
Have a wonderful life ahead
of you Graduates and congratulations!!
Adieu!
thank you.
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