FAREWELL ADDRESS
As soon as I entered the gates of Divine Word College of Vigan and as I attended my very first class, I asked myself, “What in the world am I doing here?”
From my freshman year up to my junior year, that question played around in my head like a drifting child because honestly, I did not plan nor intend to study in this institution. When I graduated in high school, I was getting ready for an exciting college life in another place—a place far away from home—far from the setting I was used to. Fortunately, my plan did not work out. And yes, I enrolled in a school totally different from what I wanted—not only that it is so close to our home but that I am already accustomed to its scenario.
“What am I doing here?”
For four long yet swift years, I tried to fathom that query. I searched for an answer within the walls of this school, with the people I met along the way and with the experiences I had gathered.
Giving an answer to that question is like entering a labyrinth of irony. I had to picture the other side to appreciate where I was in. Surprisingly, I did not only get an answer but loads of them. Indeed, they were just at my feet—trying so hard to catch my attention and show up to me.
If I did not become a part of this institution, I would not have experienced how it is to be at the top and at the same time to fall, to succeed and to fail, to savor every moment of triumph and to accept every torment of failure. Being at the top is not always as enticing as it may seem. It requires a lot of your attention, loads of hardwork and patience and even a huge amount of your time. Sometimes, you just have to give up what you want just to accomplish more things. The difficult part is, most of the time, you find yourself in a dilemma of how to divide ten hours of your working time just to finish multitudes of tasks.
Also, being at the top lures expectations. Imagine how Atlas endured to carry the whole world on his shoulders and you just got a taste of how it is like to have people expect a lot from you because you are seated at that zenith. Yes, expectations were one of the challenges I had to face. Dealing with it is like enrolling Education degrees as a course—that no matter how people discourage you and look down on you, you still go on because you know deep in your heart that someday, they would take back all that they have said and look up to you. Frankly, right now, I am thinking how I was able to take in all those expectations and how I successfully completed those humungous duties. A small voice inside me shouts, “Hey, that’s precisely why you are here.” Indeed, I am here in Divine Word College of Vigan to prove that I am not just a nobody—that I am that somebody who can do something for everybody.
If I did not become a part of this school, I would not have met people who have created a great impact to me and consequently, whom I have considered as a part of my family. Believe it or not, it is only in my college life that I got to look at teamwork in its broader sense. When I was in high school, I was frequently exposed to group works. Ironically, I also developed the habit of independence. In high school, you finish your work as a group yet you strive to be recognized alone for the sake of competition. In college, you finish your work as a group and treasure every moment of laughter, friendship and attachment because you do not care about competition. You may not realize it, but you start to care for each other as brothers and sisters and not as mere classmates anymore.
As I look back at the memories that I had with those people, I have opened the box that contain the second answer to my query. I am here in Divine Word College of Vigan to see and to feel that nothing compares to the sanctity of your bond with your family, your friends, your teachers, your org-mates and even your enemies. Could you see those benches at the left part of our auditorium? How many jokes were cracked and how many times was laughter heard by those benches? How many gossips did they hear? How many secrets have they shared with excited ladies and guys? I would definitely miss those moments—during our vacant time when we don’t do anything but just sit there for even two hours and chat about anything under the sun; those times when we sit there and scrutinize all students, even teachers who pass by; that particular moment when we were not able to control our boisterous laughter and be scolded by a teacher who was having his class; and those moments when we sit there just to wait for 5:00 o’clock to come.
Impersonations. Who would not forget how some of us impersonate almost all of our faculty members? From the groovy dance moves of Ma’am Macel, to the lullaby-like voice of Ma’am Pipo, the highly-famous expressions of Sir Asuncion, the bubon, bubon, bubon of Sir Clark, the forbidden yet funny words of Sir Rocky, the brain-cracking scientific terms of Ma’am Nikki and even to the signature gestures of Ma’am Binibini. Name a teacher and we have it. For those whose names were not mentioned, don’t be relaxed because you were just saved by the time.
Kidding aside, our mentors have played the largest role in shaping us to who we are now. Madams and Sirs, you served as our personalized magnets. You pulled us towards the forces that would bring good to us. You allowed us to be in perfect harmony despite the fact that we belong to varying and contradicting poles. You seeped our abilities and drew us to share it and bring glory and honor to this institution. Though there may be instances when you also show that you are not perfect, our trust and respect remain the same. Your imperfections do not lead us to look down on you or to despise you; instead, these open an avenue for us to increase our understanding and to be open-minded.
This, my fellow graduates, is the third answer to my query. I am here in Divine Word College of Vigan to understand that even the greatest person in the world has his own limitations and imperfections. No one could ever achieve all the happiness in the world. A lot of people make an impact to our lives yet some of them have to leave for the satisfaction of other individuals. A few of the most significant persons in our lives have to make great sacrifices just to bring happiness and peace to us. Indeed, tertiary life taught me the value of selfless sacrifice.
To our mentors, staff and administration, thank you for sharing a large chunk of your time and your wisdom. I have achieved a lot because of your utmost guidance, warm support and indefinable confidence in my abilities. Thank you so much for believing in me and for having so much faith in me. You gave me that assurance that I am not just a mere student; that even in my own ways, I can bring honor and triumph to our humble institution.
To my classmates/co-staffers/fellow officers/friends, I would definitely miss you. After this remarkable event, I would look forward to each day hoping that we would laugh together again. We may have had a limited time with each other yet every second and every minute of it was treasured and well-kept. Thank you for making me a part of your life and for accepting me for who I am. If I caused you any pain or hurt you in any way, I’m sorry. You and our blissful memories will forever be engraved in my heart.
To my bros, thank you for always making me laugh and for serving as my buddies slash brothers. You have opened my eyes to things I could not see before and made me appreciate even the simplest things in life. Thank you for those bonding moments and for being a part of my life. I would never ever forget you.
To my relatives, I have never said it before but I really am overwhelmed with your love, care and support. I know deep within me that I would not accomplish many tasks of mine if not for your help. I am very grateful that I belong to such a loving family.
Honestly, this graduation is not complete for me because one of the most important people in my life is not here. A few years ago, he died at a very young age. How I wish he were still here right now to see me in my graduation. “A”, thank you for looking over us. I miss you so much ading.
To my parents, words could never enunciate how grateful I am for having found each other and for bringing me into this world. Even if I do not meet your expectations sometimes, I used it as my motivation to strive harder and to excel more. I may not bluntly tell it to you always but I want you to know how thankful I am for having you as my parents. If I would be given another life, I would still choose you as my parents. You are the best in the world and you deserve these more than I do. I love you so much, but permit me to say this. Mang, Pang, you do not know how happy I am seeing the both of you together again. All these awards are nothing to me. What I really wish for is our happiness as a complete family.
Now, I can say that I already know what I am doing here. I know that some, if not most of you have also asked that question at one point in your life. I hope that like me, you have also found answers to your query. My fellow graduates, this is it; however, our journey is not just an ‘it’, for we would still embark on more “if’s”.
Sa pagtatapos ng okasyong ito, ang bawat isa sa atin ay may kany-kanyang daang tatahakin. Kalakip ng pagtanggap ng ating diploma ay ang sagot sa iisang katanungan: patuloy ba nating lilinangin ang ating kaisipan at magtutungo sa rurok ng tagumpay o mananatili na lamang ba tayo sa ating nakasanayan at magsisi balang araw?
Mga kapita-pitagang pinuno ng ating paaralan, mga minamahal naming guro, mga kapwa ko gradweyts, at sa lahat ng ating panauhin, isang maaliwalas na tanghali sa inyong lahat.
FAREWELL ADDRESS by MS KATRINA JOY NAVAL, BSED
During the 64th COLLEGIATE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES
Last 15 March 2010
@ St. Arnold Janssen Auditorium
