AFTER A GRUELING four years, painstakingly going through some of the most difficult chapters in our lives, the stage is finally set for the culmination of our entire undergraduate studies. The day we all both dread and anticipate has finally arrived.
Like many of my peers in this esteemed publication, I too am extremely thrilled at the prospect of capping off what has been such a wild and tumultuous journey. The long and winding road to the achievement of our college degrees has been exceptionally turbulent. This was a journey that none of the Class of 2024 would ever come to expect, nor would we ever have the remarkable creative juices to conjure up the scenario and circumstances in which we would be able to reach our dreams.
I belonged to the third batch of those who went through the K-12 program, back when the idea of finishing Senior High School (SHS) was still quite novel. Therefore, graduating from high school altogether, albeit with two more years of what felt like undue burden and stress, was a welcome relief to all of us. But as luck would have it, a once-in-a-generation pandemic stopped us in our tracks.
By March 2020, as I anticipated with glee our pending commencement exercises, the government declared a national lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19, shuttering all work, school, recreational activities, and any semblance of a social life. Our graduation, slated already for the month after, was to be postponed. That once-in-a-lifetime affair, relished all the world over, was suddenly snatched from us. It was a devastating blow.
It took about three more months before we could finally bid adieu to our secondary education, albeit through virtual means. The ceremony lacked the usual pomp and circumstance, but it was nevertheless a bittersweet victory in its own right. And little did I know that this was only the beginning of a series of unprecedented challenges that would define the next four years of my life.
University life has brought its own set of hurdles, as I navigated through shifting online platforms of San Beda, the sporadic connectivity issues I experienced, and the constant balancing act between academic demands and my personal well-being. For many of my batchmates, the shift to remote learning tested our resilience and adaptability in ways we hadn’t anticipated. Yet, despite the isolation and the struggles, we found solace in our shared experiences. We connected with peers through the small screen and supported each other through virtual study groups and late-night discussions that made up for the fact that we had never seen each other outside the home.
Now, as we finally approach that bittersweet end—graduation—the sense of accomplishment is truly palpable. The Class of 2024 has weathered storms both literal and figurative, and we have emerged more resilient and resourceful than we could have ever imagined. This journey has not been conventional by any means, but it has been quite transformative. I’ve come to learne that success is not just about reaching the end of the road, but about how we navigate the twists and turns that come along the way.
So as I reflect on the past four years, I am deeply filled with a profound sense of gratitude; for the lessons learned, for the friends made, and for the unwavering support of my loving family and my mentors. This long and winding road has shaped all of us into individuals that are ready to face the future with extreme courage and deep conviction.
To my fellow graduates, I say this: We have proven that we can rise above challenges and adapt to the unexpected. The road ahead may still be winding, but I sincerely believe with all my heart and soul that we have the tools and the tenacity to navigate it with confidence. As we step into this next chapter of our lives, let us carry forward the lessons of resilience and the spirit of determination that has come to define our journey.
Congratulations to the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Class of 2024! Here’s to the future we will build and to the paths we will forge, no matter how winding they may be.