Graduation Speech

Today, we are gathered to mark the end of one chapter in our lives and the beginning of a new one. Happily, we are finally graduating after four years of living high school life to the fullest. It seemed only yesterday when we first set foot on the SMCS high school grounds and as we look back and reflect on past events, we recall the countless times we were challenged and have succeeded; threatened and have survived; stumbled and have risen. There were times when we thought this day would never come, but here we are now, gathered for a bittersweet celebration of congratulations and goodbyes.

We are truly grateful for the many blessings, but none has had greater impact on our young lives than the 7 C's that have led us to where we are now. Allow me to give my thoughts on the 7 C's as it concerns our generation of Santa Marians, now called the Ateneans of Iloilo.

When we first entered this school, we were young boys and girls who had yet to develop to the fullest Ð'- a stable conscience centered on the love of Christ. Indeed, the school did not go wrong in teaching us moral reasoning and the habit of reflection in the things that we did Ð'- be it playing or studying. The desire and the commitment to do what is good and right were not difficult for us Ateneans because we had the best examples in our priests. To our school's Jesuit priests and brothers, we give our sincerest gratitude for giving conscience a face, thereby making it easier for us to develop it.

Who among us, in our first two years in this school, thoroughly knew who we really were? Some of us had identity crises, others had a difficult time accepting their weaknesses and most of us went through teenage life buffeted by the waves of questions about ourselves. We learned to develop our God-given talents and most importantly, learned to accept our shortcomings because of our parents who have been with us in our personal and academic triumphs and adversities. Our school taught us self-mastery and discipline but self-knowledge and acceptance we owe to our mothers and fathers. To our parents, thank you for giving us the priceless gift of character. We live life well because of it.

"When one touches a flower, a star is disturbed," so said the writer Francis Thompson. This means that all the members of an ecosystem are bonded to each other such that the way we live our lives affect others. We Ateneans have been molded into men and women for others because of the strong sense of community that has been instilled in us. This school has taught us the ability to work with others and to respect the individuality of each person. It is my strongest hope that we carry this sense of community all the way to adulthood so that our future co-workers and friends may say, "This man's presence brings comfort. He is a true Atenean." I would like to thank my classmates, friends, the staff, the janitors, and the people that I see everyday for teaching me to respect the dignity of a person regardless of his station in life.

Another thing which we have developed in our last four years in this school is competence. I equate competence with teachers who, with their know-how and expertise, have been able to transform us unruly students into dignified and educated people who have more than the basic academic skills to equip us for college life and beyond. It is because of our competent teachers that we have also become competent students. Logical and critical thinking, academic excellence, well-roundedness through arts and sports Ð'- we owe all of these things to our teachers who embody competence. To our teachers, there are no words strong enough to embody our deepest gratitude for teaching us how to learn; as well as for the patience and care you have given us for four years.

When we look back at the history of this prestigious school, we will realize that this is an institution built on the blood, sweat and tears of Jesuit missionaries who were expelled from China and chose to work with the Chinese-Filipino community in Iloilo. Their sacrifices have produced men and women who are now the cornerstones of the country's progress. Let us also be reminded that