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Friday, March 11, 2005
Dear Alma Mater, here's my story
By Edgar Dignadice Cadiente
Live pen
A COUPLE of days ago, a graduating friend handed me solicitation forms for his batch yearbook. March na nga pala, its graduation season again.
Have I not gotten hold of these forms, I would have not minded, that aside from summer vacation (which my previous article was about), March also means school graduation.
This is the time of year when we leave behind beloved Alma Mater and enter the world where it all matters.
While the employment arena is beset by the "whom-you-know" syndrome, I still submit that "what-you-know" matters.
Not so much the academic rudiments, but the trinkets of wisdom beyond the essentials that translate into values, ethics, logic and character.
Graduation is commencement; beginning of a yet unknown and uncertain journey.
At this stage, a graduating student should ask himself, "Am I ready?"
He should reflect on the learning infused on him, and probably ask how worthily he had spent his time with his Alma Mater.
I did that. In fact, I had my musings published in our school publication where I had a column.
This was my last piece in the Voice Publication that I wrote for my Alma Mater Notre Dame of Dadiangas College, before I graduated.
Allow me to share it here.
Young as I was, you may find a romanticist tone. But perhaps, in my romanticism, you can relate and see a different you.
As an allusion to those learning, I titled my piece, "Here's My Story":
"Four years - years that witnessed my growth as an individual; years that effected changes in my outlook and perspective; years so full of challenges and endeavors.
Four years. Quite a long stay. And it is about to end. But there's one thing that will not: the meaning and substance of that stay.
It presented a world of experience that made me realize my worth as a person. Not the person I wanted to become, but the person I am capable of becoming.
I was so young and naïve four years ago; spirited and aggressive. I can proudly say now, I have made the most of those years, because I have managed to take my time.
Some say time moves too fast; others say time's slow. But reality is, time moves in its normal pace.
For those who hurry time is slow; for those who idle time is fast. For those who befriend time and make time their companion, time presents them its natural course and life's natural unfolding.
This was how I lived my stay.
I was introduced to the richness of life. "Iliad" and "Odyssey" taught me life is a battle, life is a journey.
"Hamlet" made me realize I, too, have my human flaws. "The Wedding Dance" taught me the value of faithfulness. Calculus introduced me to life's formula.
"The World is an Apple" opened my eyes to life's harsh realities.
Grammar instructed me the agreement between reality and its subjects.
Chemistry taught me life has contrasting shades and hues.
These learning provided me the tools of unlocking the rich storehouse of experience. They expanded my views.
In the process, there was deepening of convictions, and so I discovered new approaches to life's complexities.
I was so free. But I was confronted with circumstances that made me redefine limitations upon my freedom.
It was a difficult struggle, yet with fulfilling resolve. It taught me to realize my status as me.
I learned to provide leeway for compromises. I learned to embrace life's frailties. I learned to reciprocate unsolicited offers. I learned to limit my expectations.
Those years were so full of undertaking. In each, pain walked side by side with me. It never got tired of pursuing me.
However, strength was there to fight back, so that though there was suffering, there was also hope in pain.
Four years. Adventure. Time past. Years that ushered new dimensions in my growth; years of discovering my inner forces that will become important shields when I explore other worlds.
There is so much on these years that flavor the content of my being.
Both odd and good episodes contain grandeur of time that even time itself cannot surpass. The 'four years' is about to end. But I do not despair.
Years vanish but time remains. Adventures fade away but its splendor stays.
There is still so much of life ahead.
And just as I enjoyed the unfolding of events during those four years, I will look forward to what's in store for me with optimistic anticipation.
After all, the beauty of life lies in its uncertainty. There'll still be more four years to come. I can still tell more stories."
Oh yes, I lived the time I spent with my Alma Mater.
Looking back, I can only reckon with insight. Alma Mater years were a time of pain and glory, of odds and ends, of gloom and grandeur. And so are the years after that.
I recall, our graduation theme was, "Touch the Sun", a metaphor commanding us graduates to "be courageous to explore the difficulties that lay ahead", or something to that effect.
We sang, "Heal the World" as our graduation song. Now, I still get burned touching the blazing sun.
In every attempt, I become bolder. I continue to heal the world of its ailments through incessant, curative ways.
In small fashion, I get fulfillment. My Alma Mater taught me the ABC of life. It taught me further, that as I would continue my voyage, I would learn the rest of the alphabet.
It is said, endings have to come by in order to start anew.
The drama of time is a quintessential cycle of illustrating endurance, and then courage.
Ephemeral as it is, time is moving in its normal pace - by seconds, by hours; by sunset and by sunrise.
The time spent with Alma Mater dear had long ended, and I had started on a different journey long ago. But I continue to live every moment. Carpe Diem has become a daily reflection.
I regularly write in my journal and every entry is a story about moments.
Stories not written for Alma Mater and may not get published, but stories, every line of which contains a part of my Alma Mater.
She who made me what I am capable of becoming.
There will still be more stories to tell. There will still be more pages to fill.
(You may send e-mail to my_eyeview@yahoo.com)
For Bisaya stories from General Santos. Click here. (This section is updated every Monday)
(March 7, 2005 issue)
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