ASU Graduation 2024

 NON SCHOLAE SED VITAE DISCIMUS –this is the first Latin phrase which I learned from the seminary which is translated as, “Study not for school, but for life”. Taking it as my motto, I seek knowledge and skills not to please the world, but because I love to learn. Whether it takes place in a formal, non-formal or informal setting, my passion is to learn. I love to learn.

In my 43 years of being a student of various schools, I have had the privilege to meet all kinds of classmates from different walks of life and from different age levels, from the PhD program of Aklan State University to the Automotive Servicing NC 1 at Montfort Technical Institute. Being with them, I have learned:

For every graduating student who expects to receive a diploma, there is a non-graduate who thinks that a diploma does not guarantee success.

For every graduating student who gets an award, a ribbon or medal as a recognition for his campus leadership or for her intellectual prowess, there is a non-graduate who believes that even without an academic degree, there can be a better career in life like in the case of Albert Einstein, Steve Jobs or Bill Gates.

For every graduating student who reflects on how hard he works from the day of enrolment until the day of graduation, there is a non-graduate who in his early age works hard to earn a living.

For every graduating student who does a throwback of her experiences with her teachers, classmates and friends, there is a non–graduate who looks forward to get some hands-on experience and work opportunity due to family responsibilities.

For every graduating student who invests in education to anticipate a better financial security in the future, there is a non-graduate who prioritizes his present financial needs at least to meet the family’s current expenses.

For every graduating student who hopes to land a better job after graduation, there is a non-graduate who has given up her chance to go to school just to ensure her siblings receive a better education.

For one person who celebrates on his graduation day, there is another person whose body needs rest to prepare for a hard labor on the next day.

For every graduate who is thankful for the support she has received from her loved ones, there is an out of school youth whose sacrifices for the family go unnoticed and unappreciated.

My dear friends in Christ, I have further learned that each individual’s journey in life is different. Not all graduates thrive in life. Albeit, a non–graduate can succeed in life by leveraging his or her practical knowledge and skills.

But who will define success for us? If success is defined by others for us, we will get tired of meeting their expectations. Seldom do we realize why do we have to use the judgment we receive from others to measure our own worth.

Read the Gospel of John 19: 37: “They shall look at him whom they have pierced”. In the eyes of most people, Jesus was a complete failure because he was helpless when he died on the cross. What those people did not know, Jesus did what God willed him to do. He was obedient to death, even death on a cross (Philippians 2: 8 says). His death paves the way to success in saving us all from the evils of sin. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

It is better then to learn what success is from the ways of Jesus. Success is either doing what we love to do or loving what we can do with the help of God. In both, love matters. What is the point of success if we do not know how to love? Without love, we can never conquer the world. Without love, there is no real success. Suffice it to say that without love, there is no joy in graduating. My dear friends in Christ, let then this graduation be a mark of our success; But above all, a manifestation that we have loved until the end and for this we deserve to hear the word –Congratulations!