Twenty nine years ago, I walk up this stage to receive an award as the 8th rank of my class…that was the year 1982. A year after, I walk up this stage to receive another award…and on my graduation day, 27 years ago, I walk up this same stage again to receive my diploma and two awards…and that was the year 1984…And on this day, after 43 years of my life, I never thought I would be up this stage again, feeling the same as what I have felt on the first time that I step on this stage. I never thought that I would be up here giving you a talk….
Last Monday, when I was told to deliver this talk, I was hesitant…but I finally said yes…and whisper to HIM…"Lead me Lord".
Recognition Day is the culmination of all hard work and a year of study. It is the day when you, students can say, “I’ve done it”. It is a milestone in our life. It is also a day when we gather and celebrate success.
But I know, as you go up the stage and receive the award, you begin to reminisce the classroom comedies and tragedies that have been part of your everyday life. What about those exhausting exams, research papers, long quizzes, the unending questions during recitations, experiments, and the performance tasks, ahh…..the list never ends….All those cramming sleepless nights have come to an end. I know inevitably you have some feelings of apprehension. You might ask yourself, "Is there anything I have left undone? Is there any challenge I have left unmet? You shall go to those questions as you reach on your destinies and fulfill your goals. Surely, you will find more complicated things to master. If you think the worst is over, think again. As you step into another year, the real challenge has just begun….A new beginning to a new horizon in your career.
This day is so very important for it is the time when our dear parents, faculty and staff can gather with us, students to celebrate our academic achievement. Many wants being recognized, but a few are worthy of recognition. As it is written, "many are called, but few are chosen."
A recognition day is not just plainly for the awarding and giving certificates, but we can say that it is also a time, once in a year, that we take time to give credits to our mentors and that they are appreciated. Genuine praise is wonderful to receive and simple to give, but none of us do it enough. Today can also be the perfect day to say a ‘thank you’.
This day is of giving praise for their job well done, to recognize their kindness shown and other things that make our teachers extraordinary, exceptional and incomparable. I know your teachers will surely miss you…For unknowingly, you made us happy…We've learned a lot from you…
As you go through the tests of life, with more grueling task to perform, more challenges to handle, always bear this in mind that, "In every boat we're put into, we must learn how to row.", And if everything went out of our expectation, look up in heaven and say, "THY WILL BE DONE".
And as you go up the stage to receive your award with your parents, please give your best smile to your mentors, and whisper a prayer that may they continue to touch the lives of our students.
As I end , I would like to leave a thought for all of you and all of us. Abraham Lincoln,the 16th US president, once quoted, “Don't worry when you are not recognized, but strive to be worthy of recognition.” It’s hard not to be recognized…when you feel like you deserve it, when you feel like it’s been left up to you, when you have been given responsibility, when you feel like you have aced the test, when you feel worthy of it, when you think it couldn’t have been done without you, when you know that you gave 100%, when it cost you a lot, when you sacrificed, and when you want it. We may not be worth of the recognition in human eyes but remember, God will always be our great audience in everything, He knows best, more than giving a certificate, a medal, or a shake hand, it is His glory, His blessings.
Mga anak, Congratulations! You made TATAY proud….
