A Repost of Fr. James Reuter's Article on the Philippine Star (March 2009): "Graduation"

The graduations begin, now. Some students get medals: bronze, silver, gold.

Some students do not get any medals. . . . Some are not allowed to march. . . . Some are not allowed to graduate.

It is really a time of joy and sorrow, a time of laughter and tears, an emotional time.

Education is the complete and harmonious development of all the physical, mental, and moral faculties of man. The end product, at graduation, is not the medal, or even the diploma. It is the boy, standing on his own two feet. it is the girl, coming down the aisle with her diploma, to kiss her daddy.

Every teacher who has ever gone into a classroom knows that the best boy in the class, the best girl, is not necessarily the one who gets the gold medal for academics.

There might be a girl in the class who has many friends. She loves everybody, and everyone loves her. When they need something, they come to her, because they know that she will give. . . . There is no mark for that.

There might be a girl who is selfish as sin, who has no friends. No one comes to her, when they are in need, because they know that she will not help anyone. . . . there is no mark for that.

There might be a boy who is a natural leader. He has a sense of humor, and courage; he likes his family; he likes the school; he is at peace with God, with his friends, with himself. . . . there is no mark for that.

Another boy might be all mixed up. He hates his father. He hates the teachers. He is planning to kill himself, tonight. . . . There is no mark for that.

We give the marks for mathematics, for English, for history, for physics, for chemistry, for biology — but there are other sides to a boy, and to a girl.

At this graduation, the end product is not the medal. It is not even the diploma. It is your son. It is your daughter.

If he has learned to be a man, if she has learned to be a woman, that’s enough.

That’s a superlative, already.

What teachers make

This beautiful story came to me from the son of my staff through the internet.

The dinner guests were sitting around the table discussing life. One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with the education. He argued, “What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?”

He reminded the other dinner guests what they say about teachers: “Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.” To stress his point he said to another guest, “You’re a teacher, Bonnie, be honest. What do you make?”

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, “You want to know what I make?”

“Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could.

I make a C+ feel like the Congressional Medal of Honor. I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can’t make them sit for 5 without an iPod, Game Cube or movie rental. . . . .

You want to know what I make?

I make kids wonder. I make them question. I make them apologize and mean it. I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write. Keyboarding isn’t everything. I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life.

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn’t everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. . . . You want to know what I make?

I make a difference. What do you make Mr. CEO?”

The 98th General Commencement Exercises of UP Diliman

   The past week offered me the opportunity to be a marshal at both the College and University graduation ceremonies at UP. Both proved to be very memorable and sentimental occasions, as I proudly stood at the sidelines and watched former classmates go onstage with their parents.

   

   Was it only a year ago that I myself graduated? One year... I marvel at how this span of time can simultaneously seem like centuries ago... and at the same time, seem like mere weeks.

    

   I do not know if I will still be called upon to serve the college or the university next year to act as a marshall. But I would be glad to do so. Despite the demands on our free time, it is worth it... if only because it allows us an opportunity to reminisce and rekindle the fires that burn within, the ones that fuel our desire to be of service to our community and to our country.

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Off-topic: 

I do wish that those activists had chosen a more opportune time to demonstrate, instead of ruining the climactic U.P. Naming Mahal song at the end of the ceremony.

:(

Like what Rio Alma said in his speech:

Laging armadong pakikibaka ang nása isip na tanging alternatibo. Ang hindi mahilig sa armadong rebolusyon ay nabibitag naman sa pagiging cynical at pagwawalang-bahala. Ano’t anuman, napopoot man o nagwawalang paki, nalilimot niya ang paggálang sa tungkulin bílang mamamayan at ang pagkilála sa mga paraan ng pagmamahal sa bayan.

Ganito ang pakiramdam ko kapag nakakikíta ng mga sulat sa pader ng UP na: “Ibagsak si GMA!” “Mabuhay ang NPA!” Ekspresyon ito ng politika ng poot. May karapatan ang sumulat na ipahayag ang nararamdaman niyang galit kay GMA at paghanga sa NPA. Ngunit, at magagalit sa akin ang mga kaibigang tibak, bakit kailangan niyang sirain ang pintura ng kalinisan sa pader ng UP para ipahayag ang kaniyang politika ng poot? Hindi ba’t sinisira niya ang pera ng bayan na ginastos sa pintura at pagpipintura ng pader? Wala bang ibang paraan para ipahayag ang kaniyang poot? Para sa akin, ang gayong pagsulat sa pader ng UP ay hindi nalalayô sa totoong nakasusuklam na gawain ngayon ng mga trapo na magpagawa ng mga karatula’t istrimer para maipagmalaki ang kahit isang munting serbisyo publiko na ang totoo’y ginastusan ng pondo ng bayan. 

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   Let me end by quoting from the Graduation Message of UP President Emerlinda Roman, which I found most inspiring:

   "To you, the batch of 2009, I saw now: UP is flawed, as all human institutions are; but it remains the best that your country can offer. And a UP education was offered to you as a gift from the Filipino people, in recognition of your own gifts and your willingness to submit to a discipline -- both intellectual and physical -- more demanding than what you might have found elsewhere.

    Use it now to good purpose. Use it honestly, and humbly, and bravely. Use it to help others rise above the poverty of their circumstances and the narrowness of their imaginations. Use it in the service of a country that will require every man and woman to do more than their best if it is to survive in these troubled times."

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE GRADUATES!!!