“More than a hundred exceptional individuals. Three sections. One batch. One History.”
Once in a while, I’ve been experiencing the so-called “Post-Graduation Nostalgia”. I tried to look back and think of how it feels like to be a high school student once again. High school life is undeniably one of the most sought-after stages in one’s life. Academics is less demanding compared to the next phase of teenage educational life and co-curricular activities are given importance too, for it will aid in the holistic development of one’s character. Hitting two birds in one stone is much easier to do in high school, which made it different from college.
More than a hundred exceptional individuals. When I took a stroll down memory lane, I came to think of it; how in the world could it be possible to get acquainted and be close with about more than a hundred strangers for four long years or even more? It is hardly easy to mull over the things that brought every stranger in our batch together. But, it doesn’t matter any longer. What matters is destiny made the right choice to bring us all in the same spot in history and make us one family.
Three Sections. Just like in Anatomy, a human body is composed of several parts. These parts have special and inimitable functions that will most likely contribute to the welfare of the whole body. Three sections made up St. Jude Academy’s Batch 2009 Graduates. There existed the Justice League, Courageous Warriors, and Compassionate Leaders. Three sections with different expertise, skills, capabilities, and knowledge – which, when mixed together, will result to us, being hailed as one of the finest batches of the present time. Yes, there were gaps and discriminations. There’s no such thing as “perfect batch”. We’ve been through a lot. But every experience, though good or bad, led us to realize that each failure and downfall is a stepping stone for us to become better individuals, more so, to become a better batch, a better family.
One Batch. The Good Lord gave us the chance to be of the same age, to meet on the same quadrangle, to have the same room and corridor, and to be in the same assembly. From kindergarten up to the time of bidding-goodbye-and-saying-hello-to-another-chapter-in-our-life, we’ve been with each other. Some went away, but new ones arrived. Then time passed by, but we didn’t hear the ticking of the clock, and we weren’t able to see the clock’s hand strike from one second to the other, until we met the gaze of our senior life. This made the bond among everyone in the batch stronger. All of the disparities were overlooked. And just like in Physics, our senior year is like an invisible magnetic field – binding different personalities and different charges together, making up a bunch of united individuals.
One History. Our short stay in our Alma Mater were filled with all the memories that we’ve had with our classmates and schoolmates, with the teaching and non-teaching personnel, with the religious community, with the administration, and with every single being in St. Jude Academy. All of those made a mark in our hearts that can never be erased. In return, our beloved school can never rub us out of its history. Besides the fact that we are the last batch to graduate from St. Jude Academy (because subsequently, the name of the school was changed to La Consolacion College of Valenzuela), the achievements, the activities and projects launched for a good cause, and all of the little contributions that each member of the batch have done for SJA will never be forgotten.
The willingness to share various talents and skills with other people. The enthusiasm to fight every battle one may face. The drive to achieve all the goals, even the unreachable ones. The passion to learn and discover new things. The eagerness to become united at all times. Compassion. Courage. Justice. This is Batch 2009.
In the end, all of us will look back and then we’ll ask ourselves... Have we done anything as a payback to an institution that molded us during our formative years? Education is a gift that can never be taken away from us. It will serve as the key to become successful one day. And once we become triumphant, we should go back... Back to the edifice where we made history and that made us a part of history – our legendary Alma Mater, St. Jude Academy.
Jan Erika C. Custodio
St. Jude Academy, Batch 2009, Valedictorian
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