An alphabet for living for the graduates

Every time I check Facebook, I see someone post a picture of a graduating member of their family — from high school to college graduates, to moving up pre-schoolers. Parents are busy, too, preparing for recognition rites. Graduation, it’s a family affair. Even as a mere spectator, I am so happy when I see children and their achievements, and I’m so happy for the parents — all that hard work has paid off. 

Seeing the fanfare during graduation reminds me of my life as a student. If there was anything that I’d want to do differently, it is to enjoy learning more. Going to school was a chore for me, and so those who perform well in their academics impress me.

However, my colleague Jorge Cariño, who has two children, has a different take on academics. His children receive honors in school, but to him what’s more important is a person’s character. True, not all who excel in academics do well in life. Not all who graduate with honors become good managers. The real challenge for parents is not to make excellent graduates but to raise good individuals.

I came across a book titled A is for Attitude, an Alphabet for Living by Patricia Russel McCloud. It’s a simple book I planned to give to my niece, Mikhaela who graduated from high school.  Simply put, there’s an alphabet for a well-lived life.  

A is for Attitude — To me, the greatest illusion that the youth can ever have is that the world is a bed of roses. It’s not perfect, but a lot of what we see is defined by our attitude. Instead of avoiding challenges, it’s good to face it head on, and when you feel that the pressure is too much, you “roll with the punches,” get up and keep going. 

B is for Brainpower — After graduation, the learning continues. In fact, the best lessons learned are not in the classroom, but in the minutest of things. Read on the things that you enjoy, and be open to stuff that bore you. Do not limit yourself to what you can learn, and oftentimes your brain just needs a little practice. 

C is for Courage — A lot of things make me freak out. I won’t even pretend to be the bravest person in the world when faced with adversity. However, my tenacity seems to just keep me going. Just do it and get it over with. I suggest that you set big goals that seem intimidating, but make little efforts to make you closer to your goal. Courage does not happen overnight.  

D is for Dedication — In the advent of technology and multitasking, dedication or commitment can be quite challenging. McCloud suggests that you reassess the activities that consume you and somehow you will get a picture of your value system. Then, ask yourself if it’s the life that you wish to lead. I believe that each of us have their purpose, life is short. Don’t waste it. 

E is for Effort — Next to Attitude, I like Effort. If you care about something, you make an effort. If you want something, you work hard for it. Toil. If something’s important, do all means to make it work. Make an effort even if it’s not in your job description. Always go the extra mile. How boring life can be if you don’t have to work hard for something. When you make an effort, you value everything around you more.

F is for Freedom — The book mentioned certain kinds of freedom — from oppression, in particular. However, what I feel strongly about is freedom from poverty because I see it every day. Poverty is the ultimate oppressor and it limits one’s potential as a person and access to basic services. I always say, “Mahirap maging mahirap.” I wish poverty were not so limiting. For us, who have more in life, we strive that all of us will have enough. 

G is for Genius — You don’t have to be Einstein. Genius here means, we all have our gifts and our talents. Embrace your uniqueness. I look at the showbiz personalities. Those who shine — like Kris Aquino and Anne Curtis — are unapologetic about who they are, and that’s what makes them quite unique and endearing.

H is for Heritage — We all have a past. Good or bad, we need that to become the person that we want to be. Emanate the good things about your history and your family, and avoid the mistakes that your forefathers made. For my part, I’m proud that I have Igorot blood in me. Igorots were once known to be headhunters. I truly admire their bravery and bearing. 

Many of the youth of today seem to fit in one mold, and I can’t blame them. But what’s also good about the youth is their boldness to do what they want, because they know what they want. Right, pamangkin? Make choices. Make good choices, because bottom-line is,  we are responsible for the kind of life that we choose. 

Many challenges lie ahead of our graduates. Good luck. More on the alphabet on living in my succeeding columns. 

Happy graduation! 

(E-mail me at [email protected].)