The 'Diet' graduate

“Follow your heart” I told them, little did they know that I was about to pull a stunt based on that very advise.

Last Monday, I was given the honor of being the guest speaker for the graduation ceremony of Marikina High School upon the invitation of Mayor Marides Fernando.

The challenge given me was to be inspiring, I on the other hand was more interested in how to make their graduation ceremony something different and something to remember.

Looking back upon my own high school graduation and many others like them, I realized that by and large, these events are momentary in significance and tend to be as boring as counting sheep.

Sure you get to have new shoes, even a new shirt or a Barong and you can if your family could afford it, even have a nice dinner afterwards. Unfortunately, what was suppose to be a special occasion turns into a burden once parents start talking about the additional expenses incessantly and start harassing everybody to get there on time. All the fussing and worrying simply robs you of your joy.

I attacked the problem by first working out a message that could be different. Not the usual go out and conquer the world but something about “consider the alternatives”.

For starters I planned to talk to them that graduation was not the end but the beginning of real life. High school was all about learning a system and following the system. You learn and then you produce the work based on what you have learned. In high school you don’t get to choose what you learn, you just learn.

However, once you pursue higher education, you now have a choice. Nowadays, many young people choose based on peer directions and popularity. They choose a course based on what is the shortest, quickest and therefore the cheapest way to a diploma.

That becomes a problem once you have to study, learn and master something you don’t really like and does not interest you. It poses no challenge and subsequently become boring that turns into a burden.

When something you don’t like is forced upon you, it does not take long to hate it! Ultimately you also become mediocre and stunted. You don’t get promotions because you have no motivation to be the best that you can be.

In following your heart, you also need to know where your heart is. Is it in your, pocket close to the little money you have, or is it with God? I was definitely going to tell them that their generation is being pulled away from God by the materialism all around them, yet what they failed to realize was that in order to become all they were meant to be, they needed to connect to their creator who designed them, planned their purpose and their future and finally gives them all the necessary resources and environment to fulfill their mission in life.

Subsequent to this, they needed to be careful about making mistakes. I told them what my dad Louie Beltran taught me: “We are all entitled to make mistakes in life. We are because we are human. But what we should never make are permanent mistakes.”

Permanent mistakes are marrying the wrong person because marriage is for life, killing a person or committing a crime because it goes on “your record”, or destroying someone’s life.

As you avoid making permanent mistakes, you must also keep an eye out for every opportunity; a chance to learn from a mentor, to be trained even without payment or simply a chance to turn even a small profit. Always look for opportunities.   

 I certainly had my speech put together and it was real and practical but it simply was not enough. Then came God’s inspiration to call a friend who also likes to motivate and inspire young kids. I was hesitant at first. The guy was an A-list actor/celebrity who kept a busy schedule.

That’s when I heard the words: “Follow your heart”.

So I did, and my friend agreed to be a real “surprise guest”.

He joined me on stage and also shared how he came from simple beginnings, lived in a provincial part of Cavite where carabaos and fresh air were daily realities. Just like the Marikina students he too rode tricycles, jeepneys and buses.

He spoke of the many jobs he tried out, the last being a bartender in Quezon City until he finally found the courage to audition with Channel 2. And was rejected. But he did not allow others to decide who and what he was going to be. He had greater needs: to support his family, not his ego.

He came back, and he came back with a vengeance. He auditioned and passed, took any and all roles and passionately developed himself. Today he has a new role: to inspire and to help young people the best they can be. Showing them that God is cool and their future is bright.

Last Monday I had the privilege to help make a simple graduation into something truly inspirational because our surprise guest wanted to make a difference. His name is Diether Ocampo, a.k.a. “DIET” and he made a difference. Thanks Bro.