Break the Cycle, Heres to Life.

Nothing weighs more to students than their academic responsibilities.

Thats the case for the majority. Whether weigh in that statement meant
bother or of greater importance, students in general will find themselves
compelled to invest the earlier part of their lives in academics so that by the time
they finish college, an outstanding transcript of records and diploma would secure
them a future and a decent job.
Perhaps social pressure and the established traditions have impelled
institutions to formulate that norm, that cycle which every human being is expected
to follow the studies first, get a job and raise a family formula, basically. Although
the idea is not questionable and good in nature, it does, however, set a uniform
direction which might be detrimental to some of us.
What must have been highlighted as well in those stages were the inbetweens. The moments between stages, the struggles, the learning, and the ups n
downs. The deliberate and consequential outbursts of the human race. What good
would it do if the stages were complete, but the core remained raw? Or behind
ones accomplishments were shattered dreams and discomfort? It takes decades
and if we do not pay attention to the in-betweens, we might not see what is
missing. We may not see what couldve happened or who we couldve become if
stepped outside it. The cycle presents the borders which we must be vigilant about
in order to have a decent life but it doesnt guarantee an unlocking, the gift of
spontaneity and the proliferative nature of being. The cycle is black and white.
Fortunately, its a common notion now that greatness and real learning are
not born from the four-cornered classroom and dull lecture halls. The process must
be multidimensional, not just paper and pen; lectures and quizzes, or 1 terabyte
brain memory.
The proposition has thus led the birth of unconventional learning activities.
There are lots of them, mostly taking on real life situations and requiring and honing
actual application of theories and principles. Also, ones own judgment and
inquisition.

To the ones who wish to take a sip of that great adventure during college, few
alternatives shall be presented: join an organization, volunteer to the student
government or serve the school paper. Although other choices do exist, no other
undertakings guarantee an even more promising experience, for it entails the
bigger picture: the community you are in.
There are some who have already undertaken that challenge. To mention one,
we talked to Czaryl Catapang, a 2nd year AB Communication student in the Colegio,
to tell us about her experience in organizations. She is a member of the Letran
Calamba Student Government (LCSG) and working as a photojournalist in the official
collegiate student publication of Letran Calamba, The Knight Publication.
Ayaw ko talaga sa mga [organizations dati], pero pagdating ko nga dito sa
Letran, I saw something different na natuwa ako. Na-inspire ako sa Letran. Galing sa
taong negative, and then nakakita ako ng light. At gusto ko yun i-share sa tao. Kaya
ako nag-join sa Knight Pub kasi somehow through photography or pictures, pwede
ko yun ipakita sa mga tao, she said.
To Czaryl, ones initiative to be part of the school paper or organization comes
from ones personal reason. And for those reasons for joining to multiply, the
members themselves must first be examples to the community until the influence
and initiative become contagious. Sa personal experience ko, you cannot really
encourage someone na mag-join. Kasi kung tamad yan, tamad yan. So I think
personal reason mo lang talaga. Kung yayayain mo silang mag-join, walang effect.
Makakakita lang sila ng reason. Automatic na yun.
Theres a reason why most people think that being a part of an organization
is challenging: it is actually and undeniably true. While the battles with professors
and examinations are on, so are your responsibilities in the organization which, by
the way, you cannot underestimate or leave unmade. Puro trabaho, puro
paperworks, ipapasa mo ito, kayo ang gagawa ng even na ito, ganyan, Czaryl
recalls when she was asked about the obligations. But behind all these hardships
was something that outsiders or nonmembers will not understand until they are in
the same situation: the purpose to which they have committed themselves. Gusto
ko yung thought mapa-better itong Colegio. Gusto kong magbago ang mga student
na ito, so magiging example ako [so that] maybe, tularan [din] nila ako.

When we are just seeing the difficulties which our obligations entail, we are
missing the vision and purpose of our roles. And tasks, as we know, without purpose
are just labor. Exhausting, nauseating and plain labor. But like Czaryl Catapang, the
student leaders, volunteers and campus journalists have taken on the challenge
with a purpose in mind, and that has fueled their drive to pursue an even greater
endeavor than academics, and that is, to serve the studentry.
Halimbawa nalang yung magiging part ako ng event tulad nung Freshmen
Knight, parang ang sarap sa feeling na nakapagpasaya ka ng maraming tao na hindi
lang basta material thing. Sumaya sila and tandang-tanda nila ang day na
yun and I was a part of that. Yung ganoon, yung feeling lang na ganoon
enough na para magstay ka tsaka dagdag points na yung magkakaroon ka ng
bagong relationship sa ibang tao at the same time, nakakapagpasaya ako ng tao at
every day nagggrow ako kasama sila.
When we enrolled our courses, we were probably just thinking of the time
when we finally would finish it. Or worse, the motivation for starting was probably
just to reach the end. But fill the middle part with countless moments, whether
through the help of other people or organizations. Seek what works, break the cycle,
lose yourself in the process and graduate knowing that you have done more than
what the curriculum asked from you. In the end, youll learn whether or not an
outstanding record is what really matters in life.

Kariza M. Geminiano