Kristian S.

Delos Santos
11-STEM-17

UST, Our Home, Life & Community

Experience of a lifetime

Before my time in University of Santo Tomas, I hailed and studied in a school in the
province of Nueva Ecija. A school in Cabanatuan city called Honorato C. Perez Sr.
Memorial Science High School. My plans were to become a successful engineer. So,
then I decided to apply for the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test or USTET for the
strand Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics or STEM. I wanted to be a part
of the second batch of Senior High School students to study in the university. I loved to
become a Thomasian. I didnt think that I was going to be able to enroll in a university
with such high reputation and high prices for enrollment. I was just a kid with big dreams.
During the time of USTET, I was very anxious, because I didnt know some of the other
questions. But thanks to God, I was able to pass the USTET. I was ecstatic and jumping
all around the house. I will never forget the joy that I felt when I passed. It was one of my
biggest achievements.

I decided to try to study in the Royal, Pontifical, and Catholic University of Santo Tomas
because, I trust this institute with my future. I believe that this university will give me better
opportunities than what my previous school wouldve offered. I wanted to spread my
wings freely and I wanted to become more closer with God. I waited for 4 very long,
boring, arduous months. I realized going to a new place is hard. I was very unfamiliar with
all of the places and people. The first time I tried to go to the university, I got lost. The
hardest was leaving my old friends and my family, but its time to move on. The enrollment
period came and I was excited to meet my newfound friends in our section STEM 17 but
alas, I was not very fortunate. We met finally when we took our I.D. picture. We were
already making plans for the welcome walk, because we wanted to make this welcome
mark memorable and we wanted to leave our mark. I was surprised to see how different
our cultures were and how different everybodys personality was. It was hard to adjust
especially coming from the province, but with a little time weve grown accustomed to
each other.

We celebrated the Freshmen Week. Days passed and the week started with the
ROARientation. This was the second time we really got to interact with each other. I was
really looking forward to this occasion. I came late. I hurriedly cam on over to find my
seat. We had a laugh and we continued to listen. I was very happy to sing the UST hymn.
I was rather surprised at the orientation. It was really spectacular. Thing, events or
occasions and many more were introduced to me and some things were not practiced
and not done in our school so I was also looking forward to that. I was alarmed of the
responsibility of being a Thomasian but I was committed and ready to take on this
responsibility of being a Thomasian.

The Welcome Walk is probably one of the highlights for any Thomasian Freshman. It was
an inauguration of greatest significance. We were about to become Thomasian officially.
We were exited and ecstatic, not only about the walk but also our freebies. We prepared
our best signs, expressions and our loudest cheers. Our faces were filled with glee and
joy. We were about to walk into the Arch of the Centuries. The famous Arch of the
Centuries, was surrounded by many rumors and myths, like if you go out of the arch
before you even graduate, you will get debarred or you will not graduate. As a freshman,
I immediately believed it. We celebrated the walk with a mass and we felt so connected
to the community. We felt very welcomed to the society and family inside UST.

After that, I decided to bear my surroundings inside the university. I familiarized myself
with the landmarks and iconic places. I tried to learn the history and wonderful stories
about the university. It was scary braving this world because you are in a new
environment. Youll never know what happen.

The week was over, but the time for orientations was not over. We took part in some of
the activities held in the university. We went to the Heritage Walk, where we learned more
information regarding the history, different buildings, stories, and different departments
inside the university. It was tiring but it was all for the sake of our awareness of the
university.
For all we know, time was moving very fast. It was time for our classes! As unprepared
for the first day of school I was, I was happy to be starting my first day as a Thomasian. I
was excited to start my subjects even though I am going to regret that, I was still excited.
I was excited to meet my new teachers, classmates and my friends for my life here in
UST. I hope that we help each other on getting closer with God, getting better in our
academics and overall having fun.

I am still getting to know my classmates, but I think that we will have a very wonderful and
splendid time. i am going to better myself and others not only just with academics but with
their issues also. I will commit myself into become a better version of myself as a
Thomasian and I am going to love it truly with all of my heart. I am not to flunk my studies.
I am going to be a much more better Christian and will try to give back some of the
blessings that God has given upon me. I will promise to take my responsibility as a
Thomasian wholeheartedly. I will promise to keep true to the vision and mission of UST
and follow the 3Cs, Compassion, Competence and Commitment. Ill be sure to remember
these experiences my whole life. I will apply all of these virtues into my life forever.