Lahat ng estudyante na naghangad makakuha ng mataas na karangalan ay may mga isinakripisyo at maraming pinagdaanan.
Ito ang buod ng valedictory speech ni Edsel Suhayon Codoy, ang kaisa-isang summa cum laude ng UP Cebu na nagtapos nito lamang July 21, 2023, sa kursong Bachelor of Science in Computer Science.
Bagamat pambihira ang kanyang achievement, at karapat-dapat lamang na maging proud siya sa sarili, mas pinili ni Edsel na balikang-tanaw ang mga na-miss niya dahil nag-aral siyang mabuti.
“My biggest regret in UP Cebu was actually studying hard,” bahagi ng kanyang valedictory speeh.
“Wait, wait let me finish… studying hard and doing nothing else.”
Sinalubong ito nang malakas na palakpakan at tawanan.
Tulad sa ibang graduation ceremonies, inspirational message ang inaasahan ng marami mula sa estudyanteng nagpunyagi at nagwagi.
At dahil pinili niyang maging kakaiba, hindi nakapagtatakang agad nag-viral ang video snippet ng speech ni Edsel nang mai-post ito sa Tiktok.
At consistent na malakas ang engagement ng video sa mga netizens, dahil na rin siguro sa kalakip nitong caption: “I am literally crying coz I can somehow relate. Padayon, mga Iskolar ng Bayan para sa Bayan!”
At press time, nakapagtala na ito ng 1.3 million views, 179,800 heart reactions, 22,000 comments, at 5,059 shares.
Read: VIRAL: UP graduate's “Sana hindi niyo na lang ako ipinanganak” post on Facebook
MISSING OUT ON LIFE
Bakit nga ba may pagsisisi si Edsel na nag-aral siya nang mabuti?
“I have been chasing excellence my entire academic life, but reflecting on my college stay, I was actually missing out in life,” pag-amin ng 22-year-old na binata mula Cebu.
“I missed out on the unique opportunities for personal growth, exploration, and building meaningful connections,” dagdag niya.
Bagamat humingi siya ng opinyon sa kanyang mga block mates tungkol sa ilang part, ang kanyang original composition pa rin ang ginamit sa harap ng 179 graduates and distinguished guests, including former Philippine Vice President Atty. Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.
Aminado si Edsel na hindi niya forte ang public speaking. Ngunit marami pa rin ang napahanga sa bihasang pagkaka-deliver ng kanyang speech.
At mas lalong napahanga ang ilan dahil ayon sa binata, hindi siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataong mag-practice.
Kasabay umano ng paghahanda sa graduation ceremony ay ang kanyang internship sa Thinking Machines Data Science Inc., ang data technology consultancy firm na nag-i-specialize sa cloud computing platforms na nakatutulong upang mapadali ang data flow sa mga organisasyon.
Read:
- VIRAL: UP summa cum laude delivers reality check, not inspirational speech, in valedictory address
- Why UP Diliman graduate Leo Jaminola shuns labeling himself as "success story"
THE SHY AND SELECTIVE KIND-OF-GUY
Bukod sa pagiging focused sa pag-aaral, inamin din ni Edsel na ang kanyang reserved behavior ang isa pa sa mga dahilan kung bakit hindi naging memorable ang kanyang college life.
May bahagi sa kanyang speech kung saan ipinaliwanag ni Edsel ang resulta ng kanyang mahinang social skills.
“I passed on a lot of things in college. I was not joining orgs. I was declining offertorship nominations.
“I was only going with the same group of people I would meet on a class basis. And even in school events and programs, I remained as an observer.
“As a result, I settled with what I have been doing and what I do best. Spending all my time with school. On the bright side, it brought me to where I am now,” lahad ni Edsel.
Hindi na niya mababalikan ang nakaraan, pero hindi pa naman huli ang lahat. Proud pa si Edsel sa achievement, pero na-realize niyang being book smart is not enough at age 22.
“Now I've come to my senses, I'm starting to broaden my horizons one action at a time. I'm starting to unlearn self-doubt and to reframe failure as another learning experience.”
Ibinahagi ni Edsel kung paano niya dine-dread ang public speaking, pero imbes na pangunahan ng kaba ay itinuring na lamang niya itong “a challenge and a privilege.”
Sa bandang huli ng talumpati, nagbigay ng mainit na pagbati ang binata sa mga kapwa niya graduates.
“I congratulate everyone for having made it this far.”
Kasabay nito ang paghikayat na bigyang silbi ang kanilang mga natutuhan nang mas maging makabuluhan ang mga ito.
“Let us apply the skill sets and expertise we have built in this university in addressing national challenges, hoping to effect a positive social change.”
“Although too idealistic, but let us rectify the broken system, and let us never allow ourselves to be consumed by it.”
Isinara ni Edsel ang kanyang speech by quoting the commencement speaker, Atty. Leni.
“To end my speech, I'll leave you this reminder from Atty. Leni Robredo herself. ‘You do not lose sight of what you believe in. You do not lose sight of the goal. You drown out the voices because there are bigger battles to fight.’”