Our Success Story

"The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams" - Eleanor Roosevelt 

If there was a single group of people on the evening of March 19, 2013 that could prove this right, it was the group of Thomasians who sat under the stars on the UST Football Field as they heard their last mass as Thomasians during the Baccalaureate Mass. 

In my four years in UST, never was there a time that I solidly believed that I would successfully reached graduation. Even now as April 2 looms over us, I still remain doubtful of the fact that I will march on April 2, and finally receive my diploma (Hopefully.) and I'm sure I'm not alone. 

I remember something that my former Theology professor - Professor Acuna - once said when I was in first year about entering UST "Many are called, but few are chosen." I remember this clearly because in my old high school, we used to look at UST as a school that anyone could pass - without bothering to review. 

And when a number of my batchmates did pass, it was confirmed - at least for us. However, as the semester wore on, and first year, became second, I realized that Sir Acuna didn't mean that many take the USTET, but a few pass - no. He meant that many initially pass the USTET, but many manage to flunk out of the University because of the work load. 

It's easy to get in, but its extremely hard to maintain. 

This was proven once again when we all reached third year. When we thought second year was hell - well, we were in for a shock during third year. Not only were our classes lasted for three hour and until 9 in the evening, but they were also physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. And yet it was also exhilarating. 

The thrilling feeling of a job well done was the final names on your credits roll for TV Production class, the feeling of intense competition during the "Quests", the adrenaline rush that a deadline to catch gives you, the headaches that you have to endure while reading court cases for Political Dynamics. All this made sure that you felt like you don't stand a chance at graduating, made you feel like every test, every show, every case that you weren't able to read would be your downfall. 

And combine all that stress, blood and tears with the same level of stress that one has to deal with when holding a position in a Univwide organization. 

However, we discovered that third year had nothing on what fourth year had to offer. 

As the great Atty. Bong Lopez said "Fourth year is designed to make sure that you don't graduate" (That is not a direct quote - I think. But its what I remember.) And he was right. If there was one thing that one does not do when you reach fourth year - its sleep. Sleep is a luxury that one cannot simply indulge in when you had IMC cases to do, posters to edit, scripts to write, short films to shoot, musicals to stage, news worthy events to cover, Photography plates to shoot, Media Law cases to read and analyze and of course, a thesis to write and to defend. 

Between all that, who has time to sleep? 

and between all that, why would you possibly think that you would have a chance at graduating when all you want to do is drop dead from sheer exhaustion? 

But, we managed to defeat our dragons and made it to March - relatively unharmed. Give or take a few pounds that we gained from eating stress food. 

So, to the graduating class of the Faculty of Arts and Letters, congratulations for surviving the most challenging liberal arts programs in the country!(According to Dean Vasco) We will do UST proud!