A Few Last Words for my Young Writers

Just as the beauty of the garden lies in the diversity of its trees and flowers, so too the garden of my mind derives its splendor and charm from the variety of experiences and wisdoms I gained as a school paper adviser the previous school-year.

The previous year was an exploration moments for those pupils who have just discovered their skills and talent in journalistic writing. A year full of hopes and prayers for those pupils who wished and prayed that they could have made it and could have brought home the bacon. A nerve wracking labor year for those staffers who shared their challenging role as writers of the school papers.

After the past school year, the pupils have two distinct feelings: happiness and sadness. Happiness for those who won and sadness for those who failed to be a winner.

For the winners, there is sure jubilation. They are survivors in a very complicated challenge of learning. They are a metaphor of a survivor from a sunken ship who have kept their head above water and who swam safely to the shore.

For those who did not win, they have to accept their defeat with their head up and their eyes open, with the grace of an adult not a grief of a child. This was not the end of the road to be a winning young journalist.

Next time, plant your garden of knowledge with practice and decorate your own soul with winnings and do not wait for someone to bring you flowers. Teach yourselves that you really can endure… that you’re really have worth in campus journalism.

Do not ever take this as your misfortune. Take this as one of your tests in life. Test that is from God, for which we should thank Him. Sadness and sorrow do not come to us by chance, they are sent to us for our own perfecting…

Men who suffer not attain no perfection. The plant most pruned by the gardener is that one which, when summer comes, will have the most beautiful blossoms and the most abundant fruit.

A soldier is no good general until he has been in front of the fiercest battle and has received the deepest wound.

At his juncture, I would like to tell you all to keep on to what you have started last year. I know that you can make it next time.