my speech for the last day of class

{i had my last class with my three fourth year classes and i made a little speech for them. it was senti mode.}

First of all, I would like to say thank you, thank you, thank you very much for a great school year together. As you know that this is my first year here in Ateneo de Iloilo and it was a great challenge for me to teach HS and being a class adviser of 4^th year students – who looks at me as one of their classmate, being the Campus Minister, taking part of the various projects of the school, and learning to be a Jesuit Regent. This is what I call parallel processing – doing many things at the same time. Moreover, this is a Golden Jubilee year and more has been expected. Indeed it has been a great year for me. And it wouldn’t be meaningful without you guys. You guys thought me how to learn and how to love. And for that I am ever grateful to you.

I am also sorry for the times that I have hurt or offended some of you. Sorry for the times that I have been insensitive of you. Rest assured that it was not ill-intentioned. Perhaps you already noticed that it is not in my nature to be angry at people (just like what my Integrity class expects me during big practices). It is because I don’t want to treat you as kids, but as adults. I don’t want to treat you as students, but as learners. I don’t want to treat you as clients, but as friends. So again, sorry for my lack.

How I wish I could have taught you CLE so that I could share with you about life and not on the technicalities of doing programming or an IT project alone. But if there is one thing that I would like to partake with you it is this. “Take the risk.” If you believe in doing something, then do it. As long as this is what you wanted, then no matter whatever others say, just do it, eventhough how long and hard the road may be to get there. And no regrets after that. I wish you all the best. I wish you all the happiness that the world can offer you. And I wish that we could see each other again. If I ever forget who you are, just remind me. I will pray for you and also pray for me. And hopefully when given the chance to be ordained, I wish to see you there because you have been part of my vocation.

There’s a song entitled “Sometimes” by the Carpenters that I would like to share with you because this captures a lot of my experience with you. I hope you like this song.

Sometimes not often enough
We reflect upon the good things
And those thoughts always center around those we love
And I think about those people who mean so much to me
And for so many years have made me so very happy
And I count the times I have forgotten to say thank you
And just how much I love them.

There is a tradition in Ateneo that during the last class of the 4^th year, the teachers usually give something to the students, something meaningful, something to remember by. And each subject teacher tries to give something unique. It may be a poem or a song. It may be flowers or letters. I have prepared something for you and hopefully it will remind you of our year together.